Amazing Polish Women: Maria Kwaśniewska

Dearest hearts,

I thought it would be good for me to share with you, from time to time, stories of Amazing Polish Women. Hence today I start this series with a remarkable Polish lady that many have not heard of before: Maria Kwaśniewska.

The Story behind the photograph

From the moment I found this old photo of the Olympics in Berlin, in Nazi Germany, I felt the urge to share Maria’s story to the world. Or at least to my blog readers 🙂 As the photograph was received so well by so many of you, that I felt the need to give you a bit more background.

Who was  Maria Kwaśniewska?

Maria Kwaśniewska was a Polish athlete, winner of the bronze medal in the javelin at the Olympic Games in Berlin, 14-time Polish champion in the long jump, triathlon, and pentathlon, and the member of the Polish national volleyball and basketball teams.

It was August 1936, at the Olympic Games in Berlin. There were 3 Javelinists on the podium, but only 2 of them greeted Hitler with the characteristic raised hand, the Nazi salute. The 3rd one wore a tracksuit with the Polish emblem and stood motionless, not even considering raising her hand to greet Hitler. A moment later, she was escorted to the honor box, so that the Führer could congratulate her. “I congratulate a small Pole”, said Hitler, the unexpected answer follows “You’re not so tall yourself”. 

Kwaśniewska even received the informal Miss Olympics title, hence the reason she was invited to the private lodge to meet Hitler. The chancellor wanted to personally congratulate the best javelin throwers. During the meeting, the Chancellor of the Reich was photographed with three javelinists. Later on, a copy of the photo was handed to Maria as a souvenir. She didn’t realize how important the picture would later become.  Just 3 years on, that photo proved to be a literal lifesaver for many people. 

Second World War

When the Second World War breaks out, Maria Kwaśniewska is in Genoa, Italy, where, with a grant from the Polish Athletic Association(Polski Związek Lekkiej Atletyki), she is preparing for the 1940 Olympic Games in Helsinki, which are then canceled due to the attack on Finland by the former USSR.

At this time, Kwaśniewska is one of the best athletes in the world. When she hears about Germany’s invasion of Poland, she decides to leave Italy, which at that time was still safe, and to return to Warsaw. “I entered the country against the tide, as it were. People were already talking about war, so I could also have stayed [in Italy]. Everyone tried to talk me into staying, but I didn’t want to. At the Zebrzydowice border crossing, people looked at me as if I were mad. People were leaving the country in droves and I returned to Warsaw, even if I didn’t really know with what and how I was going to do it” – This is how Maria Kwaśniewska recalled this moment in an interview which she gave to the “Rzeczpospolita” newspaper in 2000.

Cross for bravery!

With a course completed as a paramedic and a driving license in her hands, she immediately joins in as an ambulance driver around the Warsaw power station. She transports wounded soldiers from trenches to the hospitals. She was rewarded the cross for bravery (Krzyż Walecznych) by Stefan Starzyński, the former Mayor of the city, for her involvement in the defense of Warsaw.

Maria Kwaśniewska worked non-stop for the resistance. At the beginning of August 1944, transit camp 121, also referred to as Dulag 121, is established by the Nazis. The camp was built for the civilian population of Warsaw. They were driven from their house in the Warsaw uprising and after its suppression. Within 6 months, around 400,000 people are channeled through this camp. The Nazis make their selections there: those who are strong enough are assigned to forced labor, the weak, the old, and the infirm are taken to concentration camps. 

This is when Maria remembers the photograph with Adolf Hitler and she takes it as shows it to the guards at the entrance to the camp. The photo works its magic and proves itself to be a free pass, helping her smuggle people out of the camp. “I brought people out of the camp, going first to Pruszków and then to Podkowa Leśna, to my house. I had a transit camp in my house”, recalls Kwaśniewska adding: “The gendarmes raised their hands to their caps and let my transports through.”

Little miracles can go a long way…

Source for the article: Porta Polonica & Poland Daily & Wikipedia.

From yours truly,

The Twisted Red LadyBug