Whenever Jankiel (Jack) Zwirz, a Jewish senior citizen living in a Memphis, Tennessee nursing home, would be interviewed by the press about his artistic accomplishments and his early life in Belgium during the German occupation, he would tell the story of approaching his mother with his youthful dream of becoming a painter. Expecting her approval – she was, after all, an artist herself – he was surprised by her chilly reception to his aspirations. She said to him soberly, with an uncharacteristic sense of foreboding in her voice, that “it would be OK if you want to paint, but you will eat nothing.” His mother died when Jack was a small boy, so young that he could not remember her face, but her voice stayed with him, and in time he would relocate from his hometown of Radoscyze in south-central Poland to Belgium where he would learn a trade and find work as a cobbler and tailor. It would be many years – nay, lifetimes – before he would pick up a brush.
By the time the Nazi juggernaut overwhelmed Belgium during World War II, Jack had already become involved in smuggling Jews out of harm’s way as part of his work with the Belgian resistance. He was eventually captured, imprisoned, and sent to a series of concentration camps – including Auschwitz and Buchenwald – where his skills as a cobbler and his self-proclaimed luck would help him survive for more than three years. This would include a death march with nothing to eat but snow. For his work in the Belgian resistance, as well as for his enduring the “rigors” of the camps, Jack would receive a number of citations and decorations in recognition of his heroism and service during the war, including the Ordre de Leopold II, and the Croix de Guerre with palm, the highest medal bestowed by Belgium.
Jack’s wife Rosa was born in a town near Kielce, Poland in 1905. Rosa had been able to survive the war by going into hiding, taken in by several families. Their son George, born in 1931, found shelter with Father Joseph André, a Jesuit parish priest in Namur, Belgium, who risked his life by providing shelter for hundreds of Jewish children whose families were fleeing the Nazi occupiers, saving them from certain deportation and death. Most of Father André’s young charges were fed with food Father André and his helpers were able to obtain from local villagers. The children would ultimately be dispatched to convents, monasteries, or farm families to be hidden until the end of the war. George himself – his nom de guerre George Swegens – was able to stay with Father André at 40 Place de l’Ange in Namur, next door to the local Gestapo headquarters, and while there were suspicions raised, at times followed by interrogations, Father André’s operation was never exposed. Father Joseph André would be honored by Israel’s Yad Vashem as a Righteous Among the Nations in 1967 for putting his own life at risk saving Jewish children.
United States congressional representative Cliff Davis from Memphis, Tennessee, met George while visiting with Father André in Belgium after the war. Davis was impressed with George and promised to help him emigrate to the United States. Davis contacted Abe Waldauer, a prominent Memphis attorney, who would temporarily adopt George. Davis and Waldauer were successful in locating Jack and Rosa, who at the time were still living in Belgium, and arranged for the newly reunited family to emigrate to Memphis with the intention of becoming naturalized citizens, which would occur in 1956. Jack was active in the Memphis Jewish community, including the large community of Holocaust survivors who lived there. Jack’s skills as a cobbler came in handy again as he opened a shoe repair store – the Hollywood Shoe Shop – which had a stellar reputation for custom shoe repairs. His son George would help him in the store, went to Memphis State University and served his adopted country in the United States Army.
In his sixties, Jack Zwirz was at long last able to take up his interest in painting. He would become a successful outsider folk artist. He was known for his naïve paintings of bucolic scenery and paintings of pre-war European Jewish life. And scenes of concentration camps. In addition to his commercial success as an artist, his work would be exhibited at the Fine Arts Museum in Mobile, Alabama as well as featured in the Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century American FOLK ART and ARTISTS by Chuck and Jan Rosenak. He would only stop painting after the death of his beloved wife Rosa in 1975.
As the years passed, old age and infirmity began to steal from Jack what the Nazis could not. Haunted by nightmares of the camps, he would wake up in a cold sweat uncertain if he were alive or dead: “the concentration camps sleep with me” he would say. He was not given to talking about his exploits in the Resistance but would share his experience of being assailed by frightening memories and images from his time spent in the concentration camps, and on the death march. While his memory would flag, he never forgot the tattooed number on his arm. He would continue to receive visitors in his nursing home and stay in touch with his son George. Congressman Davis perhaps said it best in 1947: “Really, I think this is a story almost out of fairy books.” Indeed, but a story that pivots time and again on Jack’s mother’s prescient advice.
