Wilm Hosenfeld, a German officer during World War II, defied the brutality of the Nazi regime by saving lives, including that of renowned pianist Władysław Szpilman, whose story inspired the Oscar-winning film The Pianist. Despite his heroic actions, Hosenfeld died tragically in a Soviet Gulag, but his legacy endures as one of the ‘Righteous Among the Nations.’ Discover the untold story of a man who chose humanity over hatred.
Was Every Nazi a Criminal?
Some people in history can be said to have simply been born at the wrong time and place, yet despite this, they managed to retain their humanity. Wilhelm Hosenfeld is one of them.
The Pianist movie real story
The famous film The Pianist, awarded three Academy Awards, depicts the life of the successful Jewish pianist Władysław Szpilman before World War II and his escape from the Holocaust. At the end of the film, a German officer saves him from starvation. You might be surprised to learn that this soldier really existed. His name was Wilhelm Hosenfeld, and Szpilman was not the only one he saved.
Wilm Hosenfeld life Before the War
Wilm, full name Wilhelm Adalbert Hosenfeld, was born on May 2, 1895, in the small Hessian town of Hünfeld into a family of teachers. His upbringing was deeply influenced by faith, with a strong emphasis on Christian charity. This upbringing shaped him through church-inspired social work, the Prussian discipline common at the time, German patriotism, and later, the growing pacifism of his wife Annemarie. These influences, as we will see, dramatically shaped the fate of this German soldier.
From 1914, Hosenfeld served actively in World War I. After being severely wounded in 1917, he was awarded the Iron Cross, Second Class (*1).
When he returned from the war, he became a teacher, like his father. In 1935, he joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP), and in August 1939, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht, serving primarily in Poland. Over time, he became disillusioned with the Nazi Party and its policies, particularly after witnessing the treatment of Poles and, especially, Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto.
The World War 2
On one hand, Hosenfeld was a loyal and patriotic soldier who did what his country demanded of him—repeatedly. On the other hand, he never lost his humanity and was able to see the human side of people who were vilified by Nazi propaganda. Although he served his homeland with the sense of duty instilled in him from childhood, he did so without succumbing to ideological brainwashing.
Hosenfeld served well, reaching the rank of Hauptmann (Captain) by the end of the war. In July 1940, he was transferred to Warsaw, where he spent the rest of the war, mainly with Wachbataillon 660 (a guard battalion), part of Wach-Regiment Warschau (Warsaw Guard Regiment). He served as a staff officer and the unit’s sports officer, overseeing activities at the Army Stadium in Warsaw.
Hosenfeld befriended many Poles and even attempted to learn their language. He attended Mass, took Communion, and went to confession in Polish churches, despite this being forbidden. His actions to help people in Poland began as early as the autumn of 1939, when he violated regulations to allow Polish prisoners of war to contact their families and even successfully arranged the early release of at least one of them.
During his time in Warsaw, Hosenfeld used his position to shelter people regardless of their background. In November 1944, he discovered Szpilman, hiding in an abandoned building, and brought him food several times. He even gave Szpilman one of his coats to keep him warm in the freezing winter. This scene, by the way, is featured in the Oscar-winning film The Pianist, as mentioned earlier. Here is the trailer:
By the way, this is the building in Warsaw where Szpilman was hiding (223 Niepodleglosci Avenue in Warsaw). Today, it features a commemorative plaque marking these dramatic events.
Hosenfeld’s Capture and Death
Hosenfeld surrendered to the Soviets in Błonie, a small Polish town about 30 kilometers west of Warsaw, along with the Wehrmacht soldiers under his command.
For alleged war crimes, he was sentenced to 25 years of hard labor, due to his unit’s supposed involvement in espionage. In a 1946 letter to his wife in West Germany, Hosenfeld listed the Jews he had saved and asked her to contact them to advocate for his release. It was to no avail.
In 1950, Szpilman finally learned the name of the German officer who had helped him in 1944-45 and effectively saved his life. After a long search, Szpilman appealed to Jakub Berman, head of the Polish secret police. A few days later, Berman visited Szpilman’s home and said he could do nothing. He added, “If your German were still in Poland, we could get him out. But our comrades in the Soviet Union won’t release him. They say your officer belonged to a unit involved in espionage, so we Poles can’t do anything, and I am powerless.”
Hosenfeld died in a Soviet labor camp on August 13, 1952, from a ruptured thoracic aorta, likely caused by torture.
Posthumous Recognition
In October 2007, Hosenfeld was posthumously awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by Polish President Lech Kaczyński. In June 2009, Hosenfeld was recognized posthumously by Israel as one of the Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem.
Notes
1: The Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz*, abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, later in the German Empire (1871-1918) and Nazi Germany (1933-1945). During World War I, approximately 218,000 EK1, 5,196,000 EK2, and 13,000 non-combatant EK2 awards were issued.
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