Leo Rosner | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1918-06-26)26 June 1918 |
| Died | 10 October 2008(2008-10-10) (aged 90) |
| Resting place | Melbourne Chevra Kadisha Springvale Cemetery |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including Anna Rosner Blay |
Leopold Rosner (26 June 1918 – 10 October 2008) was a Polish-born Australian musician. Rosner, who wasJewish, survived theHolocaust inNazi concentration camps duringWorld War II by playing hisaccordion forNazi officials. This earned the attention ofOskar Schindler, who saved his life by having him placed on his famous list.[1] His story became known after Australian authorThomas Keneally's 1982 novel,Schindler's Ark, was adapted intoSteven Spielberg's Oscar-winning film,Schindler's List.[1] He appeared in the epilogue of the film at the Schindler's grave onMount Zion.[1]
Rosner was born inKraków,Poland on 26 June 1918.[1] He was one of nine children in a family that performed in the music business.[1]
Rosner was a successfulcabaret artist and entertainer in Kraków,Poland by the time the country wasinvaded and occupied byNazi Germany in 1939.[1] The Rosner family fled to the rural town ofTyniece, where they played in barns for food. They were soon caught and sent to theKraków Ghetto, where they lived in cramped and dangerous conditions. Leo continued to play music with his brother, Henry Rosner. Leo played the accordion, and Henry played the violin. They played at the ghetto's cafes, where he met his wife, Helen (born 1924).[2] They were married on 17 January 1943, but on his wedding night Leo was deported toPłaszów concentration camp without her. Helen and her sister, Janka, were deported to the Płaszów that March.[2][3]
While at Płaszów, Rosner, along with his brother Henry, were forced to perform for the notorious camp commandantAmon Göth.[1]
Rosner's talent with his accordion earned him the attention ofOskar Schindler. Schindler had Rosner and his surviving family members moved to hiscamp inBrněnec,Czech Protectorate, in 1945.[1] However, Rosner's wife, Helen, along with the other femaleSchindlerjuden, including Henry's wife Manci, were transferred to the notoriousAuschwitz concentration camp.[1][4] After a harrowing few weeks, Schindler was able to bribe camp officials to have them transferred out. The couple was reunited at Schindler's camp, theBrünnlitz labor camp, where they remained in relative safety until the end of World War II, when the camp was liberated by theRed Army.[1]
Leo and Helen Rosner immigrated to Australia in 1949 and settled in Melbourne.[1][5] The couple had two daughters, Frances Rosner and Anna Rosner Blay. He worked as a musician and eventually fronted a twelve-piece band.[1] He continued to perform into his eighties.[1] He was well known in the Melbourne musician business as well as in the AustralianHolocaust survivors community.
He traveled toMount Zion inJerusalem for the 1993 filmSchindler's List to appear in the film's epilogue with otherSchindlerjuden paying their respects at the grave of Oskar Schindler.
Rosner suffered fromAlzheimer's disease in his later years, but was still able to perform at his and Helen's 65thwedding anniversary celebration in 2008.[1]
Leo Rosner died on 10 October 2008, at the age of 90, of complications fromAlzheimer's disease in Melbourne, Australia.[1] He was survived by his wife, Helen Rosner, who was 84 years old at the time of Leo's death.[1] Rosner was also survived by his two daughters, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.[1] His funeral was held at Melbourne Chevra Kadisha Cemetery inSpringvale, Victoria.[1]
His wife, Helen Rosner, died in 2010 after suffering from heart problems andParkinson's disease, at age 86.[2]
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