Ulma family
The Ulma family (Polish: Rodzina Ulmów) or Józef and Wiktoria Ulma with Seven Children (Polish: Józef i Wiktoria Ulmowie z Siedmiorgiem Dzieci) were a Polish Catholic family in Markowa, Poland, during the Nazi German occupation in World War II who attempted to rescue Polish Jewish families by hiding them in their own home during the Holocaust. They and their children were summarily executed on 24 March 1944 for doing so.
Ulma family | |
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Photograph of the Ulma family, circa 1943. | |
| Martyrs | |
| Born | 2 March 1900 (Józef) 10 December 1912 (Wiktoria) 18 July 1936 (Stanisława) 6 October 1937 (Barbara) 5 December 1938 (Władysław) 3 April 1940 (Franciszek) 6 June 1941 (Antoni) 16 September 1942 (Maria) 24 March 1944 (unborn child) Markowa, Congress Poland, Russian Empire |
| Died | 24 March 1944 Markowa, Occupied Poland, Nazi Germany |
| Cause of death | Execution |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 10 September 2023, Ludowy Klub Sportowy Markovia, Markowa, Poland by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro (on behalf of Pope Francis) |
| Major shrine | Church of Saint Dorothy, Markowa, Poland |
| Feast | 7 July |
| Righteous Among the Nations |
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| By country |
Notably, despite the murder of the Ulmas — meant to strike fear into the hearts of villagers — their neighbours continued to hide Jewish fugitives until the end of World War II in Europe. At least 21 Polish Jews survived in Markowa during the occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany. They are regarded by the State of Israel as Righteous Among the Nations, and they are venerated in the Catholic Church as martyrs following their beatification by Pope Francis, their feast day is celebrated every year on 7 July (day of the anniversary of Józef and Wiktoria's wedding).