<P> The border between the two invaders ran through the middle of Przemyśl until the German attack on the Soviet Union in June 1941 . In 1942 the news spread about the Jewish Ghetto in Przemysl being liquidated by the Nazis . Stefania's prewar employer's son, Max Diamant, appeared on their doorstep . He escaped with his brother and cousin from the train to Belzec extermination camp . The girls were terrified, but gave Max permission to hide in the attic . He contacted his family in the Ghetto, and asked Stefania to accept them also, including his younger brother Henek and Henek's wife Danuta, Dr. William Shylenger and his daughter Judy, and a friend of his, a dentist with his son . In order to accommodate the fugitives Stefania soon rented a semi-detached cottage with two rooms, a kitchen and an attic, on Tatarska Street . </P> <P> Helena with her sister Stefania moved in first, followed by Max Diamant . Then came Dr. Shylenger with his daughter, and the dentist with his son . The dentist's friend, a widow from the ghetto came also with her son and daughter . She wrote a threatening note that she would denounce the girls if she was refused . The dentist begged Stefania to admit his nephew with his wife . Joseph's younger brother, Henek, with his wife arrived later, finally there came a Jewish mailman: thirteen Jews in total . Max made a wall in the attic from boards bought by Stefania, securing a sleeping quarter for everybody . </P> <P> After a few weeks they were completely without money . Stefania started to knit sweaters and take orders for them, from her friends and acquaintances . She was trading clothes for food and buying it, if necessary, on the black market . An SS man moved in next door . Max kept vigil with others to eliminate any noises . In early 1944 a German officer entered the apartment and announced that Stefania and Helena must vacate the place in two hours . The Jewish fugitives begged the two sisters to flee as they felt that all of them were doomed . But Stefania - after praying to the Black Madonna of Częstochowa - thought otherwise . "I am not leaving you", she said . German nurses and their boyfriends lived underneath Stefania and her refugees for eight months . After these eight months, the nurses had to evacuate to follow the German army; the 13 Jewish residents had successfully stayed undetected . </P> <P> On July 27, 1944, the Soviet Army entered Przemyśl . The thirteen Jews, though emaciated and weak, were free . Max, who took the name Josef Burzminski, proposed to Stefania (Fusia) and was accepted . In 1961 the couple emigrated to the United States, where Burzminski became a dentist . They have a son and daughter . Helena Podgórska remained in Poland, married and became a physician in Wrocław . In 1979 the sisters were honored by Yad Vashem, in Jerusalem, as Righteous among the Nations . </P>

Where did the movie hidden in silence take place