Born: 10 August 1889 (Cieszyn Silesia, Poland)
Died: 9 April 1968
Biography:
Zofia Kossak-Szczucka (Polish pronunciation: [zfja kssak tutska] (also Kossak-Szatkowska); 10 August 1889[a] 9 April 1968) was a Polish writer and World War II resistance fighter. She co-founded two wartime Polish organizations: Front for the Rebirth of Poland and egota, set up to assist Polish Jews to escape the Holocaust. In 1943, she was arrested by the Germans and sent to Auschwitz concentration camp, but survived the war.
Early life
Zofia Kossak was born on 10 August 1889, the daughter of Tadeusz Kossak and granddaughter of painter Juliusz Kossak. Her father, Tadeusz, was the twin brother of renowned painter Wojciech Kossak. Zofia married twice in her lifetime. In 1923, following the death of her first husband Stefan Szczucki in Lwiw, she settled in the village of Górki Wielkie in Cieszyn Silesia, where in 1925 she married Zygmunt Szatkowski.
Activism
Kossak-Szczucka was associated with the Czartak literary group, and her writing mainly appeared in the Catholic press. One of her best-known works from that period is The Blaze, a memoir of the Russian Revolution of 1917. In recognition of her literary achievements, she was awarded the prestigious Gold Laurel (Złoty Wawrzyn) by the Polish Academy of Literature in 1936.
Her historical novels, such as Beatum scelus (1924), Złota wolność (Golden Liberty, 1928), Legnickie pole (The Field of Legnica, 1930), Trembowla (1939), Suknia Dejaniry (The Gift of Nessus, 1939), gained her significant recognition. Among her most famous works are Krzyżowcy (Angels in The Dust, 1935), Król trędowaty (The Leper King, 1936), and Bez orła (Blessed are The Meek, 1937), which delve into the themes of the Crusades and later Francis of Assisi. These works were translated into several languages.
During World War II, Kossak-Szczucka actively participated in underground press activities. From 1939 to 1941, she co-edited the underground newspaper Polska Żyje (Poland Lives). In 1941, she co-founded the Catholic organization Front Odrodzenia Polski (Front for the Rebirth of Poland) and edited its newspaper, Prawda (The Truth). In the underground network, Kossak-Szczucka used the code name Weronika.
Protest!
In the summer of 1942, as the liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto began, Kossak-Szczucka published a leaflet entitled Protest! with 5,000 copies printed. She vividly described the conditions in the ghetto and the horrific circumstances of the deportations taking place. In the leaflet, she wrote, All will perish … Poor and rich, old, women, men, youngsters, infants, Catholics dying with the name of Jesus and Mary together with Jews. Their only guilt is that they were born into the Jewish nation condemned to extermination by Hitler. Despite this atrocity, the world remained silent. Kossak-Szczucka criticized England, America, and even the influential international Jewry for their silence. She emphasized the need for action to stop the extermination.
Arrest and Survival
In 1943, Kossak-Szczucka’s resistance activities caught the attention of the Germans, leading to her arrest. She was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp, where millions of innocent lives were lost during the Holocaust. However, against all odds, she survived the horrors of Auschwitz and ultimately the war.
Zofia Kossak-Szczucka’s bravery, activism, and resilience during World War II solidified her place in history as a true hero. Her work with the underground press and her co-founding of organizations to assist Polish Jews demonstrated her dedication to humanity. Kossak-Szczucka’s writings, both historical novels and memoirs, shed light on important aspects of Polish history and reflect her strong Catholic faith. Her legacy continues to inspire and remind us of the importance of standing up against injustice.
Awards:
– Gold Laurel (Złoty Wawrzyn) of the Polish Academy of Literature (1936)