Mirosław Wawrysz, photography by Tomek Zerek
Mirosław Wawrysz was born in 1935. His entire family comes from Wołyń. During the Second World War the Wawrysz family was taken to Germany and after the war they decided to stay there. The lands they originated from were incorporated into the Soviet Union. In 1945, the Wawrysz family reached Solingen, a small town in western Germany, which, after the Germany’s partition, was located in the British occupation zone. There Mirosław Wawrysz commenced his education in a Polish public school, in the “Warszawa” Polish Camp.
The Wawrysz family left Europe in 1950. After moving to Hamtramck Mirosław Wawrysz became involved in the local companies. He had numerous performances with the „Młody Teatr” (Young Theatre) company and worked as an actor until the 1970s. Mirosław Wawrysz’s wife, Dorota, also comes from a Polish family.
Interviewed by Anna Muller in Troy in 2015.
interview excerpts
Odtwórz film na temat default
An emigration test
Odtwórz film na temat default
Settling in Hamtramck
Odtwórz film na temat default
Grenols and displaced persons
Odtwórz film na temat default
Back then and now
gallery
A photo of Rozalia Wawrysz, Mirosław’s mother, when she was still a maiden (third on the left) with her friends, Włodzimierz Wołyński, the 1920s, from the private archives
Mirosława Wawrysz’s mother, Rozalia nee Bronicka (standing third on the left) and her sister, Maria (second on the left) with their friends, the 1920s, from the private archives
Mirosław Wawrysz’s mother, Rozalia (standing first on the left), next to her is her sister, Maria, from the private archives
A photo of Antoni Wawrysz, Mirosław’s father, when he was still a bachelor (first on the right) with his cousins, the 1920s, from the private archives
Mirosław Wawrysz with his sister, Czesława in the garden around the house in Nowa Werba, Wołyń, 1938, from the private archives
Mirosław Wawrysz at the age of nine. It was the first photo after the Wawrysz family was transported to Germany. They were sent to a labour camp in Langenberg where they stayed until June 1945, when the camp was freed by the American troops, 1944, from the private archives
Czesława and Mirosław Wawrysz. The “Warszawa” Polish Camp, Solingen, 1947, from the private archives
In the photo there is probably the fourth class of the Polish Public School. The curriculum was accelerated to such an extent that Mirosław Wawrysz completed a seven-class school in four years. Mirosław Wawrysz squatting first on the right in the first row, Solingen, 1947, from the private archives
The Polish Public School, Solingen, 1947, from the private archives
The First Communion Day after the end of the Second World War organized in the Polish camp in Solingen, 1947, from the private archives
The First Communion Day after the end of the Second World War organized in the Polish camp in Solingen, 1947, from the private archives
A photo taken in the Polish school in Solingen after celebrating the First Communion Day, 1947, photo – private archives. The teachers are sitting in the first row, 1947, from the private archives
he first photo of the entire Wawrysz family in the Polish camp for the displaced persons in Solingen. In the front: Mirosław Wawrysz with his dog, grandma Antonina with her grandson, Ryś Bronicki. From the left, standing: uncle Stanisław Bronicki, his wife Leokadia, father Antoni Wawrysz, and next to him mother Rozalia and sister Czesława, 1947, from the private archives
Polish Public School in Solingen, from the private archives
7th class of the Polish Public School in Solingen on holiday. Mirosław Wawrysz’s sister, Czesława, sitting in the second row, first on the left, from the private archives
A girls scouting troop taking part in a parade commemorating the 3rd of May. Soon after the liberation in 1945 the Polish scouts organization was established in the newly set up displaced persons camp. Sister Czesława Wawrysz standing first on the left, Solingen, 1947 or 1948, from the private archives
A photo during the Corpus Christi feast in the Polish camp in Solingen. In the photo there is Mirosław Wawrysz wearing a scouts uniform with his friends, 1948, from the private archives
Sister Czesława wearing a traditional folk outfit from the Cracow region, Solingen, 1948, from the private archives
Sister Czesława (standing in the middle) with her friends at one of the altars decorated for the Corpus Christi feast, Solingen, from the private archives
A party in the “Warszawa” Camp organized due to the christening of the baby born to the friends of the Wawrysz family. The boy with the accordion on the right is Mirosław Wawrysz, Solingen, 1948, from the private archives
A traditional Christmas folk “Herody” play in the “Warszawa” Polish Camp. The boy with the accordion on the right is Mirosław Wawrysz, Solingen, 1948, from the private archives
Mirosław Wawrysz’ sister, Czesława (standing in the middle) with her friends. The photo was taken in Lippstadt. There was the Polish junior high school attended by Czesława between 1948 and 1950, from the private archives
The students of the Polish junior high school in Germany also attended by Mirosław Wawrysz’s sister, Czesława, Lippstadt, 1950, from the private archives
The Wawrysz family was transported to a transient camp in Augustdorf and then to Dortmund, where the Wawrysz were transported by train shown in the photo to Hamburg. After two weeks they were transported to Bremerhaven where they boarded SS General Stugis, an American war ship. After ten days of voyage they reached the New York harbour. In the photo there are: Rozalia Wawrysz by the window on the left, sister Czesława standing first on the left and father Antoni standing first on the right. The boy with the accordion is Mirosław Wawrysz, 1951, from the private archives
