On 21 October 2025, The Remembrance Museum of the Land of Oświęcim Residents hosted another event in the “Meeting with History” series. This edition was dedicated to the fate of the figurine of Virgin Mary from Behind the Wires and to the Kupiec family from Poronin, closely connected with it.
Speakers and Presentation Topics
There were two speakers during the meeting. Maria Bafia-Bobek from the Palace Museum – a branch of the Tatra Museum – presented the history of the Kupiec family, who during the occupation provided shelter to people attempting to cross the border in order to continue armed resistance. She also spoke about the arrest of the brothers by the Gestapo and the investigation conducted in the building of today’s Palace Museum, then the Gestapo headquarters.
Dr Teresa Wontor-Cichy from the Research Center of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, in her presentation titled “The History of the Figurine of Virgin Mary from Behind the Wires”, discussed the camp experiences of the Kupiec brothers, their living and working conditions in Auschwitz, the profiles of their fellow prisoners, as well as the circumstances of the creation of the sculpture and its further post-war fate.
The Kupiec Family – A Symbol of Courage and Sacrifice
The Kupiec family has gone down in history as an example of courage and sacrifice. Six brothers – Bolesław, Antoni, Karol, Władysław, Józef and Jan – were arrested in 1940 for their involvement in the underground resistance and imprisoned in KL Auschwitz. In the camp, Bolesław and Antoni worked in the sculpture workshop, where the figurine of Virgin Mary was made. Inside the figurine, there was a tiny hiding place for a secret message. The message hidden in the figurine was a plea for help for their parents, who had been left without support.
The Secret of the Figurine of Virgin Mary from Behind the Wires
The figurine was given to Father Władysław Grohs, a vicar from Oświęcim who, during the occupation, acted as an intermediary in passing messages from the camp. He did not know that a secret message was hidden within the sculpture – it was given to him as a token of gratitude for the help he provided.
Bolesław Kupiec did not live to see the end of the war – after the investigation in Zakopane was resumed, he was tortured to death in 1942, taking the blame upon himself to save his brothers. Karol and Józef were also killed. After the war, the figurine was considered lost. It was rediscovered by chance only in 1971 in Wieliczka, in Father Grohs’s home. The hiding place inside was opened by Bolesław’s brother, Władysław.
A Symbol of Love’s Victory over Hatred
After many years, the figurine was brought to the St Maximilian Centre in Harmęże, where it remains to this day. In 1972, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, holding it in his hands during Holy Mass in Brzezinka, called it “Virgin Mary from Behind the Wires” and designated it as a symbol of love’s victory over hatred.
Copy of the Figurine in the Museum’s Collection
The collection of The Remembrance Museum of the Land of Oświęcim Residents contains a specially commissioned copy of this unique figurine, which was made in connection with the creation of the permanent exhibition.
Memory of Courage and Values
The event at The Remembrance Museum of the Land of Oświęcim Residents reminded us the importance of individual stories in shaping historical memory — in this case, one shared by both the Land of Oświęcim and the Podhale region. We thank our speakers for their engaging presentations and all participants for attending.
