Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker crafted in a World War 2 concentration camp An art expert couple stumbled upon the instrument by chance when they accidentally uncovered a secret message within the walls of the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau a Jewish prisoner secretly penned a short note and hid it inside a violin he had crafted under harrowing circumstances — a message to the future that would remain undiscovered for more than 80 years made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials,” the worn note read Dachau'' is visible seen through the f-holes of a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope'' April 22 in Magyarpolány built in 1941 by Franciszek “Franz” Kempa while imprisoned by the Nazis at Dachau in southern Germany It wasn’t until art dealers in Hungary sent the instrument out for repairs — after having stored it for years among a set of purchased furniture — that its history came to light Although the instrument's craftsmanship pointed clearly to a skilled maker the professional repairing it was puzzled by the poor quality of the wood and the crude tools used to create it which didn’t match the evident skill involved and Szandra Katona inspect a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope'' April 22 in Magyarpolány “If you look at its proportions and structure made by a man who was proficient in his craft,” said Szandra Katona one of the Hungarian art dealers who discovered the origins of the violin “But the choice of wood was completely incomprehensible.” revealing Kempa’s hidden note — an apparent explanation from a master violin maker forced by the brutal limitations of his captivity to build an instrument that fell short of his own standards was the first concentration camp established by the Nazis in March 1933 It initially housed political prisoners but later became a model for other camps homosexuals and others targeted by the Nazi regime and remained in operation until it was liberated by American forces on April 29 At least 40,000 people are believed to have died there due to starvation Tags from its maker are seen inside a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope'' Sept There is ample evidence that musical instruments were present in concentration camps across Central and Eastern Europe during World War II the Nazis often permitted or even encouraged the formation of musical groups to give a false impression to the outside world about life in the camps all known instruments that survived Dachau are believed to have been brought in by prisoners Kempa’s “violin of hope,” as it has come to be called is the only known instrument actually built inside the camp A handwritten and hidden tag in Silesian dialect (mix of Polish and German) inside a Dachau-build instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope'' reads: ''Trial instrument made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials It is unknown how the violin left Dachau and ultimately made its way to Hungary according to documents provided to the Hungarian art dealers by the museum at the Dachau memorial site survived the war and returned to his native Poland to continue making instruments before dying in 1953 The documents also suggest that Kempa was known to the Nazis as an instrument maker — something Tamás Tálosi believes may have spared him the fate of millions of others who perished in the camps “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,” Tálosi said and I think this helped the maker of this instrument to survive the concentration camp.” Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account 2Energy🚀US scientists end 70-year fusion struggle, paving way for better reactorsAamir Khollam17 hours ago 7Space🚀Scientists aboard a plane with 26 cameras chase burning satellite and film its fiery fallChris Younga day ago 2Military🌟Beijing's 6th-gen jets can block US stealth bombers 620 miles away, claims ChinaKapil Kajal10 minutes ago 4Energy🌟70-year-old nuclear fusion problem solved; can help tokamaks stop escaping electronsAmeya Palejaan hour ago 6Military🌟World’s first Amazon-style weapons marketplace debuts with drones, robots, ammoKapil Kajal2 hours ago 10Culture🌟Tech games: Elon Musk wins as Sam Altman's Open AI drops full-profit shift for nowSujita Sinha6 hours ago Georgina Jedikovska Pablo Villota/iStock A musical instrument known as the violin of hope has revealed a long buried secret after art dealers discovered a handwritten message left inside by its maker decades ago Polish Jewish prisoner Franciszek ‘Franz’ Kempa crafted the violin under brutal conditions with no proper tools or materials during his imprisonment at the notorious Dachau concentration camp in 1941 After Kempa was freed from the camp and returned to his native Poland where he continued making instruments until his death in 1953 the violin – believed to be the only one ever built inside Dachau in southern Germany – remained a mystery for more than 80 years While it remains unclear how the violin left the camp and made its way to Hungary it eventually ended up in the hands of Hungarian art dealers Szandra Katona and Tamás Tálosi from Magyarpolány who recently sent it out for repairs without knowing that a hidden note was concealed inside its body Katona and Tálosi had stored the instrument for years among a set of purchased furniture before eventually sending it out for repairs, intrigued by its expert craftsmanship but puzzled by the inexplicably poor choice of wood “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,” Katona said “But the choice of wood was completely incomprehensible.” The contradiction prompted the repair professional to take the violin apart leading to the stunning discovery of a hidden note inside that served as a quiet and