Readers may remember the earlier story, “The Bride Wore a Blanket” which
appeared in our first edition and was written by Stephanie Kobierzski, and first
published in "Fair Lady" in 1970. Her story told of her chance meeting and unusual
marriage to Micky, a friend from before World War II. Stephanie was born and spent
her youth in Warsaw, Poland, and the land, her people and the family she had lost
tugged at her heart for the rest of her life. Stephanie like many others, had an
extremely strong will to survive and it was her courage which forms the basis of the
following story.
Although there are many tales of people who, despite all odds, survived the horrors
of WWII, Stephanie's life now takes a dangerous turn as readers will see from this
account. It was only her determination to survive which pulled her through the many
vicissitudes of her long life.
SEQUEL TO
‘THE BRIDE WORE A BLANKET’
Stephanie Kobierzycka’s story continues as follows:
Some years later, after the Russian occupation of Poland, Stephanie and Micky’s
lives were disrupted once again. By this time Stephanie was the editor of a Polish
“Pathe-news” fortnightly documentary film, which gave her access to many people.
Micky had joined the Polish Merchant Navy as a Radio Officer, and his job took him
away from home for months, sailing the world’s oceans.
Before the war, Stephanie had been one of a family of five sisters and a brother,
children of a wealthy Polish family, owners of factories and properties in Warsaw. Her
father wanted her to take over the management of one of his most profitable factories
manufacturing precision optical instruments, mainly for the film industry, and it was
through business contacts that she later obtained the job of editor in the film unit. The
factory, commandeered during the war as an essential industry, was producing
bombsights, and as a prime target for the Allies it was bombed flat, leaving the family
with nothing. Their large home in Warsaw was also bombed and her only brother
died fighting in the Resistance during the Warsaw uprising.
Soon word reached Stephanie that her name was on a Russian ‘hit list.’ They
suspected that through her job, she was disseminating anti-Russian propaganda,
and that she was a member of a subversive resistance movement. She was brutally
interrogated. The questions included her relationship with Micky, as the authorities
suspected that his job gave him the freedom to act as a go-between for the
movement. In order to protect them both, Stephanie said over and over again, “He’s
a sailor; and like all sailors has a wife in every port. You don’t really think that he is
still faithful to me or we still have a relationship, do you? I’m not in love with him, and
he doesn’t love me. There is absolutely no reason for him to be a member of any
‘resistance’ movement, if there is one.”
Shortly afterwards friends told her she was to be arrested. She had twelve hours to
leave the country. Frantic arrangements were made to smuggle her to neutral
Sweden, where it was hoped she would somehow get work and make some sort of a
life. She might even be able join up with Micky in the future.
That night she was packed into a metal water container (about the size of a tea
chest) doubled up with her knees to her chin. Any remaining spaces around her were
crammed with bottles of Polish vodka. The vodka was for her to barter or sell, the
only asset she had in her new life.
The distance between the Polish port of Gdansk and Sweden is about 6 – 8 hours
sailing, and worried friends hoped that somehow she would survive to reach freedom
and safety; and she did. On reaching harbour in Sweden a couple of crew members
extracted her from the water container, unable to stand or move, frozen in every joint.
But worse was to follow. Hardly had she been released from the tank, than one of the
crew came rushing in to say that a Custom Officer was on his way. Nothing could be
done, as the ship called regularly at this port and the crew were known to Customs.
They also knew that Polish vodka was available, and arrived looking for a night of
heavy drinking and plenty of talk.
Swiftly Stephanie was pushed into a tiny clothes locker in the cabin and the door
fastened tightly. Dazed and exhausted, suffocated by the press of the dirty, sweaty
clothes she remained there for hours, while the men sat in the cabin drinking and
telling stories. In the end, totally exhausted, she fainted, and fell against the door. It
opened, and she collapsed onto the floor. She was very near death; her blackened
tongue was protruding from her mouth and her eyes were rolled back in her head.
The men were so frightened by her sudden appearance and condition, as well as the
consequences should she die while a Customs Official was aboard, that they rallied
to save her and managed to revive her.
Nothing further was said of the incident and she subsequently found work as a ward
maid in a children’s hospital in one of the country towns. Here she washed dishes,
scrubbed floors and after some months, looked after sick children. Later she and
Micky emigrated to Argentina where they lived for some years, before they decided
to join her sister and husband (Ken Newman, the authority on birds) in Rhodesia.
Some time later, after her sister Elizabeth’s death from cancer, Ken (who had
married again) decided to move to South Africa.
With the political climate changing in Rhodesia, Stephanie and Micky thought they
would move south as well. Sadly, on leaving South America and again on leaving
Rhodesia they lost their pensions and arrived in South Africa practically penniless –
where, in the same fatalistic way, they started again.
With the help of friends they bought a small house in Kensington and lived happily
together, active and busy, loved and admired by many. Then Micky had a series of
strokes. I met Stephanie a few months after his death when she was still trying to
adjust to life without her beloved husband.
She worked for many years at SA Breweries and was well known for her kind heart
and love for everyone; helping out in every way she could. Creative and artistic, she
made scrap books long before this hobby became popular, frequently constructing a
witty and clever record of a popular staff member’s life to mark a ‘big’ anniversary.
Knowing Stephanie has been an inspiration and a blessing. She is a wonderful
woman with great courage and strength of mind. She has faced difficulties and
tragedy in her life which to many others would have proved overwhelming. She
continues to struggle on, despite failing health, still giving her love to others and
radiating a sense of joy despite everything.