In October-November 1940, when Korczak protested to the Gestapo that his orphanage’s potatoes had been confiscated during its move to the ghetto, he was thrown into the notorious Pawiak prison for not wearing his Star of David armband. A court hearing took place and Korczak was sentenced to a few months in prison and a fine. He survived only because one of his former orphans had the contacts and funds to get him out. It was one of his former orphans “Harry” Kaliszer, who bribed a local Nazi collaborator for thirty thousand zloty.
Janusz Korczak was finally released in late December 1940 and returned to the children in the orphanage at 33 Chlodna Street and was warmly greeted when he returned.
December 1940, Warsaw ghetto.
An anonymous pupil or former pupil for Dom Sierot - Orphans Home run by Janusz Korczak, wrote an essay entitled "Welcome, Doctor". It is about the imprisonment and return of Janusz Korczak from Pawiak prison to the orphanage at 33 Chlodna Street in the Warsaw Ghetto.
We've been in the new home for a month now, and it almost seems like years. We're almost used to it now. A different house, different windows and a different view from them, different classrooms, halls, bedrooms, stairs... and yet everything flows as before in his nice way. We are slowly taking root. One night only, Mr. Doctor he stayed with us, once in this house he watched and thought... And then he was in prison. Mr. Doctor is back – Good news – Welcome! No beautiful parties, without artificial and noisy shouts, without pompous faces and preparations, without flirting and imposing. We are simple and natural in simplicity. They all stood on the stairs and looked at the Doctor with smiles. And everyone had one and the same smile on their lips. Everyone was happy and satisfied and precisely because they love Mr. Doctor, they knew how to celebrate this moment quietly and nicely. We were touched. The whole day went on normally, without disturbing the celebrations. He ran, looked, smiled, and left for his duty, carrying deeply beautiful feelings. And it was a party. Not imposing, not bothering - peace and quiet for the Doctor, peace and warm rest.
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| "Welcome to the Doctor" was probably written by Janusz Korczak's pupil- |
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| Janusz Korczak was thrown into the notorious Pawiak prison for not wearing his Star of David armband. |