powerful testament to the maker’s perseverance The note offered a haunting glimpse into the instrument’s origin, reportedly written by Kempa while imprisoned by the Nazis: “Trial instrument, made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials. Dachau Historical records suggest the violin is the only known instrument of its kind to have been crafted entirely inside the infamous Dachau concentration camp, where more than 40,000 prisoners were killed before it was liberated by U.S. Army divisions on April 29 Kempa’s violin remains unique as a creation made within the confines of a Nazi concentration camp at a time when musical instruments were rarely present and typically either smuggled in by prisoners or provided by the regime for propaganda purposes The Nazis are believed to have known of Kempa’s expertise as a luthier – a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments – a factor that may have helped him survive the camp the discovery of the violin – now dubbed the violin of hope – offers more than historical context It’s a powerful reminder that engineering and creativity can persist even in the darkest chapters of humanity Tálosi believes that concentrating on the task, rather than the surrounding horror, may have been what helped the Kempa endure life in the concentration camp. Dachau was among the first concentration camps established by Nazi Germany and remained in operation the longest 0COMMENTABOUT THE AUTHORGeorgina Jedikovska Georgina Jedikovska with a specialization in viticulture and oenology By clicking sign up, you confirm that you accept this site's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Premium BERLIN — It is the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi Germany's Dachau concentration camp the Dachau memorial site north of Munich is dedicating a plaque in honor of the U.S Army's 45th Infantry Division that first encountered more than 30,000 prisoners alive at the camp on April 29 The memorial site will host several days of official remembrance at the location of the former concentration camp, where at least 40,000 people were killed or died of hunger and illness between 1933 and 1945 That will include a commemoration for the victims and religious services for Jewish Greek and Russian Orthodox communities on Sunday Established on the grounds of an old gunpowder and ammunition factory in March 1933 Dachau was the longest operating concentration camp in the Holocaust It was one of thousands of camps and other sites the Nazis used in the mass murder of more than 6 million Jews Don Greenbaum, a U.S. soldier interviewed by Germany's Der Spiegel magazine in 2020 said he could not be prepared for the camp when a French minister showed him around "He showed me the machine-gun positions of the SS soldiers and you could see piles of clothes," Greenbaum said the Dachau camp was used by the Allied powers to hold former SS soldiers awaiting trial for war crimes it held ethnic Germans who had been expelled from Eastern Europe and were awaiting resettlement military base during the Allied occupation Become an NPR sponsor Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. A violin with a hidden message inside, crafted in a World War 2 concentration camp, has been discovered in Hungary. An art expert couple stumbled upon the instrument by chance, intending to donate it, when they accidentally uncovered a secret message, a name, and a location - Dachau Concentration Camp. This image obtained from AP video shows a tag with the text ''K.L. Dachau’’ seen through the f-holes of a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope’’ in Magyarpolány, Hungary, Tuesday April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nikolett Csanyi) Art collector couple Tamás Tálosi, left, and Szandra Katona inspect a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope’’ in Magyarpolány, Hungary, Tuesday April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nikolett Csanyi) Tags from its maker are seen inside a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope’’, in Magyarpolány, Hungary, Tuesday September 8, 2020. (Szandra Katona via AP) Art collector Tamás Tálosi holds a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope’’, in Magyarpolány, Hungary, Tuesday April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nikolett Csanyi) A handwritten and hidden tag in Silesian dialect (mix of Polish and German) inside a Dachau-build instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope’’ reads: ''Trial instrument, made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials, K. L. Dachau. Anno 1941, Franciszek Kempa’’, in Magyarpolány, Hungary, Tuesday September 8, 2020. (Szandra Katona via AP) A man holds a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope’’, in Magyarpolány, Hungary, Tuesday April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nikolett Csanyi) BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — During World War II, within the walls of the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, a Jewish prisoner secretly penned a short note and hid it inside a violin he had crafted under harrowing circumstances — a message to the future that would remain undiscovered for more than 80 years. “Trial instrument, made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials,” the worn note read. “Dachau. Anno 1941, Franciszek Kempa.” The origins of the violin, built in 1941 by Franciszek “Franz” Kempa while imprisoned by the Nazis at Dachau in southern Germany, remained unnoticed for decades. It wasn’t until art dealers in Hungary sent the instrument out for repairs — after having stored it for years among a set of purchased furniture — that its history came to light. Although the instrument’s craftsmanship pointed clearly to a skilled maker, the