Marian Kister - When "Rój" became "Roy" Publishers - Korczak´s "Matthew the Young King" on the Warszawa Ghetto wall? - The Mermaid and the Messerschmitt - Blessed Are the Meek.

In the Preface to the The Mermaid and the Messerschmitt Rutka Langer wrote: Finally, I wrote this book to show my readers what it is like for an average human being to live through the Blitzkrieg. No war correspondent, however brilliant (and American correspondents are the most brilliant the world over), can ever do that. A war correspondent is always on the spot wherever the most dreadful things happen. A bombed hospital, an orphanage set in flames, he sees them all. "An orphanage set in flames" - may be it was Korczaks Dom Sierot Orphanage that Rutka Langer described.

Key words: Korczak, Deportation, Fake information, August 5th 1942, Treblinka, Marian Kister-editor, Matthew th Young King.

Marian Kister was a well known publisher in Warszawa prior to WWII. He left Poland for London just before WWII started. Kisters wife Hanna overcame difficulties to leave Poland and they were reunited in Paris on May 10, 1940. Through Portugal, the Kister family reached the United States in March 1941. Here they started Roy publishers in New York.

The first book Kisters published in USA was in 1942, The Mermaid and the Messerschmitt, by Rutka (Rulka) Langer and it sold 5,000 copies. The next book, Kossak's Blessed Are the Meek become the Book of the Month Club for April 1944. Actually just a year and a half after the Kisters arrived in New York, Kisters Roy Publishers was on a solid footing. It grew by translations into English of Polish writers.

In January, 1945 Kister published translated into English Korczak´s Król Macius Pierwszy - Matthew The Young King*. The cover of this book /see below), by Irena Lorentowicz is rather special and should be analyzed.

I am sure that Kister knew well Korczak. Kisters "Rój Publishing" at 1 Kredytowa str in Warszawa was quite near Mortkowicz Publishing house at 12 Mazowiecka street. In the same building at Mazowiecka was a well known coffee house Mała Ziemiańska where well known artists, writers and publishers use to meet. Initially the Ziemiańska cafe consisted only of one small room with several tables, later a gallery above was added with additional tables. The cafe lay roughly halfways between the Warsaw University, the Filharmony, Zachęta Art Gallery and many notable cultural facilities. Because of that, it started to be frequented by artists of all sorts. Among the most prominent to be frequent guests there were the Skamandrites.

In Preface to the The Mermaid and the Messerschmitt Rutka Langer wrote: Finally, I wrote this book to show my readers what it is like for an average human being to live through the Blitzkrieg. No war correspondent, however, brilliant (and American correspondents are the most brilliant the world over), can ever do that. A war correspondent is always on the spot wherever the most dreadful things happen. A bombed hospital, an orphanage set in flames, he sees them all. "an orphanage set in flames" - may be it was Korczaks Dom Sierot Orphanage Rutka Langer described.

The first book Kisters published in USA was in 1942, The Mermaid and the Messerschmitt, by Rutka Langer and it sold 5,000 copies. The next book, Kossak's Blessed Are the Meek become the Book of the Month Club for April 1944.

In January, 1945 Kisters published translated into English Korczaks Król Macius Pierwszy - Matthew The Young King. The cover of this book is rather special and should be analyzed. It is likely that Król Macius stands on the ghetto wall. Is he escaping the danger? My imagination? Cover by Irena Lorentowicz.

When "Matthew the Young King" was published in January 1945 (during WWII), there were rumors that Dr. Korczak had escaped the train that was taking him to the death camp of Treblinka; this rumor, printed on a special page in this book, turned out to be unfounded. Also information about the deportation date - 1943 is inaccurate. The deportation of Dom Sierot orphanage took place on August 5th 1942. Overseas News Agency - ONA **

Sheer mistake

In rather rare Collector's edition (1945) of the English translation of "Matthew the Young King" ("Król Maciuś Pierwszy" / "King Matt the First") by the famous Jewish pedagogue Janusz Korczak (pen name of Henryk Goldszmit), which became a collector's edition by sheer mistake.

