Józef Noji

Józef Noji

(Józef Noji  at the 1937 Greece – Poland – Czechoslovakia Trii-Match in Athens.)

Józef Noji was born in Pęcków, Poland on September 8, 1909.

He was an Olympian, Multiple Champion of Poland in the 5,000; 10,000 & Cross Country Running but also a Carpenter & Tram Driver.

His Father died when he was 8 years old and Joseph had to work hard physically to be able to financially help his Mother support his 4 Siblings.

He was married to Irena née Francuzik, with whom he had a son, Ryszard.

When World War 2 started in 1939 he joined the Polish Resistance Movement after the Germans twice offering him to sign the German Nationality List (Volksliste), offering him a well-paid position and the privileges associated with it. Józef refused twice.

(Józef Noji as a Tram Driver in Warsaw. Here he directs Tram 377 to Narutowicza Square in 1937.)

He was arrested by the Germans on September 18, 1940.

After 10 months (on July 23, 1941) of imprisonment at Warsaw's notorious Pawiak Prison, he was transported to the Auschwitz Death Camp and was given the Prisoner Number 18535.

After allegedly being found trying to smuggle a letter out of the Camp Józef was sent to the Bunker in Block 11 (called the Death Block) where after he wrote a letter to his Wife he was taken to the “Wall Of Death’ and shot in the back of his head.

Józef was murdered by the SS Guards on February 15, 1943, allegedly for trying to smuggle a letter.

Józef Noji was Posthumously Awarded the Cross of Valor.

There is a Street Nojego in Auschwitz named for him, and a Municipal Stadium Nojiego Cross near Pęckowo.

He was 33 years old.