--Michael D. Bulmash, K1966
Browse the Bulmash Family Holocaust Collection.
-
Letter of Introduction to George Zwirz from Attorney Abe D. Waldauer
2021.1.98
Document with a law office letterhead.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
Attorney Waldauer had been approached by Congressman Clifford Davis about helping the Zwirz family -- Jack, Rosa and son George -- emigrate to the United States after World War II. Mr. Waldauer explains what is required of George if he were to emigrate including affidavits of support, exact names of his parents and their respective places of birth. Waldauer states that this letter would be sent to Father Joseph André as it is the only address he has. As well he has sent a letter to Davis to obtain a better address.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Letter from Attorney Abe Waldauer to Georges Zwirz
2021.1.99
Document with a law office letterhead.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
Letter written January 10, 1946 to George Zwirz from Memphis attorney Waldauer mentioning receipt of a telegram from Congressman Davis, and that he and Congressman Davis are trying to ensure that the Zwirz family “gets to this country.” Congressman Davis sends George’s address in Brussels and relates that all visa applications must go through the American Consul in Brussels. Waldauer mentions the letter from 1/9/1946 which was sent care of Father Joseph André in Namur, Belgium, and states that if George is in need of some money he (Waldauer) is willing to help. He signs the letter in both English and Hebrew.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Identification and Morality Certificate in Absence of Passport Issued to Georges Zwirz in Brussels, Belgium
2021.1.103
Document with black typeface and a red stamp and photograph of George Zwirz in the bottom right corner.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Letter to Georges Zwirz from Congressman Clifford Davis
2021.1.100
Document with the United States House of Representatives letterhead.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
Davis expresses delight that George will soon arrive in the United States. He mentions Waldauer’s interest in helping the Zwirz family and to take in George “as a member of his family.” Davis extols the virtues of Memphis and hopes that he can assist the Zwirz family come to the United States and “...find opportunity to live happily and securely.” He hopes George will apply himself in school and avail himself of the many opportunities that he too will be exposed to.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Photograph of Georges Zwirz and Jackie Girard that Appeared in Memphis Press-Scimitar
2021.1.109
Black and white photograph of George Zwirz and Jackie Girard.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Two Belgium Boys, Once Refugees From the Nazis
2021.1.108
Newspaper article with black and white photograph.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
Memphis Press-Scimitar article on the reunion of George Zwirz with Belgian friend Jackie Girard. George is currently a CBC student, preparing for citizenship in the United States and living with Attorney Abe Waldauer in Memphis. After the German occupation of Belgium in 1940, both boys found themselves attempting to hide from the ubiquitous patrols, George finding shelter with Father Joseph André, and Jackie with a farm family near the Netherlands. Jackie’s sister and her husband--newlyweds--had been deported and ultimately murdered in a concentration camp. After the war Jackie stayed with Father André, where he met George and the two became friends. Once again, Davis and Waldauer worked to get a visa for Jackie to come to the United States. As Clark Forteous of the Press-Scimitar staff described it: "It was through the efforts of a Catholic priest in Belgium, a Protestant congressman and a Jewish lawyer that both boys have been brought to the land of their dreams -- the United States.”
