Leo Rosner

Leopold Rosner (26 June 1918 – 10 October 2008) was a Polish-born Australian musician. Rosner, who was Jewish, survived the Holocaust in Nazi concentration camps during World War II by playing his accordion for Nazi officials. This earned the attention of Oskar Schindler, who saved his life by having him placed on his famous list. His story became known after Australian author Thomas Keneally's 1982 novel, Schindler's Ark, was adapted into Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning film, Schindler's List. He appeared in the epilogue of the film at the Schindler's grave on Mount Zion. Rosner was born in Kraków, Poland on 26 June 1918. He was one of nine children in a family that performed in the music business. Rosner was a successful cabaret artist and entertainer in Kraków, Poland by the time the country was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany in 1939. The Rosner family fled to the rural town of Tyniece, where they played in barns for food. They were soon caught and sent to the Kraków 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). They were married on 17 January 1943, but on his wedding night Leo was deported to Płaszów concentration camp without her. Helen and her sister, Janka, was deported to the Płaszów that March. While at Płaszów, Rosner, along with his brother Henry, were forced to perform for the notorious camp commandant Amon Göth. Rosner's talent with his accordion earned him the attention of Oskar Schindler. Schindler had Rosner and his surviving family members moved to his camp in Brněnec, Czech Protectorate, in 1945. However, Rosner's wife, Helen, along with the other female Schindlerjuden, including Henry's wife Manci, were transferred to the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp. After a harrowing few weeks, Schindler was able to bribe camp officials to have them transferred out.