Under the Eagle Pharmacy, located at Plac Zgody in the Podgórze district of Kraków, remained operational under the proprietorship of Tadeusz Pankiewicz during the forced relocation of local Jewish residents in 1941. As the only non-Jewish business owner to decline a German offer to relocate, Pankiewicz continued his pharmaceutical work within the ghetto walls.
Professional Background and Pharmacy Ownership
Born in 1908 in Sambir, Pankiewicz received his education at the Jagiellonian University. In 1933, he assumed control of the Under the Eagle Pharmacy, an establishment originally founded by his father, Jozef, in 1910. Before the occupation, the pharmacy served a diverse clientele, including both Jewish and Gentile residents of the city.
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Upon the establishment of the ghetto, Pankiewicz and his staff—Irena Drozdzikowska, Helena Krywaniuk, and Aurelia Daner-Czortkowa—secured permission to reside on the premises. The pharmacy functioned as a critical support hub, providing essential medications and pharmaceutical supplies, often at no cost to residents. Beyond medical provisions, the team smuggled food and intelligence, while also providing shelter for individuals facing deportation. Pankiewicz famously hid individuals under his desk during roundups.
Post-War Documentation and Legacy
In 1947, Pankiewicz published his memoirs, Apteka w Getcie Krakowskim. His activities gained international recognition on February 10, 1983, when he was named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. The pharmacy building, situated at what is now No.18 Plac Bohaterów Ghetta, was later inaugurated as a national heritage museum. Pankiewicz, a recipient of the Gold Cross of Merit and Knight of the Order of Polonia Restituta, died in 1993 and is buried at the Rakowicki Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1908, Sambir
- Died: 1993, Kraków
- Education: Jagiellonian University
- Occupation: Pharmacist
- Righteous Among the Nations: 1983
- Burial site: Rakowicki Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the Under the Eagle Pharmacy?
It served as the only pharmacy within the Kraków Ghetto, providing essential medication, shelter, and intelligence to persecuted residents.
How was Pankiewicz honored for his actions?
He was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit, the Knight of the Order of Polonia Restituta, and recognized as Righteous Among the Nations.
Achievements
- Knight of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Righteous Among the Nations — 1983
- Worked as pharmacist
- Educated at Jagiellonian University
