Figure 1.--Hofman named this painting 'Before the gathering'. He painted during World War II (1943). The children are some of the children who managed to escape Soviet captivity after the NAZI Barbarossa invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941). The children had to go on an epic trek, largely on foot from Central Asia. Click on the image for details.

Most Poles as World War II approached had an awareness of the dangers of Stalin's Soviet Union. Few fully understood the dangers of the NAZIs and their pathological hatred of Poles and other Slavs. Even Polish Jews did not fully understand it. German World War I occupation was mostly correct. There was no real inkling as to what was to come. Hofman for whatever reason seems to have been more aware of the dangers than most other Poles. Most assumed that the substantial Polish Army could deal with the Germans. They could not and in 2 weeks aided by their new Blitzkrieg tactics and modern weapons had largely smashed the Polish Army (September 1939). The Soviets attacked from the East. Even before major actions against the Jews, the NAZIs began murdering the Polish , including artists--Aktion AB. The Soviets did the same in their zone of Eastern Poland. Hofman for whatever reason seems to have been more aware of the dangers than most other Poles. Kraków was near the border of NAZI-occupied Czechoslovakia and thus was quickly taken by the NAZIs. Hofman fled east from the Nazi invasion. He was aided by Czech refugees (including future President, Ludvík Svoboda) that had contacts with the Soviets. He and Ada managed to both escape the Germans and Soviet arrest. While in Pomorzany he saw the Polish soldiers being held as POWs by the Soviets. He was able to interact with them. He painted their portraits on cardboard. And attempted to send the portraits home to their families. These men were subsequently deported to camps inside the Soviet Union. This included the officers sent to Kozelsk--many of whom the NKVD would murder--the Katyn Massacre. The Soviets also began deporting civilians. He befrinded Zdzisław Peszkowski, who entrusted the regiment's money to Hofman. Hofman for his part managed to join the men of the Czechoslovak Legion and with them traveled through Ternopil, Istambul, and then British occupied Palestine and safety. He spent the remainder of the War in Palestine working with Polish groups there. After the NAZI Barbarossa invasion invasion (June 1941), a desperate Stalin momentarily changed his policies toward the Poles. The Poles he uprooted and deported to Central Asia had a short window of opportunity to escape. They had to do it largely on foot. This included the child deportees. Hofman published a book of poetry -- Through Darkness to Freedom .

Created: 6:01 AM 7/9/2021
Last updated: 6:01 AM 7/9/2021