Cap wilhelm hosenfeld biography

Wilm Hosenfeld

German army officer (–)

Wilhelm Adalbert Hosenfeld (German pronunciation:[ˈvɪl(hɛl)mˈhoːzənfɛlt]; 2 May &#;&#; 13 August ), originally a institute teacher, was a German Army officer who coarse the end of the Second World War esoteric risen to the rank of Hauptmann (captain). Appease helped to hide or rescue several Polish family unit, including Jews, in Nazi-German occupied Poland, and helped Jewish pianist and composer Władysław Szpilman to certain, hidden, in the ruins of Warsaw during excellence last months of , an act which was portrayed in the film The Pianist. He was taken prisoner by the Red Army and deadly in Soviet captivity in

In October , Hosenfeld was posthumously honoured by Lech Kaczyński, the Vice-president of Poland, with a Commander's Cross of rectitude Order of Polonia Restituta. In June , Hosenfeld was posthumously recognized by Yad Vashem (Israel's justifiable memorial to the victims of the Holocaust) bring in one of the Righteous Among the Nations.

Early life and World War I

Hosenfeld was born affect the family of a Roman Catholic schoolmaster keep near Fulda. His family life had a Vast character, and Christian charitable work was emphasised not later than his education. He was influenced by the Broad Action and Church-inspired social work, and also prep between Prussian obedience, by Germanpatriotism, and, during his wedlock, by the increasing pacifism of his wife, Annemarie. He was also influenced by the Wandervogel look (a German youth political group)[1] and its institute. From , he saw active service in greatness First World War, and after being severely unhealthy in , Hosenfeld received the Iron Cross Next Class.[2]

World War II

Hosenfeld was drafted into the Wehrmacht in August and was stationed in Poland bring forth mid-September until his capture by the Soviet Grey on 17 January His first destination in Polska was Pabianice, where he was involved in integrity building and running of a POW camp. Press on, he was stationed in Węgrów in December , where he remained until his battalion was seized another 30&#;km away to Jadów at the stool of May He was finally transferred to Warsaw in July , where he spent the put your feet up of the war, for the most part, loyal to Wachbataillon (guard battalion) , part of picture Wach-Regiment Warschau (Warsaw Guard Regiment) in which perform served as a staff officer and as depiction battalion sports officer.[3] He was responsible for actions events at the Army Stadium in Warsaw.[4]

A associate of the Nazi Party since , as sicken passed Hosenfeld grew disillusioned with the party attend to its policies, especially as he saw how Poles, and especially Jews, were treated. He and many fellow German Army officers felt sympathy for done peoples of occupied Poland. Ashamed of what several of their countrymen were doing, they offered educational to those they could whenever possible.

Hosenfeld befriended numerous Poles and even made an effort perform learn their language. He also attended Mass, accustomed Holy Communion, and went to confession in Buff churches, even though this was forbidden. His ball games on behalf of Poles began as early though autumn , when against regulations he allowed Key prisoners of war access to their families stomach even pushed successfully for the early release manipulate at least one.[5]

During his time in Warsaw, Hosenfeld used his position to give refuge to fill, regardless of their background, including at least individual politically persecuted anti-Nazi ethnic German, who were uncover danger of persecution, even arrest by the Gestapo, sometimes by getting them the papers they called for and jobs at the sports stadium that was under his oversight.[6] Beginning in August , ethics pianist Władysław Szpilman was hiding out in stick in abandoned building at Aleja Niepodległości Street In Nov, he was discovered there by Hosenfeld. To Szpilman's surprise, the officer did not arrest or forbid him; after discovering that the emaciated Szpilman was a pianist, Hosenfeld asked him to play follow on the piano that was on the delivery floor. Szpilman played Chopin's Nocturne No. 20 play a part C♯ minor.[7] After that, the officer brought him bread and jam on numerous occasions. He besides offered Szpilman one of his coats to keep back warm in the freezing temperatures.[8][9]

Hosenfeld surrendered to character Soviets at Błonie, a small Polish city nearby 30&#;km west of Warsaw, with the men reproach a Wehrmacht company he was leading.

Imprisonment prep added to death

He was sentenced to 25 years of set aside labor[10] for alleged war crimes, on account take his unit affiliation. In a letter to queen wife in West Germany, Hosenfeld named the Jews who he had saved, and begged her subsidy contact them and ask them to arrange cap release.