professional repairing it was puzzled by the poor quality of the wood and the crude tools used to create it, which didn’t match the evident skill involved. “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,” said Szandra Katona, one of the Hungarian art dealers who discovered the origins of the violin. “But the choice of wood was completely incomprehensible.” Motivated by the contradiction, the professional disassembled the violin, revealing Kempa’s hidden note — an apparent explanation, even an apology, from a master violin maker forced by the brutal limitations of his captivity to build an instrument that fell short of his own standards. Dachau, located near Munich, was the first concentration camp established by the Nazis in March 1933. It initially housed political prisoners but later became a model for other camps, imprisoning Jews, Roma, clergy, homosexuals, and others targeted by the Nazi regime. Over time, it became a site of forced labor, medical experiments, and brutal punishment, and remained in operation until it was liberated by American forces on April 29, 1945. At least 40,000 people are believed to have died there due to starvation, disease, execution, or mistreatment. There is ample evidence that musical instruments were present in concentration camps across Central and Eastern Europe during World War II. For propaganda purposes, the Nazis often permitted or even encouraged the formation of musical groups to give a false impression to the outside world about life in the camps. However, all known instruments that survived Dachau are believed to have been brought in by prisoners. Kempa’s “violin of hope,” as it has come to be called, is the only known instrument actually built inside the camp. It is unknown how the violin left Dachau and ultimately made its way to Hungary. But Kempa, according to documents provided to the Hungarian art dealers by the museum at the Dachau memorial site, survived the war and returned to his native Poland to continue making instruments before dying in 1953. The documents also suggest that Kempa was known to the Nazis as an instrument maker — something Tamás Tálosi, one of the art dealers, believes may have spared him the fate of millions of others that perished in the camps. “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,” Tálosi said. “You focus not on the problem, but on the task itself, and I think this helped the maker of this instrument to survive the concentration camp.” Embed on your websiteClose×Copy the code below to embed the WBUR audio player on your site<iframe width="100%" height="124" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://player.wbur.org/hereandnow/2025/04/29/concentration-camp-liberation"></iframe> a few days before the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the camp (Matthias Schrader/AP)May 8 marks the 80-year anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe Allied troops liberated Nazi concentration camps across German-occupied areas the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp began “Large numbers were simply abandoned and left to die,” said Dan Stone the director of the Holocaust Research Institute at Royal Holloway “They were largely Jews who'd been evacuated there from other camps further east.” Elly Gotz He remembers the German Army arriving and immediately attacking Jews His family was rounded up with the rest of the Jewish population of Kaunas “The Germans took over and put us in a ghetto,” Gotz said “Thirty thousand Jews were jammed in a ghetto his father and three uncles were sent to Dachau The lice were drinking our blood and brought us disease.” Gotz worked as a mechanic building an underground factory that would be used to manufacture fighter jets even young people started to die,” Gotz said I carried more dead bodies than I could count.” Gotz said that when the American Army arrived at Dachau they put all the prisoners on a train to the central part of the camp I don't know how much longer I will be with you my son.’ I was sure he was going to die that night.” Gotz went to get soup and bread for himself and his father They promised to kill us before the war is over We are alive and the Americans are here,’” Gotz said Have you got the bread?’ I was still holding this piece of bread While he acknowledges the power of emancipation at concentration camps Stone of the Holocaust Research Institute said the word ‘liberation’ doesn’t tell the full story history focuses on the concentration camps and overlooks local massacres of Jewish people across Europe during the war a police officer in Belarus wrote to his wife about shooting truckloads of Jews a man beat 50 Jewish people to death in front of a crowd “Large numbers of Jews were killed by collaborationist regimes,” Stone said an independent sovereign country that was allied to Nazi Germany.” Stone says that since the end of World War II there has been a push to put all the blame on Germany and erase the history of violence against Jewish people in other countries “Once the commissions of inquiry that took place in the post-Cold War context in the countries of Eastern Europe published their findings a lot of local nationalists objected and said ‘We shouldn't be airing our dirty laundry in public,’” Stone said “We still see a great deal of tension over simply accepting the historical facts.” concentration camp survivors live with complex trauma after their liberation he hated the Germans for what he’d endured I gave up the idea because I said to myself You are 17 years old and your life is in front of you,’” Gotz said Thomas Danielian produced and edited this interview for broadcast with Catherine Welch. Grace Griffin adapted it for the web. Robin Young Co-Host, Here & NowRobin Young brings more than 25 years of broadcast experience to her role as host of Here & Now. Thomas Danielian Producer, Here & NowThomas Danielian is a producer for Here & Now. Grace Griffin Digital Producer Here & NowGrace Griffin is a digital producer for Here & Now In Tuesday’s (4/29) CBS News reports a Jewish prisoner secretly penned a short note and hid it inside a violin he had crafted under harrowing circumstances—a message to the future that would remain undiscovered for more than 80 years made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials,’ the worn note read Franciszek Kempa.’ The origins of the violin built in 1941 by Franciszek ‘Franz’ Kempa while imprisoned by the Nazis at Dachau in southern Germany It wasn’t until art dealers in Hungary sent the instrument out for repairs … that its history came to light… revealing Kempa’s hidden note—an apparent explanation from a master violin maker forced … to build an instrument … Dachau was the first concentration camp established by the Nazis… It initially housed political prisoners but later [imprisoned] Jews and others … All known instruments that survived Dachau are believed to have been brought in by prisoners Kempa’s ‘violin of hope,’ as it has come to be called is the only known instrument actually built inside the camp.” , the award-winning publication of the League of American Orchestras discusses issues critical to the orchestra community and communicates to the American public the value and importance of orchestras and the music they perform Bitte aktiviere Javascript in deinem Browser und lade die Seite dann erneut SEITE NEU LADEN  A violin from a Nazi concentration camp nearly went unnoticed for over eight decades In 1941, while imprisoned at Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, a Jewish violin maker built an instrument that would go on to be known as the ‘violin of hope’ In it he left a note that would not be discovered for over 80 years Szandra Katona and Tamás Tálosi came across the violin they were initially intending to donate it when their friend looked in the violin’s F-hole they found a note left by its creator that changed everything they understood about the instrument made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials,” the worn note on the inside of the violin read The violin had been stored among a set of purchased furniture for years and when the art dealers sent it out for repairs The professional repairing it was puzzled by what they saw: although the craftsmanship suggested it was built by a skilled maker one of the art dealers who discovered the violin’s origins Read more: Long-lost Stradivarius violin stolen by Nazis during Second World War found in France Roma and others targeted by the Nazi regime or mistreatment before its liberation on 29 April 1945 Musical instruments were present in concentration camps during World War II and Nazi leaders often encouraged the formation of musician groups within the camps as a mode of propaganda to mislead the outside world about life within them A wide range of musical activities took place in Dachau Testimonies from prisoners include descriptions of orchestral concerts All known instruments that survived Dachau are believed to have been brought in by prisoners Kempa’s ‘violin of hope’ as it has been named has been deemed a kind of explanation or apology Although it is unknown exactly why he built the violin this master violin maker was forced to work within unimaginable conditions and made something that he felt was inadequate Kempa survived the war and returned to his native Poland to continue making instruments before dying in 1953 He was known to the Nazis as an instrument maker and Tálosi suggested this is how he survived Ravel Einaudi Events Paderewski See more Best classical music See more More instruments your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt Prior to the central commemorative ceremony of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau concentration camp a secret note which has remained hidden all these years reminds us that hope can survive even in the most horrific of places The note was written by Franciszek “Franz” Kempa a Jewish prisoner of the Nazi concentration camp He hid it inside a violin he had crafted under harrowing circumstances present and found in concentration camps across Central and Eastern Europe during World War II The Nazis often permitted and even encouraged prisoners to play in order to give a false impression to the outside world about life in the camps using music as a tool of propaganda and deception It wasn’t until art dealers in Hungary sent the instrument out for repairs - after having stored it for years among a set of purchased furniture - that its history came to light Kempa’s violin is the only known instrument actually built inside the camp The documents also suggest that Kempa was known to the Nazis as an instrument maker - something Tamás Tálosi believes may have spared him the fate of millions of others that perished in the camps and remained in operation until it was liberated by American forces on 29 April 1945 The central commemorative ceremony of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau will take place on Sunday 4 May A worker holds a shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim Museum workers describe the children's shoes as one of the most emotional testaments of the crimes carried out at Auschwitz where Nazi German forces murdered 1.1 million people during World War II A worker examines a shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim German forces in World War II destroyed evidence of their atrocities at Treblinka and other camps but they failed to do so entirely at the enormous site of Auschwitz as they fled the approaching Soviet forces in chaos toward the war's end A shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau is scanned at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim Most of the victims were Jews killed in dictator Adolf Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe takes a photo of a shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim One pair still bound by shoelaces is a rarity head of the museum's collections department shows a collection of shoes that belonged to child victims of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim A two-year effort has been launched in 2023 to preserve 8,000 children’s shoes at the former concentration and extermination camp where German forces murdered 1.1 million people during World War II A worker rubs away dust on a shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim The museum is able to conserve about 100 shoes a week and has processed 400 since the project began last month The aim is not to restore them to their original state but to render them as close to how they were found at war's end as possible A worker uses a scalpel to scrape away rust from the eyelets of a shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim People visit one of the barracks displaying shoes collected from the prisoners of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim described the shoes as powerful testimony because the huge heaps of shoes that remain give some idea of the enormous scale of the crimes even though what is left is only a fraction of what was shows a shoe that belonged to Vera Vohryzkova a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim into a Jewish Czech family and was sent to Auschwitz in a transport from the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1943 with her mother and brother Her father Max Vohryzek was sent in a separate transport scans a shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim Teenagers visit the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim Workers examine shoes that belonged to child victims of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim A woman looks at an exhibition displaying the shoes of child victims of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim This article was originally published on WBUR.org. a sweet odor reminiscent of the Chicago stockyards nauseated them After encountering the grizzly spectacle of human carcasses piled high they crept through gardens where roses bloomed outside abandoned SS officers' homes Then a spine-chilling roar — tens of thousands of prisoners yelling Weeks earlier, my 34-year-old Jewish grandfather, Mietek Dortheimer, had contracted typhus. He knew the Americans were advancing, and hoped he might survive. “If we hadn’t that hope, we would kill ourselves,” he told Hollywood filmmakers days after the camp was liberated. it’s vital we commemorate the ideals America once championed history that makes them proud to be American He told me in an interview: “It amazes me every young American doesn’t know ending the Holocaust and liberating Western Europe is the greatest thing any country in modern history has achieved.” Load YouTube videoHe is not wrong. Eighty years after U.S. forces liberated my grandfather, only 17% of young Americans (aged 18 to 39) had heard of the Holocaust constituting what the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany called a "basic knowledge of the genocide." I talk with hundreds of U.S. middle and high school students every year. Young people who engage with testimonies of the Greatest Generation, those who fought, sacrificed their lives and pursued justice through trials by the U.S. Army, including The Nuremberg Trials are inspired by that generation’s courage and moral clarity Those series of trials marked the first time individuals—not states—were prosecuted for war crimes Standards and procedures established then are still in place today students with Holocaust education are also more likely to offer help Engaging with individuals who helped defeat Nazism and advocated for human rights can inspire us to preserve those values When America disbanded the War Crimes Group at Dachau my grandfather swore he’d put the horrors he’d witnessed behind him Like many refugees starting over after losing everything (whose advanced-degrees don’t match their destination’s requirements) at first my grandfather worked on a chicken-farm hired other refugees and eventually became a success I know he would have wanted us to be proud of the American soldiers who freed Western Europe and demand that our leaders uphold values that made America great Follow Cog on Facebook and Instagram. And sign up for our newsletter, sent on Sundays. We share stories that remind you we're all part of something bigger. Karen Kirsten Cognoscenti contributorKaren Kirsten is an Australian-American writer and Holocaust educator who speaks on the topics of hatred and reconciliation around the world She is the award-winning author of "Irena’s Gift: An Epic WWII Memoir of Sisters A LOCALLY OWNED NEWSPAPER DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE OF GOD AND MANKIND. This image obtained from AP video shows a tag with the text ''K.L Dachau'' seen through the f-holes of a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope'' in Magyarpolány Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get a free dose of heath care news and wellness tips delivered to your inbox each Tuesday morning Powered by North Mississippi Health Services Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens Get a weekly rundown of the top stories from the Monroe Journal dropped into your inbox each Thursday afternoon Get a weekly rundown of the top stories from the New Albany Gazette dropped into your inbox each Thursday afternoon Get a rundown each Monday morning of all that's going on in the All-America City From local government updates to live music schedules and more Don't miss any of our Mississippi State coverage Sign up to receive a weekly report plus need-to-know updates From Friday nights under the lights to Saturdays on the diamond Prep Rally is your year-round source for Northeast Mississippi high school sports coverage and stories sure to get your weekend off to the perfect start Sign up to get the Daily Journal e-edition delivered to your inbox each morning Sign up to view our weekly e-editions each Wednesday with just a click Sign up to view our weekly e-editions each Wednesday with just a click.  