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Studio Photograph of Zwirz Family (Rosa, Georges, and Jankiel) Taken in Belgium
2021.1.94
[Exterior] “STUDIO Georges” centered at top; “184, RUE HAUTE BRUXELLES TEL. 11.70.82” in bottom right corner; [Interior] Photograph of a woman, a young man, and an adult man in formal attire. Studio photograph of Zwirz family: Rosa, George, and Jankiel (Jack) taken in Belgium. Ca. 1949.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Signed Photograph of (L to R) Abe Waldauer, Georges Zwirz, Clifford Davis
2021.1.106
Black and white photograph of George Zwirz, Abe Waldauer, andClifford Davis posing together.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
Both Waldauer and Congressman Davis were successful in uniting the Zwirz family and bringing them to the United States after World War II.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Card for Clifford Davis, Member of Congress
2021.1.107
Brown card with rounded corners. [front]: writing in black typeface; [back]: handwriting in black ink.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Attestation from the Ministry of National Defense, Office of Resistance in Brussels, Belgium
2021.1.95
An Attestation card written in French. Signature in blue ink on bottom. Blue stamp on bottom left corner.
[Front] “MINISTERE DE LA DEFENSE NATIONALE OFFICE DE LA RESISTANCE 1re Section COMMISSIONS” in top left corner; “DOSSIER No. VII/12659 12, rue du St-Esprit Bruxelles” in top right corner; “ATTESTATION La qualité de Résistant Arme est reconnue a Monsieur ZWIRZ, Jankiel-Naftali ne a Radoszyce(Pologne) le 20.12.1903 par la Commission de controle de Bruxelles art.2 et 4 en date du 22.1.48, en application de l’article 4 de l’arrete-loi du 19 septembre 1945, établissant le Statut de la Resistance Armée. L’interesse est affilie au groupement M.N.B. Le temps passe dans la Resistance est de 3 ans 4 mois soit du 31.1.42 au 5.5.45, arrondi au mois superieur. A Bruxelles, le 15.9.49. POUR LE MINISTRE DE LA DEFENSE NATIONALE, Le Colonel DE RIDDER, Chef de l’Office de la Resistance.” body text; “ATTESTATION POUR 1o Intéressé; 2o Groupement; 3o O.C.M.; 4o D.G.P.M./III D.; 5o D.G.P.M.; 6o ………………….” at bottom; “AVIS IMPORTANT Il est recommande au titulaire de la présente attestation de ne pas s’en dessaisir. En aucun cas il n’en sera délivré de duplicata. Le cas échéant, il lui appartient d’en etablir des copies a faire certifier conformes éventuellement par l’administration communale de sa residence.” at bottom; “25547. - I.G.M./D.S.Gx. - 35.000 ex.” bottom right corner. Stamp reading “MINISTERE DE LA DEFENSE NATIONALE Office de la Resistance” on bottom left side.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
From the Ministry of National Defense. Jankiel (Jack)-Naftali Zwirz was in the resistance, group M.N.B. from 1/31/42 to 5/5/45.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Identification Card Issued by the Ministry of the Reconstruction for Jankiel Zwirz, a Former Political Prisoner
2021.1.93
[Exterior] “MINISTERE DE LA RECONSTRUCTION” at top; [Interior] “CARTE DE PRISONNIER POLITIQUE 1940-1945” at top; photograph on right side
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
Identification covering war years with identifying information including birthdate (12.5.03); place of birth (Radoszyce, Poland); and the length of time Zwirz was held captive (1,054 days).
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Photograph of Georges Zwirz and his Attorney and Benefactor Abe Waldauer
2021.1.105
Black and white photograph with George Zwirz signing a document as Abe Waldauer sits beside him.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Citizenship For Man on Way To Europe
2021.1.110
Newspaper cutting with black typeface.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
Article entitled Citizenship For Man on Way to Europe To Serve His Adopted Nation. George Zwirz, now 21 and a naturalized citizen of the United States, has volunteered to serve in the Army as a corporal, and will be deployed to Europe--”going home”--as an interpreter with the Engineer Corps. The article states that Mr. Waldauer “proudly accompanied George to the naturalization ceremony.”
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Letter from Abe Waldauer to Georges Zwirz Regarding his Naturalization Certificate
2021.1.111
Document with a law office letterhead.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Certificate of Naturalization for Rosa Zwirz
2021.1.113
United States Certificate of Naturalization with Rosa Zwirz’s photograph.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Certificate of Naturalization for Jankiel Zwirz
2021.1.114
United States Certificate of Naturalization with Jack Zwirz’s photograph.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Ordre de Leopold II Conferred Upon Jankiel Zwirz
2021.1.97
Letter headed with the crest of the Belgian crown.
