Among descendants of Polish Jews, the path to family history is paved not only with archives or DNA. Jewish cemeteries in Poland are often overlooked in family history research, yet they
For many families, discovering Polish-Jewish ancestry is more than a hobby—it’s a deeply personal journey to reconnect with a lost or fragmented past. Whether you’re driven by curiosity, identity, or
I knew that Jesse Eisenberg’s movie A Real Pain would leave an impression on me, but I didn’t expect it to stir up so many emotions. The film turned out to
Behind the Orle housing estate in Jelenia Góra, between the ROD allotments and the Kamienna River, are the remains of the tomb of Field Marshal Hans Ernst von Zieten. His
A faint inscription, ‘Goebel, Ofen Fabrik’—meaning Goebel Stove Factory—emerges on the building at ul. Piotra Skargi 1. The building at ul. Piotra Skargi / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak According to
At ul. Klonowica 6 in Jelenia Góra, formerly Contessastrasse 6 in Hirschberg, there was a bakery owned by Paul Betterman—but he isn’t the focus of today’s story. On July 11th,
Karl Gottlieb Troche, a sanitary doctor, owned the remarkable building located at pl. Piastowski 11 in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój (formerly Hirschbergerstrasse 11 in Bad Warmbrunn). Building at pl. Piastowski 11 /
On October 25th, 1895, Frida Singer went to the Civil Registry Office in Kowary to report that her younger brother had passed away the day before. Fritz Singer, the son
Another remarkable figure lived at Hirschbergerstrasse 310 (later Hirschbergerstrasse 10), today known as Plac Piastowski 12. On November 9th, 1872, in Villa Bellevue, Wilhelm Seydelmann and his wife Augusta, née
That moment when you find out that a renowned pianist once lived on the street you’re walking down. A friend of Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt. An inspiration to Rachmaninoff.
Eliza Höniger’s guesthouse at Agnetendorf 31 (now ul. Kręta 8 in today’s Jagniątków), was notably mentioned in the Kurier Warszawski in 1904. The article stated: “A guesthouse and retreat for
In the Karkonosze forest, between Michałowice (Kiesewald) and Piechowice (Petersdorf), lies a small cemetery. Although its exact nature remains unclear, there are many indications that it served as a burial
On the tombstones of two individuals buried in the forest cemetery in Michałowice, there are inscribed runes and a triskelion. One of them will be our focus today, although you’ll
In 1927, at 70 Hermsdorferstrasse in Bad Warmbrunn (now Cieplicka 70 in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój), lived Josef Galle, a senior tax secretary, Ernst Kuhlig, a chimney sweep, and Max Klein, a
Haus Wunsch at ul. Złoty Widok 1 in Michalowice (Kiesewald). Haus Wunsch currently / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak As indicated on the plaque next to it, the building was constructed
Villa Martha, at 68 Hermsdorferstrasse, Bad Warmbrunn. Today it’s Cieplicka 68, Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój, a part of Jelenia Góra. This address has popped up in your suggestions a few times, and
When I saw that advertisement, I couldn’t just pass by indifferently. Tiled stove, space, light, layout… One can only imagine how beautifully life must have been here once. Interior of
The building number 5 on Kleine Wilhelmstrasse in Bad Warmbrunn (today Źródlana 5 in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój) belonged to the master tailor Josef Kutnar. It housed an inn called Schwarzer Bär,
Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój and the faintly appearing inscriptions on the building at 246 Wolności Street. What is the story behind them? The building at ul. Wolności 246 in Cieplice / Photo
A few years ago, during the renovation of the roof of their over 150-year-old house in Gierczyn (Giehren) in the Jizera Mountains, Ania and Darek unexpectedly discovered a gravestone of
I felt that someone exceptional lived in this house, but I did not expect that the pre-war owner of the villa at today’s ul. Tkacka 19 in Jelenia Góra (pre-war
At ul. Przemysłowa 6 in Piechowice (Przemysłowa Street 6, Petersdorf), there was an inn called Zur Eisenbahn, which, in the 1930s, was operated by the Deckwerth couple – Emil and Elsa. After Emil’s death, Elsa took over the management of the restaurant, a world of business and inns that had been familiar to her since childhood.
Do you remember the Miss Judaea beauty contest that took place in Poland in 1929? You asked about the contestants’ fates, mainly whether they survived the war. I was particularly intrigued by Wiera Pupko, especially her costume and wavy lock of hair, so I decided to start with her story.
What is the connection between the building in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój, Jelenia Góra, and the Feniks department store in Wrocław?
