Elżbieta Matjas, née Dyduch, was born in 1920 in Darków in Zaolzie (now the Czech Republic). Two years later, her family moved to Oświęcim and settled in what is now the Zasole neighbourhood.
During the German occupation, she was employed at a hospital and had contact with a prisoner working outside the camp whom she provided with food. As a token of gratitude, he drew her portrait. All we know about the painter is that his name was Jurek.
She also took care of prisoners she met on her way from home to work. She left warm meals for them, prepared earlier by her sister. She also smuggled food that was left over from the meals of the SS crew to the prisoners.
Elżbieta Matjas and her family also helped an SS man who treated Poles kindly, and who, as a result, was at risk of reprisals. They hid him in their home after he deserted from the German army.
She died in 2020 and is buried in the municipal cemetery in Oświęcim.
Portrait: Collection of Remembrance Museum of Land of Oświęcim Residents