Following the printing of this edition, the publisher, Marian Kister, received some news from post-war Europe, and hastily appended an additional blue preface page to all the books ready for distribution. This page relates in an enthusiastic tone the happy news that Janusz Korczak did not die in the hands of the Gestapo after all, and that "the Underground rescued him at the last moment, spiriting him away from the train, and that he is alive today in Lublin". This information was, of course, false: Janusz Korczak and 239 children from his Orphanage were murdered on August 5th, 1942 in the Treblinka death camp.

Last hours of Korczak and 239 children life gave several false stories. A.o. that children were "marching" or/and singing with the green flag as a protest to Nazis, that that children survived... This wishful thinking gave thee ideas to sculptures of Rapaport at Park Avenue Synagogue in New York and in the movie "Korczak" by Wajda, there deported children are going out, almost "flying" out of the cattle cares as the angels.

The cover of Korczak´s - Matthew The Young King

Irena Lorentowicz that made cover of Korczak´s - Matthew The Young King (1945) was born on September 25, 1908. She was well known Polish painter, stage designer, teacher. 

She was a graduate of the Warsaw School of Fine Arts (1925-1931) and stage design at the Directing Art Department of PIST in Warsaw (1935). As a stage designer, she collaborated with Warsaw theaters from the 1930s. Invited to collaborate on the production of Szymanowski's Harnasie at the Paris Opera in 1936, she achieved a great success, winning the 1st prize in the Grand L'Opera competition for the set design for this performance and a five-year scholarship from the French government. In the following years, she operated in Paris with further success, she also began studies at the Humanities Department of the Sorbonne.
In the years 1941-1959 Irena Lorentowicz was active in the USA where she cooperated with the Metropolitan Opera. On the American continent, her sacred paintings, frescoes, stained glass windows, sculptures and, above all, book illustrations for children gained recognition. She also wrote children books.

In the years 1941-1959 Irena Lorentowicz was active in the USA, incl. cooperated with the Metropolitan Opera. On the American continent, her sacred paintings, frescoes, stained glass windows, sculptures and, above all, book illustrations for children gained recognition.

Rój Publishing from 1 Kredytowa str in Warszawa became Roy Slavonic Publications in New York

I am sure that Kister knew well Korczak. Kisters Rój Publishing at 1 Kredytowa str in Warszawa was quite near Mortkowicz Publishing house at 12 Mazowiecka. In the same building was well known coffeehouse Mała Ziemiańska where well known artists, writers and publishers use to meet. Initially the Ziemiańska cafe consisted only of one small room with several tables, later a gallery above was added with additional tables. The cafe lay roughly halfways between the Warsaw University, the Filharmony, Zachęta Art Gallery and many notable cultural facilities. Because of that, it started to be frequented by artists of all sorts. Among the most prominent to be frequent guests there were the Skamandrites.

* Known as well as King Matt the First, Little King Matty and also King Matthew the First (Polish: Król Maciuś Pierwszy).

** Overseas News Agency - ONA was established during WWII beside the long-established Jewish Telegraphic Agency - J.T.A. O.N.A. was separate from the J.T.A. although numerous members of the board were the same.

King Matt the First and King Matt on the Desert Island - Ukrainian Publication year: 1962.

Janusz Korczak "King Matt the First. King Matt on the Desert Island".Illustrated by artist Chernukha V. 400 pages Hardcover, format 22x18 cm (8 3/4"x7") Text in Ukrainian Publication year: 1962

The "Last secret" from the Lübeck Harbor? - Black ship - Blue ship - Red ship - Green ship - UNRRA White Boat mission to Sweden.

My hypothesis was that harbor areas in Lübeck Wallhafen were marked with colors and the lists of patients marked Red-, Blue- and Black ship were prepared for the British ambulance drivers when transporting patients from the Swedish Transit Hospital to awaiting White Boata.

Blue ship, Black ship, Red ship, Green ship... were the common names on departure lists of the White Boats leaving Lübeck for Sweden during the UNRRA mission in June - July 1945. First; I thought that Red, Blue, and Black were the destinations like Stockholm, Malmö, or Gothenburg. Now, I know that this is not the case. Lists marked Black or Red ships could be destined for two or three different destinations, depending on the day of departure, see below. 

