Kestenberg Archive

WG was born in May 1891. She grew up in a poor family in the countryside. She was forced to work in a factory in order to help feeding the family. Nevertheless WG had a great thirst for knowledge, and she used to read alot and study hard. In 1916 the authorities decided to send teachers to teach rural peasants to read and write. Although she didn't have any official education, she was one of the chosen for this mission and was very proud of it. During all her life she continued to fight against illiteracy in the Polish countryside, teaching children and adults. She took many teachers' courses and eventually graduated from university. WG was usually very loved and cherished by her colleagues and they elected her to fulfill different social functions. All the time she used to help her family and paid for her siblings' education. During the Second World War, she was very active in the Polish Resistance movement. She taught many children illegally and tried to educate them as ardent Polish patriots. WG also recruited other women to the movement. WG succeed in avoiding arrest although this was not easy. On the other hand, at the time of the Russian occupation, a short time after the liberation, she was arrested because someone informed the authorities that she was an owner of a villa. Her friends helped her get released.