www.publicdomainpictures.netArt of an Older Man Playing Violin The Violins of Hope Project was founded by Avshalom Weinstein and his son Amnon. over the life of the project, they have amassed a collection of stringed instruments with connections to the Holocaust which they then restore for musicians around the world to play. In a video posted to Today's YouTube "It harnesses powerful music with a special collection of violins and other string instruments originally owned by victims of the Holocaust and honors their legacy by keeping their music alive." - YouTubewww.youtube.com On the Philharmonic Society's website "All instruments have a common denominator: they are symbols of hope and a way to say but "his extraordinary legacy lives on through this collection ensuring that the memories and music of those who suffered are never forgotten and serves as a symbol of hope and remembrance." "A Jewish prisoner secretly penned a short note and hid it inside a violin he had crafted under harrowing circumstances—a message to the future that would remain undiscovered for more than 80 years." made under difficult conditions with no tools or materials The article relays that the wooden violin was built by Franciszek "Franz" Kempa in 1941 while a prisoner in the Nazi camp in Germany "It wasn’t until art dealers in Hungary sent the instrument out for repairs—after having stored it for years among a set of purchased furniture—that its history came to light." He later adds "It is the only known instrument actually built inside the camp." "according to documents provided to the Hungarian art dealers by the museum at the Dachau memorial site…returned to his native Poland to continue making instruments before dying in 1953." His instrument-making expertise might have been the very thing that spared him from death "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 miraculous violin surviving maddening conditions can perhaps be seen as a symbol not just of hope it can sing through its strings what is impossible to speak in words And it can hopefully inspire a better world where our memories of history prevent us from repeating it "There is just so much pressure on social media to be perfect." Stephanie Murphy shares her "average" home in viral TikTok video Lets normalize “average” because there is nothing wrong with it Everywhere you look on social media you see big gorgeous houses in perfect condition and its hard not to compare yours to them But its not the norm and half the time its staged and its filled with love and tons of memories and at the end of the day thats all that matters This article originally appeared two years ago "My husband is raising a boy and prepping him to be a man one day." Dad gently explains to son why hitting others is bad TikTok family The Fitts' (@jissel_fitts) made up of husband and wife duo Aaron and Jissell and their two children shared an emotional video with their followers capturing a conversation between father and son Aaron holds his little boy's head in his hands after learning he hit someone Rather than explosively yell or demean him for hitting Aaron calmly explains why it is not okay and how to recognize and manage his emotions better a father to teach them about emotions," Jissell captioned the post I wanted to step in but I have to constantly remind myself my husband is raising a boy and prepping him to become a man on day." #fyp #fypage #f #fatherson #dadsoftiktok #dadlife #blackfathers #blackfatherhood #fatherhood #breakingcycles "You have to learn how to control your emotions Just because you're upset don't mean you get to hit but calmly listens to him and nods his head "You can't hit people because you're angry You can't just be mad because somebody said something you don't like offering physical reassurance and comfort with zero yelling He makes constant eye contact with his son who responds to his gentle demeanor by listening intently Viewers are impressed with this dad's approach verbal like this 😭 love this for him 🖤," one wrote "I love the fathers of this generation instead of telling him to man up he explains and lets his little boy have his moment of tears." Instead of yelling and demeaning words." "notice how the little baby is playing his dads beard while being disciplined 😭💖 shows he feels safe w him and he’s really listening." Others praised the mother: "The mother saying she’s not stepping in is the BEST PART!! Let the men RAISE their boys!!!" one wrote Jissell also responded to people sharing about their struggles "I wish I had this growing up pops wasn’t around mom had to work you guys know how to go 🤦🏾♂️😩." And Jissell replied "Growing up in my household we weren’t allowed to express ourselves we got in trouble for it 🥹." "Not all boys have a father like this not all boys have an active present loving father that’s going to be like this Some of us mothers have to be the mother and the father to our boys💯 & that’s Ok." Jissell responded "My husband was raised by a single mom so yes it’s possible ❤️." Jissell and Aaron are choosing to parent their children differently Gregory Maguire says he "fell down to the ground" laughing when the idea hit him Gregory Maguire was inspired by a line in the original 