Given name: Izrael Family name: Kanał

  • YES
  • Male
  • Izrael
  • Kanał
  • Birkenau
  • Before the war he was a member of the youth organisation Akiba; deported from Bydgoszcz. Came to Warsaw with his family at the beginning of 1941. After a short stay in the ghetto his parents died - Izrael and his younger brother became orphans. 16-year-old Salo found a job as a helper in a department while Izrael joined the Jewish Police. They found out about Hachszara' existence at Nalewki Street No. 10 and requested to be admitted. Izrael immediately wanted to get rid of the policeman's uniform, but the organisation ordered him to stay in the police and provide help for others. At the beginning of the deportation action he tried to rescue young people. Was in constant contact with other youth orgnisations. On 20 August 1942 on the Jewish Fighting Organization's (ZOB) recommendation attempted to kill Jozef Szerynski - the chief of the Jewish Order Service (O. D. - Ordnungsdienst). The man was shot with a revolver and Izrael managed to escape. After the attmept he did not shave for a while and wore glasses and never put on the policeman's uniform again. Trained young people to use guns. During such training he was accidentally shot. Took active part in the first uprising in the ghetto on 18 January and 19 January [1943] as a commander of the central ghetto. In the ruins of the shelter at Mila Street No. 18 met a few survivors. They went to the shelter at Francszkanska Street No. 22. Left the ghetto through sewers on 10 May 1943 with a group of 30 fighters. The escape was organised by 'Kazik' (Szymcha Ratajzen). Got involved in the Hotel Polski affair, got to Bergen-Belsen, where he was one of the leaders of the 'Chaluc' group. Died in the extermination camp Birkenau.

  • activists
  • Rufeisen-Schuepper, Helena Pozegnanie Milej 18. Wspomnienia laczniczki Zydowskiej Organizacji Bojowej (A Farewell in Mila Street No. 18. Memoirs of a Messenger of the Jewish Fighting Organisation)

  • 33-34; 92; 117; 125;130-132