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At the beginning of December 2024, the Museum received a gift in the form of a decorative box made in a POW camp. It was donated by Grażyna Karolak, granddaughter of Maria Lec, who received the item a token of gratitude from a Soviet prisoner-of-war held near Piotrków Trybunalski during the Second World War.

The casket was carefully made from wicker, paper, which also lined the inside of it, and pieces of wire and string, which in turn made the whole thing crowned by a movable lid. A postcard stuck inside was left by the owner's minor granddaughter, but after the war. The story of the object is a testimony to human, selfless kindness, as it is the work of the hands of a POW who wanted to thank his benefactor for the food she had given to him. It is also proof of Maria Lec's courage, since during the German occupation contacts between civilians and prisoners-of-war were strictly forbidden and even sanctioned by the death penalty.

We know very little about the maker of the casket himself. All that is known is that he was a prisoner of one of the stalags or working parties scattered around Piotrków Trybunalski. Interestingly, an artefact similar in the look and function was received by us as early as 2021. The decorative box donated to us then also is an example of camp handicraft done by Soviet prisoners-of-war, and found its way into the hands of its owner (Wanda Pylińska) in the same manner - in gratitude for food secretly supplied.

The casket has enriched our collection. Thank you, Mrs Grażyna!

Photo: K. Harupa/CMJW.