The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945

Seventy-Fifth Anniversary
By Wladyslaw Szpilman, author. With a new forward by Andrzei Szpilman, son.

The Pianist, first written by Wladyslaw Szpilman in 1945 and initially published as Death of a City in Poland in 1946, is a compelling memoir that chronicles the harrowing experiences of Szpilman during the Nazi occupation of Warsaw, Poland. Those who have watched the 2003 Roman Polanski film adaptation will find this book an essential companion piece; it offers a depth and personal perspective that the movie, while faithful to the events, cannot fully capture. I have seen the movie at least two-dozen times but had not read the book until now, which truly is a great companion piece to the 2003 Roman Polanski film. Interestingly, Polanski himself suffered through the hardships of Warsaw Poland under Nazi occupation.

Wladyslaw Szpilman, an acclaimed pianist for Polish Radio, experienced a drastic upheaval in his life following the German invasion of Poland in 1939. The memoir begins with the bombardment of Warsaw, setting the stage for the subsequent years of hardship and terror. Szpilman and his family are gradually stripped of their rights, forced into the Warsaw Ghetto, and eventually deported to concentration camps. Although Szpilman's musical talents initially provide some degree of protection, he soon confronts the grim realities of life under Nazi rule.

The film closely follows the narrative laid out in the book, with no significant artistic liberties taken. However, the power of Szpilman's firsthand account is unparalleled. While the film provides a spectator's view of the events—the Nazi takeover, occupation, the murder and deportation of Jews, the destruction of the city, and the eventual arrival of the Soviet Red Army—the book immerses readers directly into Szpilman's experiences. His narrative is both engaging and profoundly moving.

Throughout the memoir, music serves as both a lifeline and a beacon of hope. Szpilman's piano playing not only saves his life on several occasions but also offers solace amidst the chaos. The memoir culminates in a poignant scene where Szpilman, emaciated and weak, plays Chopin’s Nocturne in C-sharp minor for a German officer, epitomizing the power of music in the darkest of times.

The backdrop of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 and the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 is crucial to understanding Szpilman's ordeal. These historic events underscore the constant peril and desperation faced by the inhabitants of Warsaw. For readers familiar with the film, the character of Captain Wilm Hosenfeld stands out as a figure of unexpected compassion. The book provides a more comprehensive exploration of Hosenfeld's role through appendices that include excerpts from his diary and an epilogue by Wolf Biermann, highlighting Hosenfeld's efforts to save numerous Jews from certain death.

Below: Left to right: Wladyslaw Szpilman in 1940, Wilm Hosenfeld in 1939, actor
Adrian Brody, and actor Thomas Kretschmann. Click to enlarge.

Hosenfeld, a former teacher and World War I veteran, was assigned to oversee Warsaw’s sports facilities taken over by the Wehrmacht. Hosenfeld was “… a teacher, had already served as a lieutenant in the First World War, and may therefore have been considered too old for service in the front line at the beginning of the Second. That could have been the reason why he was made officer in charge of all the Warsaw sports facilities taken over by the Wehrmacht so that German soldiers could keep fit there with games and athletics.” (Szpilman 1999, 214-215) Szpilman attempted to locate Hosenfeld post-war, but tragically, Hosenfeld died in a Soviet prisoner camp in Stalingrad in 1952, his contributions largely unacknowledged until much later.

The book mirrors the film’s opening, where Szpilman is seen playing Chopin’s Nocturne in C-sharp minor as the Warsaw radio station is hit by artillery. This piece of music bookends Szpilman’s story, symbolizing both the interruption and eventual resumption of life amidst the devastation of war. Szpilman poignantly reflects, “You could say that the broadcast of Chopin’s Nocturne in C-sharp minor was only interrupted, briefly, so that in the six-year interval Herr Hitler could play his part on the world stage.” (Szpilman 1999, 217) The Pianist is an extraordinary work that provides invaluable insight into the Holocaust and the suffering endured by Poland during World War II. Highly recommended for history enthusiasts and movie buffs alike, this memoir is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand another devastating first-hand account of the Holocaust.

 Bibliography

Szpilman, Wladyslaw. The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939–1945. New York: Picador, 1999