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Background history
An inconspicuous checked blouse from the time of World War II, today presented as a museum exhibit, but for years it remained a peculiar symbol of dreams and hope. It used to belong to Zofia Książek-Bregułowa, a participant in the Warsaw Uprising, a prisoner-of-war in the Werhmacht-run camps, an actress, poet, heroine of books, films and exhibitions. Born in Kielce in 1920, she graduated from the secret State Institute of Dramatic Art in Warsaw and in August 1944 joined the 3rd Company of “Krybar” Combat Group. She assumed her nom de guerre “Żaneta” and was serving as a liaison officer during the Uprising. On 5 September she was seriously wounded and the wounds she received on the head and eyes resulted in the loss of sight. Upon the capitulation of the Uprising, in October 1944, being in pain and wholly bandaged (wounded legs, stomach, chest, head and eyes), diagnosed to be without chances to survive, merely with a small bundle tucked under her head by a friend, she left Warsaw and was transported to the POW hospital in Gross-Lübars. The bundle was a piece of finely checked material wrapped around a towel, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste. It accompanied Zofia Książek on her way from the hospital to Stalag VI C Oberlangen – the largest camp designed for women – participants in the Warsaw Uprising. Despite the serious wounds she had suffered and the loss of sight, she joined in the cultural life in the captivity, performing during evenings of poetry. The women interned in Gross-Lübars and Oberlangen remembered the girl with a black band covering her eyes, who was reciting and singing, in this way offering a brief moment of forgetfulness about the oppressive wartime reality. It was in Oberlangen where Zofia’s mates sewed a flared skirt with suspenders for her, making use of the material which had been presented to her while leaving Warsaw. The skirt was a fashionable article of clothing as for that time and her first stage dress. At the same time, the wooden POW bunkhouse was the theatre for her and her friends – the audience. After the liberation of the camp on 18 April 1945, the artist went to Great Britain, where she got married to Włodzimierz Breguła, an outstanding violinist who came from Silesia. It is also there where she completed the prestigious London theater school – the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Thanks to the resumed treatment she was able to regain some of her sight. In 1947, she returned to Poland with her husband. Then, upon her request, the slightly worn-out checked skirt was converted to a casual blouse. It still was the only memento brought from Warsaw – the city in which, despite the terror of the occupation – her dream of acting did materialize. Her passion and strong determination allowed her to overcome many obstacles and successfully work as an actress. She acted in plays broadcast on the Polish Radio in Warsaw, the Theater of Opole Land and the Silesian Theater in Katowice. She published five volumes of poetry and herself was an inspiration to Krzysztof Miklaszewski, who told her story in the film Prawo do sceny [The right to the stage] (1978), Barbara Czajkowska, the author of the biographical book about Zofia Książek, under the title Będziesz jedna, jedyna… [You will be one, the only one…] (1995), Magdalena Makaruk, the author of the publications: Poezja utkana z jej życia [Poetry woven of her life] (1999), Zamiast świateł rampy [Instead of the limelight] (2003), Paul Meyer in the documentary film entitled Konspiratorki [Women-conspirators], and Alicja Schatton – the director of Podróż do zielonych cieni [A journey to green shadows] (2009). In 2009, she was one of the heroines of the museum exhibition “Portraits of POWs”. During the exhibition she was greatly moved and gave over the precious item of her clothing to us.
Prepared by: Dorota Musiał
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