My present hypothesis is that harbor areas in Lübeck were marked with colors and the lists were used for the British ambulance drivers that moved patients from the Swedish Transit Hospital in Lübeck to the awaiting the UNRRA White ships in the harbor. The Black boat is for example indicated on the lists below for both M/S Karskär use to transport patients between Lübeck and Malmö and also the S/S Kastelholm usually har Lübeck - Stockholm route. White Boats HMS Prins Carl was usually going from Lübeck to Kalmar and Norrköping on the Swedish east coast.

So, the Red Ship or Blue Ship were not the names of the ships but of certain areas, probably with signs in the Lübeck harbor itself during the UNRRA White Boat mission. Therefore during different transfers, M/S Kastelholm was a Black ship and during another week it could be called for Red- or Blue ship. Everything depended on the area where the ship moored in the port.

Confirmation of this, I found when looking at the passenger list of M/S Karskär from June 30, 1945, its second trip to Sweden. Two persons, mother, and daughter Rozenblatt have been crossed off the passenger list with an annotation "moved to Blue ship". The Blue ship was M/S Karskär with the same destination, a harbor in Malmö.

Red Ship, Black Ship, and Blue Ship areas were used simultaneously for embarking. Usually, just two embarking areas were used. S/S Kastelholm was usually embarked at the same time as HMS Prins Carl. Both these boats were going to the ports on the Swedish East coast.  S/S Kastelholm was on Lübeck - Stockholm route and HMS Prins Carl usually went from Lübeck to Kalmar and Norrköping on the Swedish east coast. M/S Karskär and M/S Rönnskär were heading the ports in Southern Sweden, mostly Malmö and Trelleborg and M/S KP Ingrid's final destination was the Swedish harbor on the West coast, Gothenburg. This pair embarking and thereafter crossing the Baltic appeared during the first two weeks of the White Boat mission. 

When looking at the passenger list of M/S Karskär from June 30, 1945, two persons, mother, and daughter Rozenblatt have been crossed off the passenger list with the annotation "moved to Blue ship"(list on the left). The Blue ship was M/S Rönnskär with the same destination, a harbor in Malmö. On the list of M/S Rönnskär - Blue ship, there are several people added at the bottom, among them mother, and daughter Rozenblatt.

HMS Prins Carl was a Swedish Navy hospital ship, that did 4 voyages, transporting an average of 150-200 persons.
S/S Kastelholm was a passenger steamer designed mainly for the Baltic waters. It did 5 voyages, transporting an average of 200-245 persons.
M/S Kronprinsessan Ingrid was a car- and passenger ship previously on the route over the Skagerak between Sweden and Denmark. It did 8 voyages, transporting an average of 400-460 persons.
M/S Karskär and Rönnskär were built for use in the Baltic and the North Sea. M/S Karskär did 10 voyages, transporting an average of 245 persons. M/S Rönnskär did 9 voyages, transporting an average of 245 persons.
Two of the five ships in the UNRRA mission White Boats, M/S Karskär, and M/S Rönnskär, were pure cargo ships and not fitted for the transport of humans although some adaptations to transport patients were done before this first mission of M/S Karskär and M/S Rönnskär.
During White Boat Mission HMS Prins Carl made also two voyages from Malmö to Gotland with patients afflicted by tuberculosis who were taken to a Swedish military hospital at Lärbro for treatment.

 

Below are two other documents for the person listed in the top picture, Kamrat Estera. The hospital mentioned on her DP-2 card means probably one of the houses in the Cambrai Kaserne in Lübeck. In the right top corner, there is her L-number from the Swedish Entry card. The second document is from the Swedish center in Myckelby whereto Kamarat Estera was moved from the Emergency Hospital in Kalmar/Norrköping. It is likely that she moved thereafter to Israel in January 1947 on S/S Ulua.

In the lists of the patients prepared by the Swedish Authorities, Jewish patients are marked with the letter M. M stands for Mosaiche-Jewish. In the British lists, M stands for man and F for woman.

