Photograph of Maria Twardowski
N° d'objetM2025/071
TitrePhotograph of Maria Twardowski
DescriptionPhotograph of Maria Twardowski sent to Leon Zettel in 1946.
Born in Warsaw, Poland, 1 March 1924, Leon Zettel was 15 when war broke out in 1939.
Adam and Maria Twardowski counted the Zettels among their closest friends. After the Zettels were interned in the ghetto, they supplied them with food. In September 1942, the Zettels were deported to Treblinka where they were murdered. Their 18-year-old son, Leon, managed to avoid the deportations; he escaped from the ghetto and turned to Maria and Adam for help. The couple were childless; Adam worked as a taxi driver. “I was hidden in their tiny two room apartment for long period over the next three years, living in constant fear of been discovered, hiding behind a wardrobe when visitors called. No one else knew of my presence. I lived on money Maria got for selling the jewellery from my family. The Twardowskis gave me shelter and security. They treated me like family. The risk of discovery would have meant death for us all.”
Maria obtained false papers for Leon in the name of Stanislaw Kazimierz Godlewski. As neighbours became increasingly suspicious, Leon had to be moved. After living on a farm outside of Warsaw which was owned by a friend of Maria for a few months, Leon returned to the Twardowskis until the Polish Uprising of 1944. At the end of the war Leon left Poland, living on the German border until he received an entry permit for Australia. He arrived in Australia in 1947, married Charlotte Hammersmidt in 1948. He remained in touch with his rescuers until the day they died.
Born in Warsaw, Poland, 1 March 1924, Leon Zettel was 15 when war broke out in 1939.
Adam and Maria Twardowski counted the Zettels among their closest friends. After the Zettels were interned in the ghetto, they supplied them with food. In September 1942, the Zettels were deported to Treblinka where they were murdered. Their 18-year-old son, Leon, managed to avoid the deportations; he escaped from the ghetto and turned to Maria and Adam for help. The couple were childless; Adam worked as a taxi driver. “I was hidden in their tiny two room apartment for long period over the next three years, living in constant fear of been discovered, hiding behind a wardrobe when visitors called. No one else knew of my presence. I lived on money Maria got for selling the jewellery from my family. The Twardowskis gave me shelter and security. They treated me like family. The risk of discovery would have meant death for us all.”
Maria obtained false papers for Leon in the name of Stanislaw Kazimierz Godlewski. As neighbours became increasingly suspicious, Leon had to be moved. After living on a farm outside of Warsaw which was owned by a friend of Maria for a few months, Leon returned to the Twardowskis until the Polish Uprising of 1944. At the end of the war Leon left Poland, living on the German border until he received an entry permit for Australia. He arrived in Australia in 1947, married Charlotte Hammersmidt in 1948. He remained in touch with his rescuers until the day they died.
Lieu de créationPoland
Date 1946-02
SujetRighteous Among the Nations, hiding, friendships, false documents, identity concealment, post war life
Nom d'objetphotographs
Matérielpaper
Dimensions
- width: 57.00 mm
height: 83.00 mm
Langue
- Polish
Ligne de créditSydney Jewish Museum Collection, donated by Rosanna Zettel.
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.