Czesława (second on the left) and Mirosław (first on the right) with their friends. The photo was taken in a transient camp in Hamburg two weeks before the Wawrysz family departed to the US, 1951, from the private archives
The first house of the Wawrysz family in America. Rozalia and Antoni Wawrysz bought it in 1954, planning to set up a grocer shop there. In front of the house there is Czesława Wawrysz, Mirosław’s sister, Hamtramck, from the private archives
Father Antoni Wawrysz visiting his friends at a farm in Troy, Michigan, the 1950s, from the private archives
Sister Czesława Wawrysz (second on the left) with her friends from the Youth Section of the Polish National Alliance (ZNP) established in 1951 at the 122nd Branch of the ZNP; the Wawrysz siblings were its members for many years. The 3rd May National Holiday, Belle Isle (Detroit), from the private archives
With his friends from the Youth Section of the Polish National Alliance (ZNP) in the Broadway park during a harvest festival. Mirosław Wawrysz standing first on the right, Shelby Township, from the private archives
Mirosław Wawrysz’s father with his cousin, Lonek Zankiewicz from Hamilton, Canada, Hamtramck, 1953, from the private archives
The first collective photo of the Wawrysz family after arriving to America and settling in Hamtramck. The photo was taken at the Pieronek studio located in Joseph Campau street in Hamtramck, 1954, from the private archives
The first car owned by the Wawrysz family in America, a Chevrolet Bel Air. Next to the car there are Mirosław Wawrysz and Edek, Czesława Wawrysz’s fiancé at the time, 1954, from the private archives
A photo in front of the Wawrysz family house in Detroit after Mirosław Wawrysz’s high school graduation ceremony. In the photo there is the entire family with their cousin, Lonek Zankiewicz from Hamilton, Canada, Hamtramck, 1955, from the private archives
Rozalia Wawrysz (sitting, first on the left) with her friends at a picnic in the Warsaw Park, Shelby Town, July 1957, from the private archives
From the left: cousin from Hamilton, Canada, Rozalia and Antoni Wawrysz in front of their house in Detroit, 1957, from the private archives
From the left: Antoni Wawrysz, a friend from Canada, Czesława Wawrysz and Rozalia Wawrysz, Detroit, 1957, from the private archives
Czesława Wawrysz with her cousin from Canada at Janefield, Detroit, 1957, from the private archives
The Youth Section of the Polish National Alliance singing Christmas carols at a party in the Alliance’s House of the 122nd Branch. Sister Czesława is standing in the first row, third on the left, Mirosław Wawrysz is standing second on the right in the same row, Hamtramck, 1959, from the private archives
A parade in Josepha Campau street. The Youth Section of the Polish National Alliance took part in the demonstration. The sign says: "Yalta - Poland's grave", Hamtramck, the 1960s, from the private archives
A dance ensemble of the Youth Section of the Polish National Alliance performing a revue of songs and dances on the stage of the Alliance’s House of the 122nd Branch. Mirosław Wawrysz with his future wife, Dorota, on the stage on the right, Hamtramck,of the Polish National Alliance choir’s performance to pay homage to the Polish soldier. Performance was held at the Alliance’s House of the 122nd Branch. On the left there is the cultural and educational head of the section, Tadeusz Czechowski, Władysław Budweil, his deputy, is sitting at the piano. Mirosław Wawrysz is standing in the back under the eagle and sister Czesława is standing first on the right, Hamtramck, from the private archives
A dance ensemble of the Youth Section of the Polish National Alliance performing on the stage of the Alliance’s House of the 122nd Branch. On the stage on the right there are Mirosław Wawrysz with his future wife, Dorota, Hamtramck, 1960, from the private archives
A scene from a play titled “The Life of Saint Genevieve” performed by the MASKA Theatre of the Youth Section of the Polish National Alliance. The play was staged in the theatre hall at the Copernicus Junior High School. Mirosław Wawrysz as the priest, Hamtramck, 1960, from the private archives
Mirosław Wawrysz wearing the outfit of Janosik, the leader of the bandits, with his wife, Dorota. The photo was taken on the stage of the Alliance’s House of the 122nd Branch, where Mirosław Wawrysz performed in the play titled “The Legend of the Tatra Mountains” by Janusz Zambrzycki with the “Maska” Youth Theatre, from the private archives
Mirosław Wawrysz wearing the outfit of Janosik, the leader of the bandits. The photo was taken on the stage of the Alliance’s House of the 122nd Branch, where Mirosław Wawrysz performed in the play titled “The Legend of the Tatra Mountains” by Janusz Zambrzycki with the “Maska” Youth Theatre, from the private archives
Mirosław Wawrysz wearing the outfit of Janosik, the leader of the bandits. The photo was taken on the stage of the Alliance’s House of the 122nd Branch, where Mirosław Wawrysz performed in the play titled “The Legend of the Tatra Mountains” by Janusz Zambrzycki with the “Maska” Youth Theatre, from the private archives
Mirosław Wawrysz with his wife, Dorota. The photo was taken one month after the church ceremony at the Dziemieszka photographic studio, Hamtramck, 1962, from the private archives
Happy parents, that is Mirosław Wawrysz with his wife, Dorota and baby daughter Elżunia, 1966, from the private archives
Sister Czesława Wawrysz (second on the right) and mother, Rozalia (standing next to Czesława) surrounded by their cousins in Poland, Białogard, 1966, from the private archives
