Nazi-Seized Jewelry from Concentration Camp Prisoners Returned to Families

Warsaw, Poland — In a poignant event, the Arolsen Archives returned treasured belongings stolen from victims of the Nazi regime to their families. Among the recipients was Stanislawa Wasilewska’s grandson and great-granddaughter, who received her confiscated jewelry during a ceremony held in Warsaw on September 10, 2024. Wasilewska was captured by German troops during the Warsaw Uprising on August 31, 1944, and was subsequently transported to a women’s concentration camp at Ravensbrück, before she was sent to the forced labor camp in Neuengamme.

The emotional ceremony marked the return of items to the relatives of 12 Polish inmates of Nazi concentration camps. For many families, the return of these artifacts was a powerful moment to connect with lost histories. Some relatives wept openly, overwhelmed by the significance of reclaiming personal mementoes that belonged to their ancestors.

Wasilewska’s family received two amber crucifixes, part of a golden bracelet, and a gold wristwatch engraved with the initials “KW” and the date “7-3-1938,” which likely commemorates her marriage to Konstanty Wasilewski. Life had taken a turbulent turn for Wasilewska, but the return of her items offered a profound sense of closure.

One of her descendants, Malgorzata Koryś, expressed the importance of this moment, stating, “This is an important moment in our lives, because this is a story that we did not fully know about and it came to light.” After the war ended in 1945, Wasilewska was rescued and taken to Sweden by the Red Cross but eventually returned to Poland, where she rests in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, a town near Warsaw.

Another participant, Adam Wierzbicki, received two rings that belonged to Zofia Strusińska and a gold chain along with a tooth filling of Józefa Skórka, two sisters who were also captured on August 4, 1944. These sisters underwent similar experiences as Wasilewska, passing through Ravensbrück and Neuengamme before being liberated and taken to Sweden.

A family anecdote suggests one of the sisters turned down a proposal from a Swedish man who offered a new life, as they ultimately chose to return to their homeland. Wierzbicki noted that the return of these items held immense sentimental and historical value for their family.

The artifacts were returned by the Arolsen Archives, renowned for its extensive documentation of Nazi persecution, which encompasses information on around 17.5 million individuals. The archive currently safeguards approximately 2,000 belongings that Nazi forces seized, intending to facilitate their return to the rightful descendants.

When concentration camp inmates were transported to camps, they were often stripped of all valuables, from wedding bands to watches and gold chains. These items were then cataloged in envelopes marked with the owner’s name, enabling potential future reunions with family members.

Despite this, numerous family treasures remain unaccounted for, lost over the years. High-profile cases include a collection of jewelry belonging to Austrian billionaire Heidi Horten, which was pulled from auction after it was revealed that her husband was a member of the Nazi party, acquiring wealth during that dark period.

Wierzbicki described the moment he learned of the return of the jewelry as a mix of joy and contemplation, suggesting “history will catch up with you.” He felt a connection to his aunts through these mementos, almost as if they were sharing their presence through this return.

In marking 80 years since the Warsaw Uprising, the Arolsen Archives initiated the “Warsaw Uprising: 100 Untold Stories” campaign, aiming to connect with 100 victims’ families and share their legacy through recovered belongings. Archive director Floriane Azoulay emphasized their role as custodians of these artifacts, stating, “Every object that we return is personal.” She underscored the significance of these belongings, being the last items carried by individuals before they became prisoners.

Volunteer Manuela Golc shared her experiences of contacting over 100 Polish families, often uncovering unknown histories. These transitions are often filled with emotion, leading to intense conversations that uncover long-buried family narratives. In cases where personal stories are harder to trace, Golc would visit cemeteries, leaving waterproof messages for relatives of individuals recorded in the archives, urging them to reach out.

The Warsaw Uprising was a crucial episode in history, launched by the Polish resistance in an effort to liberate their capital before the advancing Soviet forces. The uprising lasted 63 days, resulting in the loss of roughly 200,000 lives, both civilian and military. In retaliation, Nazi forces decimated Warsaw, leaving the city in ruins.

During the Nazi occupation from 1939 to 1945, Poland suffered the tragic loss of around six million of its citizens, including half of its Jewish population, along with considerable material devastation.