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Background history
Among many memorabilia created by prisoners-of-war during their stay in the Wehrmacht-run camps, objects of utility, many a time executed with superb craftsmanship and with taking particular artistic care, make a group numbering a lot of items. Today, they are exhibited on displays and are willingly seen and admired by visitors. They include, among others, wooden jewel boxes and caskets. In recent years the Central Museum of Prisoners-of-War in Opole-Łambinowice has obtained one such casket from the family of Jan Chamielec, a former prisoner-of-war. Jan Chamielec was born in Jasło (Krakow Voivodship) on 3 June 1900. Together with his wife, Zofia – “Zosieńka” as he called her in the dedication placed on the box, they went to live in Łódź. He took part in the Polish September Campaign of 1939, fighting as the commander of an anti-tank company being part of the 28th Infantry Regiment. Following the dispersion of the regiment, he managed to break through with a part of the detachment and reached the region of Lublin, where they continued fighting against Germans. He was taken captive on 4 October 1939, wounded in his left leg. He stayed successively in the following oflags: II B Arnswalde (Choszczno), in which he was assigned the POW number 915, then in II D Gross Born (Borne Sulinowo) and, from September 1942 – in VI B Dössel. It is the last camp where the memento comes from. J. Chamielec ordered the casket to be made for his wife by one of the companions in captivity. The name of the maker has remained unknown. The decoration on the box is very elaborate and effective. Most probably it served his wife – Zofia Chamielec, to keep jewels and other sundry little articles in, being a reminder of her husband’s wartime vicissitudes at the same time.
Prepared by: Beata Madej
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Casket for an officer’s wife
Source of acquisition
The memento was presented to the Museum by the family of Jan Chamielec of Opole in 2011.
Description of the item
A wooden box of the rectangular shape; on the left side of the lid there is an inlaid representation of a fox’s head; in the right corner – executed by means of the same technique – the initials of the donor. On the bottom of the casket – the dedication of Jan Chamielec to his wife which reads: “To beloved Zosieńka – Jasio”; below there is the inscription: “Dossel, 15.V.43”.
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