Janusz Korczak and Mrs. Stefa.

Let's not exaggerate!  Here, I mean the latest descriptions of Stefa Wilczyńska on the internet, including that it was Wilczyńska who created the Orphanage and that its director was a pediatrician, a promising writer - Janusz Korczak, and its Chief manager was Stefania Wilczyńska. It's not true, it is actually a white lie. The entire Orphanage at 92 Krochmalna, including architectural plans, educational system, and pedagogical tools, is Korczak's credit. 

I am not writing about the merits of Mrs. Stefa, about the fact that she knew how to use Korczak's tools and even improve them, because they are generally known facts. It is also known that at the end of the 1930s the Orphanage functioned well without Korczak and without Wilczyńska.

Janusz Korczak i Pani Stefa - Nie przesadzajmy – powiedział ogrodnik!

Sprawa gender i feminizmu nie powinna "odkrywać nowych prawd" i Wilczyńska naprawdę nie potrzebuje nowej aureoli typu gender. Nie była nigdy Grzegorzewską!

Nie przesadzajmy – powiedział ogrodnik! Ja powtarzam to samo. Chodzi mnie o ostatnie opisy Stefy Wilczyńskiej na internecie, m.in. że to Wilczyńska stworzyła Dom Sierot a jego dyrektorem został lekarz pediatra, dobrze zapowiadający się pisarz – Janusz Korczak, a naczelną kierowniczką – Stefania Wilczyńska.

Niby prawda ale to tak naprawdę to białe kłamstwo. Cały Dom Sierot łącznie z planami architektonicznymi i z systemem wychowawczym, narzędziami, to zasługa Korczaka.

O zasługach p. Stefy, o tym że wiedziała jak się posługiwać narzędziami Korczaka, i nawet je ulepszać, nie piszę bo są ogólnie znane.

Wiadomo że pod koniec lat 30-tych Dom Sierot funkcjonował bez Korczaka i bez Wilczyńskiej.

Sprawa gender i feminizmu nie powinna "odkrywać nowych prawd" i Wilczyńska naprawdę nie potrzebuje nowej aureoli typu gender. Nie była nigdy Grzegorzewską!

Colonel* on the right side of the photo in which Icchak Cukierman is speaking on the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising tried to save Korczaks room at 92 Krochmalna.

General Janusz Zarzycki (right), colonel Michal Wasserman Wróblewski - Pan Misza in the middle and general Tadeusz Pióro on the left in Warszawa during 80-ties.

Colonel* on the right side of the photo in which Icchak Cukierman is speaking on the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (April 1943), is the one who tried to save "Korczak's Room" and make a Korczak Museum in the attic at 92 Krochmalna. 

92 Korochmalna was the address of Janusz Korczaks Orphanage. Colonel Janusz Zarzycki, actually later general and deputy National Defence Minister and thereafter the Mayor of Warsaw (and also my uncle and my wedding witness). He collaborated at that time with architect, prof. Syrakus (née Eliasberg).

The colonel's* wife, Krystyna (Zielinska-Zarzycka journalist and MP), worked during the ghetto period as a waitress in a cafe in the building at 16 Sienna Street, where Korczak's Orphanage was also located from 1941 to August 5th, 1942. Thanks to the fact that Krystyna's sister's husband (Michal Wasserman Wróblewski, Pan Misza) worked in the Orphanage House as a tutor, Krystyna got the permission from Korczak to keep a red rickshaw in the yard of the Orphanage House in Sienna.

*The colonel is described as the one who pushed through the reconstruction of the burnt Orphanage after the war. He was an architect by profession. Later, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Mayor of Warsaw - Janusz Zarzycki. 

**The café at Sienna 16, headed by Tatiana Epstein, was on the ground floor. The waitresses are ladies from the best company. The cafe features Wladyslaw Szpilman. The cafe announced a competition for young talents. The reward is a week's worthy performance contract. During the three days of the competition, the hall was filled to the brim. The jury (Władysław Szpilman, Helena Ostrowska, Stefan Pomper, the architect's wife Bela Gelbard, Tatiana Epstein) awarded prizes to Stanisława Rapel (dance), Mary Berg (jazz songs), and six-year-old Szpilman's student (piano).

One of the 17 documents (top photo) connected to Janusz Korczak/Henryk Goldszmit from Ringelblum Archive is the famous invitation to the "Last play in Warszawas Ghetto".

Cywia Lubetkin and Icchak Cukierman in Lodz after WWII before they left for Eretz Israel.