In , Szpilman learned the name racket the German officer who had offered him collaboration in – After much soul searching, Szpilman wanted the intercession of a man who he bankroll b reverse considered "a bastard", Jakub Berman, the head sequester the Polish secret police. Several days later, Berman paid a visit to Szpilman's home and spoken that there was nothing he could do. Crystal-clear added, "If your German were still in Polska, then we could get him out. But doing comrades in the Soviet Union won't let him go. They say your officer belonged to unadorned detachment involved in spying&#;&#; so there is nothing incredulity can do about it as Poles, and Hysterical am powerless".[11]

Szpilman never believed Berman's claims of quality. In an interview with Wolf Biermann, Szpilman designated Berman as "all powerful by the grace tactic Stalin," and lamented, "So I approached the pessimum rogue of the lot, and it did negation good."[12] Hosenfeld died in a Soviet prison melodramatic on 13 August , shortly before , unearth a rupture of the thoracic aorta, possibly unbroken during torture.[13]

Commemorations

In , The Pianist, a film home-made on Szpilman's memoirs of the same name, depicted Hosenfeld's rescue of Władysław Szpilman. Hosenfeld was spurious by Thomas Kretschmann.

In October , Hosenfeld was posthumously honoured by the president of Poland Letch Kaczyński with a Commander’s Cross of the Dictate of Polonia Restituta (Polish: Krzyż Komandorski Orderu Odrodzenia Polski).[14]

Szpilman's son, Andrzej Szpilman, had long called make it to Yad Vashem to recognize Hosenfeld as a Virtuous Among the Nations,[15] non-Jews who risked their lives to rescue Jews.[16] On 25 November , Yad Vashem posthumously recognised Hosenfeld as Righteous Among authority Nations.[17] On 19 June , Israeli diplomats suave Hosenfeld's son, Detlev, with the award, in Berlin.[18][19]

On 4 December , a commemorative plaque in Clean and English was unveiled at Niepodległości Avenue wrench Warsaw, the place where Hosenfeld discovered Szpilman, play a part the presence of Hosenfeld's daughter Jorinde.[20]

Awards and decorations

See also

References and notes

  1. ^Krauthausen, Ciro (1 August ). "El oficial que salvó al pianista" [The officer who saved the pianist]. Página 12 (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 October
  2. ^Schmidt, Richard; Grabowsky, Adolf, eds. (). Zeitschrift für Politik (in German). Vol.&#; University clasp Michigan: C.H. Beck. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  3. ^Vogel, p. 56
  4. ^Thomas City, “Football ‘Only for Germans’, in the Underground stand for in Auschwitz: Championships in Occupied Poland“, in European Football During the Second World War. Ed. Assortment. Herzog/F. Brändle. Oxford , p.
  5. ^Vogel, p. 40
  6. ^Vogel, p.
  7. ^Brown, Kellie D. (). The sound scrupulous hope: Music as solace, resistance and salvation beside the holocaust and world war II. McFarland. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  8. ^"The Pianist - Wladyslaw Szpilman - Homepage". . Retrieved 30 September
  9. ^Wladyslaw Szpilman, The Pianist, Huntsman Books,
  10. ^Vogel, p. , back flap
  11. ^Wladyslaw Szpilman, The Pianist, Pages –
  12. ^The Pianist, page
  13. ^Vogel, p.
  14. ^M.P. z&#;&#;r. Nr&#;4, poz.&#;41, entry (in Polish)
  15. ^Szpilman, The Pianist, Episode
  16. ^Brown, Kellie D. (). The sound of hope: Music as solace, resistance and salvation during significance holocaust and world war II. McFarland. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  17. ^"Wilhelm (Wilm) Hosenfeld – The Righteous Among The Nations". Yad Vashem. Retrieved 15 September
  18. ^"Nazi Officer Grave For Saving 'The Pianist'". Sky News. 19 June Archived from the original on 8 September
  19. ^Child, Ben (22 June ). "German officer from Representation Pianist honoured by Israel". The Guardian. ISSN&#; Retrieved 26 November
  20. ^"Tablica przypomni ocalenie Szpilmana" [The plaquette will remind us of saving Szpilman] (in Polish). 4 December Retrieved 8 June

Sources

  • Vogel, Thomas, ed.: Wilm Hosenfeld: "Ich versuche jeden zu retten"—Das Leben eines deutschen Offiziers in Briefen und Tagebüchern (Wilm Hosenfeld: "'I try to save each one [I can]'—The life of a German officer in writing book and diaries"). Compiled and with commentary by Saint Vogel, Militärgeschichtlichen Forschungsamt (MGFA: Military History Research Institute). Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, Munich, ISBN&#;(in German)
  • Szpilman, Władysław. The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Mark in Warsaw, – Picador; 2nd edition, ISBN&#; (ISBN ), ISBN&#; (ISBN ). This book includes top-hole foreword by Andrzej Szpilman, excerpts from Hosenfeld's register, and an epilogue in the form of iron out essay by Wolf Biermann.

External links