Hidden note reveals violin's creation in Dachau concentration camp

During World War II, a Jewish prisoner named Franciszek Kempa was imprisoned at the Dachau concentration camp in Germany. In 1941, under dire conditions without proper tools and materials, he managed to create a violin. This instrument later became known as the 'violin of hope' as it carried a message that survived the horrors of the camp. Kempa secretly wrote a note and hid it within the violin, stating that it was a 'trial instrument made under difficult conditions.' This note remained undiscovered for over 80 years until art dealers in Hungary sent the violin for repairs. Upon examining the violin, the professional who repaired it noted the high level of craftsmanship and expressed confusion over the poor quality of the materials used, which did not match the evident skill Kempa exhibited. Motivated by these contradictions, the repairman disassembled the violin and discovered Kempa's note. This note served as an explanation, highlighting the forced limitations Kempa faced while creating the instrument in such brutal circumstances. It provided insight into the struggles of artists and craftsmen during the Holocaust. Dachau was the first concentration camp established by the Nazis and operated from 1933 until it was liberated by American forces in 1945. The camp initially housed political opponents but later expanded to detain Jews, Roma, clergy, homosexuals, and others targeted by the regime. While music played a role in some camps, with instruments often brought by prisoners, Kempa's violin is unique as it was created within the camp's confines. The Nazi regime occasionally allowed musical groups to form, which they used to project a false image of normalcy to the outside world. It is unclear how Kempa's violin ultimately made it to Hungary, but documentation from the Dachau memorial site indicates that he survived the war. After returning to Poland, he resumed his craft and continued making instruments until his death in 1953. Kempa's story is emblematic of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity, suggesting that his focus on craftsmanship helped him survive the horrors of the concentration camp.