Zofia Posmysz-Piasecka[1] (née Posmysz; born 23 August 1923) is a
Polish journalist, novelist, and author. She was a resistance fighter
in World War II and survived imprisonment at the Auschwitz and
Ravensbrück concentration camps. Her autobiographical account of the
Holocaust in occupied Poland Passenger from Cabin 45 became the basis
for her 1962 novel Passenger, subsequently translated into 15
languages.[2] The original radio drama was adapted for an
award-winning feature film, while the novel was adapted into an opera
by the same title with music by Mieczysław Weinberg.[3]Posmysz was
born in Kraków and lived there until the invasion of Poland in
1939.[2] During the occupation she attended clandestine courses and
worked at a cable factory. She was arrested by the Gestapo in 1942, at
age 19, charged with distributing anti-Nazi leaflets. She was kept for
6 weeks at the Montelupich Prison in Kraków.[2] After prolonged
interrogation she was moved under escort to the Auschwitz-Birkenau
concentration camp.[4] Relegated to arduous work at a penal company in
Budy, she was saved twice by the camp doctor, Janusz MÄ…kowski. On 18
January 1945 Posmysz (prisoner number 7566) was sent to Ravensbrück
concentration camp and from there to the Neustadt-Glewe satellite
camp, where she was liberated on 2 May 1945 by the US Army.[2]After
World War II, she studied at the University of Warsaw, and worked for
the broadcaster Polskie Radio in the culture section. In 1959, she
wrote a radio drama, Pasażerka z kabiny 45 (Passenger from Cabin 45),
based on her memories from the time spent in Nazi concentration camps.
The play was produced in the same year by the Polish Radio[5]
featuring Aleksandra ÅšlÄ…ska and Jan Åšwiderski. It was adapted for
television by Posmysz in 1960. The show was directed by Andrzej Munk
and featured Ryszarda Hanin, Zofia Mrozowska, and Edward Dziewoński
in the leading roles. The Passenger from Cabin 45 was innovative and
unusual in the genre of Holocaust literature, because it depicted a
loyal SS Aufseherin, Annelise Franz, in charge of Posmysz's work
detail at Auschwitz,[6][7] who nevertheless exhibited basic human
behaviour towards prisoners.[2]
Polish journalist, novelist, and author. She was a resistance fighter
in World War II and survived imprisonment at the Auschwitz and
Ravensbrück concentration camps. Her autobiographical account of the
Holocaust in occupied Poland Passenger from Cabin 45 became the basis
for her 1962 novel Passenger, subsequently translated into 15
languages.[2] The original radio drama was adapted for an
award-winning feature film, while the novel was adapted into an opera
by the same title with music by Mieczysław Weinberg.[3]Posmysz was
born in Kraków and lived there until the invasion of Poland in
1939.[2] During the occupation she attended clandestine courses and
worked at a cable factory. She was arrested by the Gestapo in 1942, at
age 19, charged with distributing anti-Nazi leaflets. She was kept for
6 weeks at the Montelupich Prison in Kraków.[2] After prolonged
interrogation she was moved under escort to the Auschwitz-Birkenau
concentration camp.[4] Relegated to arduous work at a penal company in
Budy, she was saved twice by the camp doctor, Janusz MÄ…kowski. On 18
January 1945 Posmysz (prisoner number 7566) was sent to Ravensbrück
concentration camp and from there to the Neustadt-Glewe satellite
camp, where she was liberated on 2 May 1945 by the US Army.[2]After
World War II, she studied at the University of Warsaw, and worked for
the broadcaster Polskie Radio in the culture section. In 1959, she
wrote a radio drama, Pasażerka z kabiny 45 (Passenger from Cabin 45),
based on her memories from the time spent in Nazi concentration camps.
The play was produced in the same year by the Polish Radio[5]
featuring Aleksandra ÅšlÄ…ska and Jan Åšwiderski. It was adapted for
television by Posmysz in 1960. The show was directed by Andrzej Munk
and featured Ryszarda Hanin, Zofia Mrozowska, and Edward Dziewoński
in the leading roles. The Passenger from Cabin 45 was innovative and
unusual in the genre of Holocaust literature, because it depicted a
loyal SS Aufseherin, Annelise Franz, in charge of Posmysz's work
detail at Auschwitz,[6][7] who nevertheless exhibited basic human
behaviour towards prisoners.[2]
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