”ROYAUME DE BELGIQUE
ORDRE DE LEOPOLD II
Il a plu a SA MAJESTÉ LE ROI de conférer, a la date du 18 juillet 1958,
LA CROIX DE CHEVALIER DE L’ORDRE DE LEOPOLD II AVEC PALME et attribution de la CROIX DE GUERRE 1940 AVEC PALME
a Monsieur ZWIRZ, Jankiel--Naftali,
pour:
”Membre de la Resistance Armée depuis janvier 1942, fit partie d’un groupe de choc. Transporta des armes. Arrete, le 18 juin 1942, en raison de son activité patriotique et déporté en Allemagne, y subit avec courage, les rigueur des camps de concentration."
Donne par arrete du 18 juillet 1958, no 6539.
LE MINISTRE DE LA DEFENSE NATIONALE.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
The Ordre de Leopold II with Palme conferred upon him by the King on July 18, 1958, for his part in the armed resistance during World War II from January 1942; for taking part in a shock group, carrying arms, being arrested for doing his patriotic activity and being deported to Germany where he endured with great courage the rigors of concentration camps.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Letter from Belgian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to Jankiel Zwirz
2021.1.96
Letter dated February 5, 1959 from the Belgian Embassy in Washington to Jack Zwirz.
”Dear Mr. Zwirz,
It is my pleasurable duty to inform you that His Majesty the King of the Belgians has been graciously pleased to bestow upon you the crosses of Chevalier de l’Ordre de Leopold II avec palme, Croix de Guerre 1940 avec palme, Medaille de la Resistance, Medaille commemorative de la guerre 1940-1945.
The chancery documents, as well as the insignia of these decorations, have been forwarded to the Consulate General of Belgium in New Orleans, which will communicate with you so that mutually convenient arrangements can be contemplated for the presentation of these distinctions.
I extend my sincerest congratulations on this occasion and I remain
Sincerely yours,
[signature]
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
Letter from the Belgian Embassy in Washington, DC to Jankiel (Jack) Zwirz informing him that he would be receiving medals for his part in the Belgian resistance during World War II. The medals included:
1) The Ordre de Leopold II with Palme conferred upon him by the King on July 18, 1958, for his part in the armed resistance during World War II from January 1942; for taking part in a shock group, carrying arms, being arrested for doing his patriotic activity and being deported to Germany where he endured with great courage the rigors of concentration camps.
2) The Croix de Guerre with Palme for Zwirz’s part in the resistance.
3) Commemorative Medal of the War 1940-1945, and
4) Resistance Fighters Medal.
A date for their presentation would be arranged with the Consulate General of Belgium in New Orleans.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Letter to Abe Waldauer from Clifford Davis
2021.1.101
Document with the United States House of Representatives letterhead.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
Davis asks Waldauer to write a summary of Jack and George Zwirz for his “personal memory file” and he will reciprocate.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Photograph of Jankiel Zwirz Receiving Award
2021.1.102
Black and white photograph of Jack Zwirz posing with an award at a dinner reception.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Photographs of Jankiel Zwirz’s Paintings
2021.1.112a-f
Six color photographs of Jankiel Zwirz’s paintings on display. a: A man poses in front of the painting display. b: three women pose in front of the painting display. c: A painting stands on a table. d: a painting of a lake with fishing piers. e: a man with his arms raised as a man aims his gun at him. f: a painting of a pier.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]
-
Letter from Ministry of Public Health and Environment, Brussels, Belgium, to Georges Zwirz
2021.1.104
Document with the Ministry of Public Health and Environment letterhead addressed to Georges Zwirz.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
This attestation document emanating from the Administration of War Victims states that Mr. Georges Zwirz was born in Brussels, Belgium on April 12, 1931 and was hidden under the name of Georges Swegens during World War II with Father Joseph André in Namur from October 1943 to February 1945. The attestation document is signed by Cl. Barette for the Ministry and stamped.
[Related items: 2021.1.93-.112f]