"Co" i "Educare" - Nowe/Stare zdjęcia - WILHELMÓWKA I ZOFIÓWKA (DOBRA SZCZAWIN) KOŁO OSTROŁĘKI - KOLONIE LETNIE - Korczak

 Wyjazd chłopców na kolonie letnie na wieś ze stacji kolei warszawsko-wiedeńskiej, Fot. Konrad Brandel, 1892,

Opowiadając o "Koloniach Korczaka" i jego książkach o koloniach w Wilhelmówce, Zofiówce i Michałówce podniosłem sprawe koedukacji. Koedukacja (łac. co – razem; educare – kształcić, wychowywać) – to w przeciwieństwie do edukacji zróżnicowanej system wspólnego kształcenia dzieci i młodzieży obojga płci.Na przełomie wiosny i lata 1904 roku, Korczak po raz pierwszy wyjeżdża z grupą dzieci żydowskich na wieś do Daniłówki (Następnie to juz po ukonczeniu studiów, 1907-1908 jako lekarz kolonijny), gdzie zorganizowana zostaje kolonia letnia Michałówka. Michałówka — ośrodek wczasowy Towarzystwa Kolonii Letnich wybudowany w 1902 r. niedaleko Małkini w powiecie ostrowskim (przy linii kolejowej Tłuszcz–Ostrołęka, ok. 3 godzin jazdy pociągiem od Warszawy) nad rzeką Brok (lokalna nazwa Broczysko). Ten ośrodek wczasowy składał się z czterech budynków: dwóch parterowych sypialni połączonych werandą, budynku gospodarczego i osobnej toalety.

Tygodnik ŚWIAT, nr. 35, 29 sierpień 1908.
Warszawa Aleja Jerozolimska 49, Ilość stron: 24.
Wydawcy: Tow. Akc. S. Orgelbranda S-ów Redaktor: Stefan Krzywoszewski

"Co" i "Educare" - Wilhelmówka i Zofiówka

Tygodnik ŚWIAT, nr. 35, 29 sierpień 1908.

Tygodnik ŚWIAT, nr. 35, 29 sierpień 1908.

Tygodnik ŚWIAT, nr. 35, 29 sierpień 1908.

Janusz Korczak, Mośki, Joski i Srule. 

Zofiówka i Wilhelmówka to dwa inne ośrodki kolonijne Towarzystwa Kolonii Letnich. Położone były w powiecie ostrołęckim, w obecnej gminie Goworowo, nieopodal stacji kolejowej Pasieki. Wilhelmówka dla chłopców, w Jurgach nad rzeką Orz, a Zofiówka w Ponikwi Dużej dla dziewcząt. Ufundowane zostały przez Wilhelma Raua, znanego warszawskiego przemysłowca. 

Zofiówka i Wilhelmówka były to kolonie dla dzieci chrześcijańskich, dla dzieci żydowskich wzorcowym ośrodkiem była Michałówka koło Małkini. Źródła wskazują, że podział na ośrodek dla dziewcząt i dla chłopców miał miejsce już w 1904 r. Ośrodek w Wilhelmówce został opisany przez Janusza Korczaka w książce Józki, Jaśki i Franki (1911 r.).

Ilustracje Sara Lipszyc - Lipszycowa.

TYGODNIK ILLUSTROWANY NR 37/1927

W numerze m.in.:

• I ZNÓW PO WAKACJACH DO SZKOŁY - na stronie tytułowej
• WARSZAWA - INSTYTUT AERODYNAMICZNY - MEL - POLITECHNIKA WARSZAWSKA - artykuł + 3 x foto
• RUCHOMA WYSTAWA GAZOWA - artykuł + foto
• BEREK JOSELEWICZ (ZGINĄŁ W 1809 R. POD KOCKIEM) - artykuł + 2 x foto: Berek Joselewicz (mal. J. Kossak) / grób Berka Joselewicza
• KRESOWE SIEDZIBY POLSKIE, KTÓRE ULEGŁY ZAGŁADZIE - PAŁACE - WIERZCHOWNIA, HAJWORON - artykuł + 4 x foto: pałac w Wierzchowni (własność: Różyńskich, Lubomirskich, Hańskich, Mniszchów, Rzewuskich) / pałac w Hajworonie (własność: Rzewuskich) / wnętrza pałacu w Hajworonie (2 x foto)
• WILHELMÓWKA I ZOFIÓWKA (DOBRA SZCZAWIN) KOŁO OSTROŁĘKI - KOLONIE LETNIE - fotoreportaż - 7 x foto + opisy