One of the 17 documents (top photo) connected to Janusz Korczak/Henryk Goldszmit from Ringelblum Archive is the famous invitation to the "Last play in Warszawas Ghetto". At this address, "Kitchen" (Kuchnia) the secret kibbutz of the Chaluc organization was housed. It was run a.o. by Zivia (Cywia) Lubetkin and Yitzhak (Icchak) Cukierman.

There was a regular lecture program run at 34 Dzielna street almost every day. Janusz Korczak had a lecture at the kibbutz on January 18, 1942 and Stefa Wilczyńska on January 20, 1942.

This special invitation was adressed by Stefa Wilczyńska and sent by messenger to three persons at Dzielna. It is not known who was the third person on this invitation - P. (Pani - Mrs) Sara. 34 is the number of Dzielna street and 8 is the flat number where Lubetkin and Cukierman lived.
(top picture)
There are three names there...

P. Cywia... 

P. Ichak... and 

P. Sara

P. Cywia = Pani Cywia Lubetkin.

P. Ichak = Pan Icchak Cukierman.
P. Sara = ?
Cywia Lubetkin and Icchak Cukierman in Lodz after WWII before they left for Eretz Israel.

"My" Children from Kinderheim in Bergen-Belsen during very first days in Sweden - July 1945 - "1 Holländsk kv" means Dutch nurse Annie Bonsel..

The list is from the place called Sundsgården where children and the staff were placed after arrival to Sweden. On the list there is mentioned "1 Holländsk Kv" - that means 1 Dutch woman. A mentioned Dutch woman was nurse Annie Bonsel.

The message sent to the Chef of the Swedish Navy from M/S KP Ingrid: According to the received information from Belsen the following will arrive 24/7 (July 24, 1945). 75 sick children. 95 healthy children together with 26 healthy and 20 sick mothers. Will be sent on Kastelholm 25/7 (July 25th, 1945). On the same ship earlier mentioned 34 Norwegian children will follow as well as part of the (Swedish) detachment.

The message sent after S/S Kastelholm left Lübeck was about a number of children and their health conditions and about the accompanying persons (5).

From Annie Bonsel scrapbook photos of children from Barrack 211 upon arrival to Sweden. Numerous children were from Piotrków Trybunalski.

Soon after the British liberated (took over) the Bergen-Belsen camp in April 1945, a Dutch nurse, Annie Bonsel, came there with doctor Robert Collis and Han Hogerzeil as part of the UNRRA and Red Cross teams. In Bergen-Belsen Hospital nurse Annie Bonsel kept a scrapbook of documents concerning liberated children from Barrack 211.

Annie Bonsel was so dedicated to her work and the care of children that she decided to follow them with the White Boat fleet to Sweden. She and the children came to Sweden on a very last boat from Lübeck that carried mainly Jewish children from the Bergen-Belsen ward.

In Sweden, the group was, however, divided. Some of the children were directly sent to the hospital (Nya Lungkliniken). The others were divided into three groups, mothers with children, elder boys, and elder girls, and placed at different locations in and around the city of Malmö.

In Sweden, the group that came together on S/S Kastelholm, was, however, divided. Some of the children were directly sent to the hospital (Nya Lungkliniken). The others were divided into three groups, mothers with children (photo above från Sundsgården in Råå), elder boys, and elder girls, and placed at different locations in and around the city of Malmö. Several mothers and children in the photo were imprisoned in the Piotrków ghetto and thereafter in concentration camps in Ravensbrück and Bergen-Belsen.

When the White Boat S/S Kastelholm arrived in Malmö after one night at sea all the passengers have to be registered and disinfected and checked for lice. All these procedures were done on the day of arrival, July 26, 1945. The sick children were transferred to Nya Lungkliniken in Malmö. Thereafter, 20 older girls and mothers with small children were sent together with Hermina, Annie Bonsel, and Ms. Fernandes to Sundsgården close to Helsingborg. Luba (the main hero from Bergen-Belsen), and the older girls were transferred to Bjärred (north of Malmö and the older boys from the group went to a house in Gåsebäck also close to Helsingborg. The children that were hospitalized at Nya Lungkliniken were thereafter moved to Welanderhemmet and sister May.

80 % of the Kinderheim children in the picture left Sweden in 1946-1947 and went to Eretz Israel.

Dr. Rober Colis from Bergen-Belsen hospital and dr. Arnoldson from the Swedish Transit Hospital planned carefully the transport of the Kinderheim to Sweden. In the message sent to the Chef of the Swedish Navy from M/S KP Ingrid one can read: 

According to the received information from Belsen, the following will arrive 24/7 (July 24, 1945). 75 sick children. 95 healthy children together with 26 healthy and 20 sick mothers. Will be sent on Kastelholm 25/7 (July 25th, 1945). On the same ship earlier mentioned 34 Norwegian children will follow as well as part of the (Swedish) detachment.

