We reproduce the speech given by Józef Wancer, Polish banker and economist, member of the Warsaw Garden of the Righteous Foundation, at the Garden of the Righteous in Milan on the occasion of the ceremony for the new Righteous 2025.
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Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are gathered here today at the Garden of the Righteous at Monte Stella to honor a man whose life was filled with sacrifice, courage, and commitment to others. An athlete, mountaineer, sailor, glider pilot, and poet, he wholeheartedly dedicated himself to the idea of helping and saving others, risking his own life in the fight for the freedom and dignity of others.
Born in Zakopane on July 25, 1908, he was not only a three-time Olympian and a 24-time Polish skiing champion but also a man full of passion for the mountains and the arts. After the outbreak of World War II, as a member of the underground resistance, he helped Polish soldiers reach Hungary.
He also assisted Jews and persecuted individuals in escaping abroad. When the Germans, aware of his exceptional athletic abilities, attempted to recruit him to train their youth, he firmly refused, fully aware that this decision could have saved his life.
Arrested by the Germans in 1940, he was sent to Auschwitz, where he took part in the internal resistance movement organized by Witold Pilecki.
Despite the harsh conditions in the camp, Bronisław Czech never forgot his passion for art. On scraps of paper, using charcoal, he painted scenes of his homeland, proving that even in the darkest moments, a person can find a way to preserve their dignity and humanity.
He died on June 5, 1944, from exhaustion, after four years of unimaginable suffering endured by Auschwitz prisoners.
Bronisław Czech, a man of indomitable will, sacrificed his life for others, not in search of glory but driven by the value of helping his fellow human beings. Today, as we pay tribute to his memory, we are not only remembering a hero but also reminding ourselves of the importance of being courageous in the face of evil and steadfast in the pursuit of good.
His story can serve as a model and an inspiration for all of us, especially for the young people gathered here, as an example of a life guided by altruism, generosity, and dignity.
