The photo is Czeslawa Kwoka a Polish Catholic, a 14 year old girl, a child. She died in Auschwitz extermination camp on February 18 1943 with a phenol injection into her heart.
Shortly before the execution, she was photographed by the prisoner Whilem Brasse. Brasse, subsequently went on to testify against Kwoka’s executioner.
The photo is the face of a terrified child, who didn’t even speak the language of her executioners and who lost her mother, just a few days before.
She was one of about 750,000 children and underage that were executed at Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is such a powerful photograph on so many levels, the eyes are the gateway to the soul.
The photo, originally black and white at Memorial Oświęcim, was colored by professional photographer Mirek Spznoar who was impressed by Czeslawa’s photo and decided to put it in color and available for everyone.
Save the picture to your phone and when you’re feeling ‘hard done by’ or anxious about anything in your daily life, look at this photo.
It’s a sobering realisation, just how lucky we are.
RIP Czeslawa ❤