This unique story is told to us by a woman who never left her beloved Krakow—except for the six years she lived in Nazi hell. Mrs Silberring remembers her neighborhood by door numbers--her school at this address, her synagogue over there--even the church she used to go to on Sunday's with her governess. In 1939, a life of wealth and privilege turned into a life of hell and torment. This is her story. This film was made possible thanks to grants from the The German Federal Agency for Civic Education (BPB) and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference). Special thanks to Magdelana Bizon, who interviewed Mrs Silberring.
Study Guides
PREWAR POLAND
POLAND DURING WWII
On 1 September 1939 Poland was invaded by German troops, which signaled the official declaration of The Second World War. Sixteen days later, Soviet troops entered the country from the east, which they viewed as a “disintegrated” Polish state. In accordance with the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, Poland would now be partitioned between the two powers.
POSTWAR POLAND
After the Second World War, leaders of the victorious Allied powers met for the Yalta conference in 1945, named after the island Yalta. Among other political questions, the Allied leaders discussed the fate of Poland. The country underwent territorial changes and a communist government was installed.
POLISH JEWS
Teofila Silberring was raised in the Krakow neighborhood of Kazimierz – the historic Jewish quarter. Take a virtual tour of contemporary Kazimierz or read about the history of Kaziemierz. Teofila's family attended the Tempel Synagogue.
SCHINDLER
Teofila was taken from the Podgorze ghetto to the Plaszow concentration camp, just outside of Krakow. She did not stay long in Plaszow, because she was then employed by Oskar Schindler in his enamel factory in Krakow. Read more about Oskar Schindler at the Jewish Virtual Library.