Chess board made by Jozef Grundel
Object numberM2022/015:001a
TitleChess board made by Jozef Grundel
DescriptionHand carved folding chessboard 5" by 3" made by Jozef Grundel during his time incarcerated in a Soviet gulag.
Jozef Grundel was born in 1923 in Radlow, Poland to Klara and Maurice. He was a virtuoso musician, skilled in the violin and performing concerts at age 7. At age 19 he was falsely accused of being a spy and was incarcerated for the next 10 years under Article 58 of the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic (RSFSR) Penal Code. This article was first introduced and enforced on 25 Feb 1927 to arrest those suspected guilty of counter-revolutionary activities or 'socially dangerous elements' to the Soviet regime. Those imprisoned by Article 58 were transported to the Soviet forced labour camps or gulags. Jozef was sent to Siberia, in the region east of Kemerovo. A skilled musician and electrical welder, Jozef's skills spared his life in the gulag.
He met his future wife, Bronislavie (Bronia) Altman, in the gulag. She was freed in 1946. Jozef was freed in March 1953, two weeks after Stalin's death. Their daughter Nelly was born in 1946, and son Simon was born 23 April 1947, 11 months later. The family lived in Poland for four years, until 1962, then they came to Australia with the help of HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), arriving on the Groote Beer passenger ship. Jozef died in 1987.
Both Jozef and Bronia's parents were murdered in the Holocaust but it is not known when or where.
Jozef Grundel was born in 1923 in Radlow, Poland to Klara and Maurice. He was a virtuoso musician, skilled in the violin and performing concerts at age 7. At age 19 he was falsely accused of being a spy and was incarcerated for the next 10 years under Article 58 of the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic (RSFSR) Penal Code. This article was first introduced and enforced on 25 Feb 1927 to arrest those suspected guilty of counter-revolutionary activities or 'socially dangerous elements' to the Soviet regime. Those imprisoned by Article 58 were transported to the Soviet forced labour camps or gulags. Jozef was sent to Siberia, in the region east of Kemerovo. A skilled musician and electrical welder, Jozef's skills spared his life in the gulag.
He met his future wife, Bronislavie (Bronia) Altman, in the gulag. She was freed in 1946. Jozef was freed in March 1953, two weeks after Stalin's death. Their daughter Nelly was born in 1946, and son Simon was born 23 April 1947, 11 months later. The family lived in Poland for four years, until 1962, then they came to Australia with the help of HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), arriving on the Groote Beer passenger ship. Jozef died in 1987.
Both Jozef and Bronia's parents were murdered in the Holocaust but it is not known when or where.
Production placeSoviet Union
Production date 1939 - 1953
Production periodWorld War II (1939-1945)
Subjectgulag, Soviet Jewry, prisoners, musicians, persecution
Object namegames
Materialwood, fibres (fabrics)
Dimensions
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Simon Grundel