Wilm Hosenfeld was a teacher in Thalau near Fulda when the Second World War began in September 1939. He was drafted into the Wehrmacht and stationed in Poland.
In 1941, he was placed in charge of a Wehrmacht sports school in Warsaw as an officer. In this role, he issued forged labor passes to Jewish and non-Jewish Poles and employed them at the sports school.
In November 1944, Hosenfeld met the Jewish pianist Władysław Szpilman. He was hiding in the building Hosenfeld’s military company was to move into. Hosenfeld did not betray Szpilman, instead supporting him to find a safe hiding place in the building’s attic. He provided Szpilman with food and warm clothing for a month, until the company was withdrawn from Warsaw at the end of 1944.
In January 1945, Hosenfeld was taken prisoner of war by the Soviets. He was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment. His family attempted to get him released, and people he had helped in occupied Poland spoke out on his behalf. These efforts remained unsuccessful; Wilm Hosenfeld died in prison on August 13, 1952.
He was honored posthumously as Righteous Among the Nations on November 25, 2008.
Wilm Hosenfeld in Węgrów near Warsaw with a Jewish forced laborer, winter 1939/1940 Source: Privatbesitz/Private
Entry from Wilm Hosenfeld’s diary reporting on Jews being murdered, June 16, 1943 . Source: Privatbesitz/Private
Entry from Wilm Hosenfeld’s diary reporting on Jews being murdered, June 16, 1943 . Source: Privatbesitz/Private
Entry from Wilm Hosenfeld’s diary reporting on Jews being murdered, June 16, 1943 . Source: Privatbesitz/Private
Secret message that Wilm Hosenfeld sent from the Soviet prisoner-of-war camp, July 15, 1946 (facsimile). Source: Privatbesitz/Private, Foto: Georg Engels
