A meaningful historic find has come from a violin created by Franciszek “Franz” Kempa. He became a Jewish prisoner at the Dachau concentration camp. This very special instrument was constructed in 1941. It is the only documented violin made in the infamous camp that was open from Mar. 1933 until its liberation on Apr. 29, 1945. A secret message was found tucked away inside the violin. This remarkable artifact sheds light on the personal life and turmoil endured by its creator at an unimaginably dark time in human history.
Kempa’s violin ended up under the radar for decades until art dealers in Hungary recognized its provenance. The instrument had spent years surviving in a batch of now-imprinted furniture purchased at an auction, waiting to be sent out for repairs. In the note, Kempa detailed his experience as an instrument maker under the dire conditions of the camp, stating, “Trial instrument, made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials. Dachau. Anno 1941, Franciszek Kempa.” This powerful reminder underscores the painful truth that prisoners experience. All of them were frequently subjected to hard labor as they struggled merely to stay alive.
The Dachau concentration camp was well-known for its violence and dehumanization. Originally, this facility was intended to hold political prisoners. It eventually became a blueprint for other concentration camps and held upwards of 200,000 inmates during its operation years. An estimated 40,000 inmates at Dachau died from starvation, disease, execution, or ill treatment. Amid this ominous tableau, Kempa’s talent and art as an instrument maker stood out distinctly. These talents likely kept him from the fate experienced by so many others.
The Nazis permitted and sometimes encouraged prisoners to play musical instruments to project a false image of normalcy within the camps. Kempa’s skill in making violins helped him to survive. After the war, he returned to Poland. There, he devoted himself to his art as maker of stradivarius type instruments. He continued this life until his passing in 1953.
Kempa’s violin will be revealed at a special dedication ceremony. This year’s event marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau on May 4. Szandra Katona, an expert who examined the violin, noted its craftsmanship, stating, “If you look at its proportions and structure, you can see that it’s a master violin, made by a man who was proficient in his craft.” This comment brings attention to both Kempa’s virtuosity and the emotional burden held by the instrument.
Tálosi, a leading figure in the discovery, called the violin the “violin of hope.” He explained its significance: “We named it the ‘violin of hope’ because if someone ends up in a difficult situation, having a task or a challenge helps them get through a lot of things.” This lamentation rings especially true when you think about the conditions under which the violin was made.
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