The Engel family lived in the building at Hermsdorferstrasse 2 in Bad Warmbrunn, now at Pl. Piastowski 31 in Cieplice Śląskie Zdrój. The living quarters were upstairs, and downstairs is
At ul. Ludwika Hirszfelda 15, you will find one of the most extraordinary buildings in Malinnik (Herischdorf), a village annexed to Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój (Bad Warmbrunn) in 1941. Before the war,
Did you know that the first guidebook to the Sudetes in Polish was written in 1850? Even more remarkable, it was authored by a woman—a Polish Jew and an ardent
Today’s protagonist is Mathilde Buttermilch – another of the seven individuals whose tombstones have been preserved in the Jewish cemetery in Jelenia Góra (Hirschberg), and whose life stories I want
As I strolled down Łabska Street in Jelenia Góra (Hirschberg) for the first time, the house at number 12 immediately grabbed my attention. With its elegant driveway and richly adorned
Out of love for Malinnik, once a village called Herischdorf, annexed to Bad-Warmbrunn (today’s Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój) before the war, I have created a special series dedicated to the beautiful villas
Today is the anniversary of Rosel Aptekmann’s death, so her story will be the first in a series dedicated to people buried in the Jewish cemetery in Jelenia Góra (Hirschberg).
The Jewish community in Jelenia Góra (formerly Hirschberg) was quite modest, with a peak population of only 450 people. Nevertheless, the city had two Jewish cemeteries. New Jewish Cemetery in
Chrobry Recreation House – now a ruin, once the Preussischer Hof hotel. Located 711 meters above sea level, with excellent cuisine, situated directly by the forest. As it turns out,
During my August visit to the State Archives in Szczecin, I came across an interesting collection – a file of Masonic lodge members compiled by the Main Security Office of the Reich from 1939 to 1945. In this collection, I found the record of a woman, Flora Sachs, a Jewish woman from Jelenia Góra, who served as the chairwoman of the Sisters Association of the Victoria Lodge.
When visiting the state archives in search of specific documents, I like to order ‘random’ folders to see if similar records might come in handy in the future. It’s like a lottery – sometimes I browse through hundreds of boring listings and calculations, and at other times, I discover incredible stories. One of those incredible stories is undoubtedly the story of Anna Drescher.
Today, we will delve into a short history of a villa located in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój (Bad Warmbrunn). Lately, it’s been haunting me. It all started when I admired its magnificent structure through the window of my temporary apartment, which was located diagonally across the street. A few weeks later, I stumbled upon a photo of the villa in the state archive, wedged between documents from pre-war Wrocław. And when one day I came across a property listing for an apartment in that very building, with information that it used to belong to Dr. Moses, I decided it was time to find out more about this mysterious doctor.
On September 12th, 1926, Hedwig Krause, a 33-year-old resident of Bad Flinsberg (Świeradów-Zdrój), the wife of a butcher’s master, dies in a car accident on a bend leading from Seidorf
Today, another story, the starting point of which was a trace of a mezuzah found by Janka from Krakuska City Guide and secured by Aleksander from Mi Polin in a
The Civil Registry Office (Urząd Stanu Cywilnego) is the first important institution to start genealogical research. Knowledge about our ancestors often ends with grandparents, or in the best case, great-grandparents.
The cemetery gate in Stara Kamienica clearly indicates that it was functioning here before the Second World War. At first glance, it can be said that all graves are modern.
Between Kwieciszowice (German: Blumendorf) and Proszowa (German: Kunzendorf Gräflich), two villages in the Izera Mountains, there is a small, forgotten cemetery. It is easy to overlook it when you do
Today I found a gem at the flea market – photos of German soldiers dressed as women. Browsing through boxes with old pictures and postcards, I came across a collection
The Hall of Legends, also known as the Hall of Fairy Tales or in German as the Sagenhalle, was a unique place created by Hermann Hendrich. Inspired by legends of
Do you know that in Nazi Germany, the names Sara and Israel were added to documents for quicker and easier identification of Jews? This was the case, among others, with
When looking for information in pre-war newspapers on something else, I found an interesting article on the popular at the time the “fake consul” method fraud. I decided to follow
In a couple of days most of us will sit at a table with family and friends. Festive time is good not only for feasting and playing board games, but
Karol Hanusz – who remembers this gentleman? I must admit, I only learned about him recently when I found a letter from him among my grandfather’s belongings. The most elegant
I visited the Protestant cemetery in Schreiberhau (Szklarska Poręba) for the first time a few years ago, and despite serious damages, I felt its uniqueness right away. Beautifully situated on
I would like to tell you a story. One of those that holds a special place in my heart. A few years ago, Helena and Aleksander from Mi Polin, gave
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