Teachers Who Rescued Jews During the Holocaust

Despite a very difficult childhood, Vladimir Chernovol managed to complete his studies and become a teacher. Born in the village of Vodyana, Kirovograd district (today Vodyane, Kirovohrad district in Ukraine), his family's property was confiscated by the Soviet regime during the 1930s, and following his mother's death Vladimir was put in an orphanage. On the eve of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, he graduated from a teacher’s training course and began to work as a teacher in one of the villages in the district of Zhitomir.

Following the German occupation, Chernovol decided to return to his birthplace. On the way, he met a man his age who at first introduced himself as a Soviet pilot who had fallen into German hands and escaped. After a while, the man confided in Chernovol that his name was Grigoriy Lantsman and that he was a Jew, the only surviving member of his family. Chernovol immediately suggested that Lantsman join him, and together the two men reached Vodyana.

Arriving in Vodyana, Chernovol took Lantsman to his former home, telling everybody that Lantsman was his friend from the orphanage.  Although the village head believed the story, he still demanded verification of Lantsmann's identity from the regional authority. Chernovol did not hesitate, and the following day went with Lantsman to the local military commander in Dobrovelichivka. The commander’s secretary remembered Chernovol and his parents, and signed the required document without asking any questions. Equipped with this document, Lantsman was able to live in the village until the fall of 1943, when he was taken by the Germans with other Ukrainians for forced labor.

After being brought to the gathering point in Mikolayiv, Lantsman managed to escape and, two months later, he arrived at Chernovol’s home, weak and under-nourished. Once again, Chernovol took Lantsman in and hid him in his house. Lantsman was eventually discovered, but Chernovol bribed the local policeman to keep Lantsman’s presence secret. After the liberation of the area in March 1944, Lantsman joined the Red Army and fought until the end of the war. He kept in touch with Chernovol for many years thereafter.

On November 10, 1996, Yad Vashem recognized Vladimir Chernovol as Righteous Among the Nations.