Max Kowalski

[1882-1956]

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"Max Kowalski's story exemplifies the systematic destruction of Jewish cultural life in Nazi Germany and the resilience of artists forced into exile. Born in Russian Poland in 1882, Kowalski built a successful dual career as both a copyright lawyer and prolific composer of art songs in Germany, only to see his professional life dismantled by anti-Semitic legislation. His experiences encompass the broader tragedy of German-Jewish musicians: from the initial exclusion from public cultural life through the creation of segregated Jewish cultural organizations, to imprisonment in concentration camps and eventual exile. His trajectory from established professional to refugee piano tuner illustrates both the devastating personal cost of Nazi persecution and the determination of artists to continue their work under impossible circumstances."​

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Excerpt from "Max Kowalski", ORT Music and the Holocaust website

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For more information, please visit:

https://holocaustmusic.ort.org/resistance-and-exile/max-kowalski/​​​

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