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Zofia Czajkowska

1905–1978

Nationality
Poland
Occupation
musician

Zofia Czajkowska (4 August 1905, Tarnów – April 1978, Tarnów) was a Polish musician chosen to be the first conductor of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz.

Incarceration history

Facilities

  1. Ravensbrück concentration camp
    Dates unknown
  2. Neustadt-Glewe concentration camp
    Dates unknown
  3. Zigeunerlager Auschwitz
    Dates unknown
  4. Zigeunerlager Auschwitz
    Dates unknown

Biography

Zofia Czajkowska (4 August 1905, Tarnów – April 1978, Tarnów) was a Polish musician chosen to be the first conductor of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz. Czajkowska had been a music teacher, prior to her arrest as a political prisoner. According to Susan Eischeid, author of The Truth about Fania Fénelon and the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Czajkowska was regarded by many as an "unexceptional musician", which caused problems with the development of the orchestra. Like the other musicians in the orchestra, Czajkowska was a captive, whose service in the orchestra helped prevent them from being murdered. In July 1943 Alma Rosé, a talented musician, and niece of Gustav Mahler, arrived in the camp and took over leading the orchestra. Czajkowska served as Rosé's lieutenant.

Related people

Same nationality and era where possible; falls back to shared nationality or era.

External references