Thanks, Julius Maslovat for all Your efforts to get the documentation from Bergen-Belsen.

From Annie Bonsel scrapbook - Bergen-Belsen Hospital - TB test results from June-July 1945. There are numerous children from Piotrków Trybunalski Ghetto on that list among them as number 3 from the top Milstein Feliks (Sharaga), here as Muhlstei Felix.

Annie Bonsel was so dedicated to her work and the care of children that she decided to follow them with the White Boat fleet to Sweden. She and the children came to Sweden on a very last boat from Lübeck that carried mainly Jewish children from the Bergen-Belsen ward. Here is the boat S/S Kastelholm which was part of the UNRRA White Boat fleet. The picture was taken in Stockholm with the City Hall on the left.

The Holocaust and Local History in Stockholm and surroundings. Täby - Lovö - Fagersjö - Fiskarudden på Lidingö - Sigtuna

When I wrote my paper about The Holocaust and Local History in Stockholm, I found several documents of interest. Some of them were Swedish Criminal Police reports and numerous papers were about the UNRRA organization in Sweden.

Korczak wiedział że "W czasie lata dzieci się nudzą, To ogólnie znana rzecz" i dlatego dzieci z kolonii na Gocławku robiły wyjazdy do okolicznych miejscowości. m.in. do Świdra. Wysiadamy na siódmej stacji!

 Dzieci z Domu Sierot Korczaka.
Świder i most nad rzeką Świder. 

Ze stacji Wawer do stacji Świder było 24 km. Tak że pół godziny jazdy koleją.
Wysiadamy na siódmej stacji! mówili wychowawcy i dzieci liczyły stacje".

Ze stacji Wawer do stacji Świder było 24 km. Tak że pół godziny jazdy koleją.
Wysiadamy na siódmej stacji! mówili wychowawcy i dzieci liczyły stacje.

W czasie deszczu dzieci się nudzą, To ogólnie znana rzecz. Choć mniej trudzą się i mniej brudzą się, Ale strasznie nudzą się. To tekst piosenki z Kabaretu Starszych Panów.

Korczak wiedział że "W czasie lata dzieci się nudzą, To ogólnie znana rzecz" i dlatego dzieci z kolonii na Gocławku robiły wyjazdy do okolicznych miejscowości. m.in. do Świdra*. Tam była woda i rzeka której Korczakowi tak brakowało.

Ze stacji Wawer która była najbliższą stacją kolejową dla kolonii Korczaka, do stacji Świder było 24 km. Tak że pół godziny jazdy koleją. Korczak jadąc z Warszawy do dzieci na kolonie letnie jechał prawdopodobnie ze stacji Warszawa Most do stacji Wawer gdzie na niego czekała bryczka z furmanem z fermy Różyczka.

Wysiadamy na siódmej stacji! mówili wychowawcy i dzieci liczyły stacje.

Ja pamiętam że przy moście kolejowym było głęboko, do pasa!

Droga Korczaka na kolonie. Ze stacji Warszawa Most pod mostem Kierbedzia można bylo jechać koleją do stacji Wawer.

Janusz Korczak i Stefania Wilczyńska przyjeżdżali zazwyczaj na kolonie pociągiem. Bursisci, wychowawcy i dzieci natomiast tramwajem 24 do pętli Gocławek. Pętla tramwajowa "Gocławek" powstała u zbiegu ulic Grochowskiej i Olszynki Grochowskiej w związku z utworzeniem linii nr 24 łączącej Gocławek z Placem Trzech Krzyży. Ta droga od pętli tramwajowej była dłuższa, ale komunikacja tramwajowa była tańsza od kolejowej. Droga też była milsza, bo szło się wśród pachnących pól, jak opowiadali moi rodzice.

* Nazwa Świder rzeki pochodzi prawdopodobnie od prasłowiańskiego wyrazu swid lub świd (praindoeuropejski rdzeń sweld), który oznacza woda, wilgotny, błyszczeć, lśnić. Znaczenie etymologiczne może mieć też kręty charakter rzeki, jak również powstające w jej nurcie wiry wodne – „świdry”.

Dzieci z Piotrkowa Trybunalskiego - Z Francji do "Sierocinca Magdiel".

Sierociniec Magdiel powstał jako dom sierot i szkoła dla dzieci, które przeżyły Zagładę. Magdiel, była wioską rolniczą założoną w 1924 roku przez żydowskich imigrantów z Rosji, Polski i Litwy, do której później dołączyła grupa z Holandii. 

W 1964 roku wieś Magdiel wraz z Ramatayim, Hadar i Ramat Hadar połączyły się, tworząc Hod Hasharon.