TYGODNIK ILLUSTROWANY NR 37/1927

TYGODNIK ILLUSTROWANY NR 37/1927

TYGODNIK ILLUSTROWANY NR 37/1927

/W Michałówce/

Janusz Korczak, Mośki, Joski i Srule, 1910

Tego ostatniego wieczora o ostatnim zachodzie urodziła się ostatnia bajka kolonijna, — dziwna bajka i niedokończona.
 „A może nie wracać do Warszawy? Może ustawić się parami, wziąć chorągiewki, zaśpiewać marsza i ruszyć w drogę?
 — Dokąd?
 — Do Słońca.
 „Długo iść będzie trzeba. Ale cóż to szkodzi? — Sypiać będziemy w polu, a na życie zarabiać. — W jednej wsi Geszel zagra na skrzypkach, i dadzą nam mleka. W drugiej wsi Ojzer powie wiersz lub Aron bajkę ciekawą, — i dadzą nam chleba. Gdzie indziej znów zaśpiewamy albo w pracy w polu pomożemy...

Ten tekst kojarzy mi się z Zagładą.... a Do Słońca to kierunek do Izraela - napisał autor blogu, R W W.

Janusz Korczak, Mośki, Jośki i Srule

ILUSTRACYE S. LIPSZYCOWEJ
NAKŁAD JAKÓBA MORTKOWICZA
WARSZAWA 1910 — G. CENTNERSZWER I SPÓŁKA
LWÓW — KSIĘGARNIA H. ALTENBERGA
DRUKARNIA NARODOWA W KRAKOWIE

Kolonie letnie Korczaka na tym blogu - 2015

O Sarze Lipszyc - ilustratorce

*Dozorca - Pan - Wychowawca

Mój pamiętnik. 

Wrażenia z pobytu na kolonii w Wilhelmówce. Pierwszy dzień na wsi tak spędziłem. Wyjechaliśmy z Warszawy we czwartek o godzinie szóstej po południu. Jechaliśmy koleją do Goworowa, a potem szliśmy, a młodsi jechali na furach. W Wilhelmówce pan* ustawił nas w pary i posadził na ławki, żebyśmy zawsze tak siedzieli, i rozdano kolację. Po kolacji pan zaprowadził nas na górę do sypialni. Grupy A i B śpią na dole, a grupy C i D śpią na pierwszym piętrze; grupa E śpi na różnych salach, bo są tylko cztery sypialnie. W każdej grupie jest trzydziestu chłopców. Na sali pan pokazywał każdemu z nas łóżko, dla mnie wybrał także jedno łóżko i położyłem się, a pan chodził po sali i mówił, czego nie wolno robić i jak kto ma zmartwienie, żeby przyszedł do pana. Potem nie mogłem zasnąć, ale zasnąłem. Na drugi dzień umyłem się, ubrałem, posłałem łóżko i poszliśmy na werandę. Po paru minutach, kiedy się już wszyscy zebrali, klękliśmy przed ołtarzem, który jest na werandzie, i zmówiliśmy pacierz, a potem śpiewaliśmy: Kiedy ranne wstają zorze. Potem dyżurni rozdali chleb i mleko. Po śniadaniu pan ustawił nas w pary i pokazywał granice kolonii, dokąd wolno się bawić i chodzić. Po obiedzie poszliśmy do lasu, ale dziewczynki nie przyszły, bo od nich jest dalej, więc się bały, że będzie deszcz. Potem graliśmy w palanta, a po kolacji umyłem nogi i jak już wszyscy leżeli, pan opowiedział historię trzech łóżek, kto na nich spał przedtem. I to jest próba mojego pamiętnika.

