Brothers For Resistance And Rescue By David Gur

Grünwald David 'Coca'Grünwald BélaBorn in Vencsellő on 5.5.1925Died in Israel on 15.5.1985Member of “Hanoar Hatzioni”In 1942 David joined the movement in Budapest. Prior to the Germanoccupation of Hungary, he went on missions to provincial towns in orderto awaken the local Jews to what lay in store for them. David obtainedAryan documents and distributed them among Jews. On March 19 th ,1944, the day the Germans invaded Hungary, he was arrested, togetherwith other members of the movement, and detained in a camp(Toloncház) where many prisoners were being held. A few days later hewas released without any explanation. Other comrades, though, weresent to Auschwitz.At the beginning of April, David resumed his underground activities. Hismajor assignment was to travel to country towns in order to supply forgeddocuments to members of his movement, as well as to other Jews, andsave them from deportation to Poland.On April 12th, 1944, David traveled to the town of Vencsellő to smugglehis parents out of the ghetto, but they refused to leave. According to hismovement’s instructions, in May and June, David remained in countrytowns in order to help the local Jews.He returned to Budapest on October 12th, where he was caught andimprisoned even before he could continue his activities. He managed toescape on the following day, and resumed his underground work,obtaining and distributing forged documents, and assisting Jewishorphanages. He maintained contacts with underground activists of theHungarian Communist Party, gave them forged documents and receivedimportant information that was necessary for the continuation of theunderground activities. He set up bunkers and equipped them. He madecontact with an SS lieutenant who helped him to set inmates free (thelieutenant was put on trial after the liberation, exonerated and evenpraised).Wearing a fascist uniform, David managed to penetrate the Centre of theHungarian Legion (Hungarista Légió), and obtain a certificate for theestablishment of a hospital. Members of the underground hid in thathospital posing as patients, nurses and doctors.After the liberation, David continued to work in the movement. In 1951 hemade aliya. In Israel he taught physical education.Brothers for Resistance and Rescue 121