‘When the Gestapo rang the doorbell’ - a contemporary witness interview with Petra Michalski about her husband's life

This event is part of the programme accompanying the Inge-Deutschkron-Award. 

When the Gestapo rang the doorbell’ – a contemporary witness interview with Petra Michalski about her husband’s life

‘Another report from the Third Reich, another journey from 1933 to 1945, why? Because no two fates are the same. Millions of people were marginalised, persecuted and murdered during the National Socialist era. Only a few thousand tried to help the disenfranchised. But each of these rescue stories is unique.’

Franz Michalski, born in 1934, tells the story of his family’s dramatic rescue during the Nazi era.
According to the National Socialists’ definition, Franz Michalski was a “first-degree half-breed”: his father was considered an “Aryan” and his mother, who was baptised Catholic, was persecuted as a Jew. The day the Gestapo rang the family’s front doorbell to pick him, his mother and his little brother up for deportation was 17 October 1944, which Franz Michalski remembered clearly because it was his 10th birthday. His mother Lilli Michalski fled with him and his younger brother Peter through the backyard, a colleague of his father’s was waiting for the family at the railway station and helped them escape to Styria. The family of four survived with the support of courageous helpers.

Petra Michalski is our guest to talk about Franz Michalski’s life, as they did together for years before his death in 2023.
We look forward to welcoming Petra Michalski to the Schwarzkopf Foundation Young Europe on Thursday 17 October at 17:30.

We look forward to your participation. Please register online by 16 October 2024.