*Dozorca - Pan - Wychowawca

Digitala påminnelser

Genom digitalisering skapar vi även ständigt digitala påminnelser. En del glada, en del smärtsamma. Våra minnen bär oftast en minnesstämpel - datum. Här, en map från Picassa fotoalbum. Datumet, 4 november 2018 påminner mig att under hela detta år har jag tillsammans med andra från Föreningen Förintelsens Minne arbetat hundratals timmar, under hela sommaren och hösten, för att gräva upp och renovera Förintelsens offers gravar. På bilden gravhällar från sk. K-kvarteret.

Genom digitalisering skapar vi även ständigt digitala påminnelser. En del glada, en del smärtsamma. Våra minnen bär oftast en minnesstämpel - datum. Här, en map från Picassa fotoalbum. Datumet, 22 november 2018 påminner mig att under hela detta år har jag arbetat hundratals timmar i Riksarkivets forskarsal. Då trodde jag att genomgången av de glömda Läkarkorten tillhörande Förintelsens överlevande skulle ta så många år. Klockan 13.40 är den första bilden tagen. Västerbron och solnedgång vid Långholmen. Bilderna tagna därefter är av själva arbetet.

Genom digitalisering skapar vi även ständigt digitala påminnelser. En del glada, en del smärtsamma. Våra minnen bär oftast en minnesstämpel - datum. Här, en map från Picassa fotoalbum. Datumet, 11 oktober 2018 påminner mig att det är fjärde året i rad som jag arbetar med öden av Förintelsens överlevande från staden Piotrków Trybunalski och UNRRAs Vita Båtar. Piotrkows judars historia under och efter Förintelsen återspeglar i en liten skala vad som har hänt med 6 milisen judar under den mörka tiden.

Genom digitalisering skapar vi även ständigt digitala påminnelser. En del glada, en del smärtsamma.

Digitala medier, t.ex. Face book har egentligen varje dag en sådan påminnelsesida. Inte bara födelsedagar men vad man ha gjort denna dag under flera år bakåt. Man blir påmint av födelsedagar både av de som lever och de som har lämnat oss men lever kvar genom medialt förmedling.

En annan digital påminnelse hittar man i de egna fotoarkiv där bilderna läggs i datumordning.

År 2013 - Nyårsresa till Helsingfors. Nelly sover lugnt på nedre britsen medan ja få lägga mig på den övre.

Djurgården. På väg till båtupptagningen vid Hundudden

Hundudden med författaren Elisabeth Gifford. Det tog flera år innan boken blev klar.

Typiska bilder som jag tog vid Jultiden i ett tiotal år. December, klockan 18.00 På väg till Helsingfors med frun Gunvor och hunden Nelly.

Benny Gantz's mother, Malka Weiss came to Sweden with UNRRAs White Boat Mission.

 

Benny Gantz's mother, Malka Weiss

I was asked to find the Medical card of Benny Gantz's mother, Malka Weiss. Yesterday, I looked through the Swedish Holocaust Memorial Association archives and through all Medical cards of "Weiss". 

Later, tonight, I was told that she was registered under another name...  Not Malka but Margit. 

Photo SHMA - archives 2018 is showing medical card of another Weiss that arrived like Benny Gantz's mother with UNRRA White Boat Mission and left Sweden just before Sabbath on January 24, 1947 - heading Eretz Israel.

Malka and her future husband Nachum met onboard of immigrant ship S/S Ulua, later renamed to S/S Haim Arlosoroff, from Sweden to Haifa that made a stop in Italy and picked up additional passengers.

Both Malka and Nachum were imprisoned in Haifa and sent on the prison ship to the British detention camp on Cyprus.

Malka and her future husband Nachum met onboard of immigrant ship S/S Ulua, later renamed to S/S Haim Arlosoroff, from Sweden to Haifa that made a stop in Italy and picked up additional passengers.
Both Malka and Nachum were imprisoned in Haifa and sent to the British detention camp on Cyprus.

Both Malka and Nachum were imprisoned in Haifa and sent to the British detention camp on Cyprus. Later they were let to Israel where they build family in kibbutz that received a gift - Swedish wooden houses. Here most probably Malka and Nachum Gantz and little daughter.

On bord S/S Ulua was also another Holocaust survivor Hungarian girl, Friedman Esther (Deutsch Olga) that Malka found half-dead under the piles of dead bodies in Bergen-Belsen.