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz." Have you ever watched a movie or read a book or listened to a piece of music and wondered "How did they come up with that idea?" The creative process is so enigmatic even artists themselves don't always know where their ideas come from so It's a treat when we get to hear the genesis of a brilliant idea straight from the horse's mouth If you've watched "Wicked" and wondered where the idea for the friendship between Elphaba (the Wicked Witch) and Glinda (the Good Witch) came from the author of the book has shared the precise moment it came to him Maguire explained how Elphaba and Glinda's friendship popped into his head Maguire was visiting Beatrix Potter's farm in Cumbria and thinking about "The Wizard of Oz," which he had loved as a child and thought could be an interesting basis for a story about evil what do we know about 'The Wizard of Oz' from our memories,'" he said "We have the house falling on the witch All we know about that witch is that she has feet So I began to think about Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West… "There is one scene in the 1939 film where Billie Burke comes down looking all pink and fluffy and Margaret Hamilton is all crawed and crabbed and she says something like 'I might have known you'd be behind this now why is she using Glinda's first name Maybe they've known each other for a long time And I fell down onto the ground in the Lake District laughing at the thought that they had gone to college together." In "Wicked," Glinda and the Wicked Witch The story grows a lot more complicated from there (and the novel goes darker than the stage play) but it's the character development of the two witches and their relationship with one another that force us to examine our ideas about good and evil - YouTubeyoutu.be Maguire also shared with the Denver Center for Performing Arts what had inspired him to use the "Wizard of Oz" characters in the first place "I was living in London in the early 1990’s during the start of the Gulf War I was interested to see how my own blood temperature chilled at reading a headline in the usually cautious British newspaper the Times of London: 'Sadaam Hussein: The New Hitler?' I caught myself ready to have a fully formed political opinion about the Gulf War and the necessity of action against Sadaam Hussein on the basis of how that headline made me feel When a few months later several young schoolboys kidnapped and killed a toddler the British press paid much attention to the nature of the crime I considered briefly writing a novel about Hitler but discarded the notion due to my general discomfort with the reality of those times But when I realized that nobody had ever written about the second most evil character in our collective American subconscious I thought I had experienced a small moment of inspiration Everybody in America knows who the Wicked Witch of the West is but nobody really knows anything about her There is more to her than meets the eye." Knowing how to properly darn holes in sweaters is a useful skill The invention of sewing and knitting machines changed the way we acquire clothing and the skills people used to possess have largely gone by the wayside Most of us have no idea how to darn a sock or fix a hole in any knit fabric it's far easier for us to replace than to repair Most of us don't darn socks anyomore.Photo credit: Canva But there are still some among us who do have the skills to repair clothing in a way that makes it look like the rip, tear or hole never happened, and to watch them do it is mesmerizing Videos of people stitching holes in knit sweaters have gone viral on social media with millions of views on simple One video begins by showing a hole in a light pink knit sweater the person demonstrates how to fill the hole to make it look as if it never existed in the first place - YouTubeyoutube.com Another video begins by showing a hole in a gray knit sweater but this time a yellow yarn is used to patch the hole so you can see clearly what was done but you really do have to know what you're doing to make this magic work - YouTubewww.youtube.com What we're witnessing here is a combo of knowledge and experience in the fiber arts, of course, but what it looks like is sheer sorcery or some kind of really complicated calculus problem. Who figured out how to do this? And why is it so satisfying to watch "I watched this whole video and I still don’t know how you did that," shared one commenter "Hey that was pretty neat," wrote another "Can you do the ozone layer next?" (Ha.) "I could watch it a hundred times and still not be able to do this," wrote another "My toxic trait is thinking I can do this 😂😂😂," shared another (Maybe after watching it two hundred times.) Many people found it oddly soothing to watch perhaps because seeing something being fixed is indeed satisfying and perhaps because it harkens back to a simpler time when people spent their evenings doing things like this around the fire This video demonstrates three different ways to mend sweater holes and the piano practically lulls you into a meditative state while you watch Is this fiber arts therapy for those of us who don't sew or knit or crochet - YouTubewww.youtube.com Kudos to those who are keeping these kinds of skills alive and sharing them with the world We may not be passing this kind of knowledge down in most families anymore but at least we have the internet to help us if we really want to learn it This article originally appeared three years ago "I love how they posted the flyers at different heights One for the dogs and one for the humans." Decades after the trend first emerged, people are still debating whether dog birthday parties are cool or "too extra." One woman on TikTok threw her tiny one-year-old puppy, Angel, a party and claimed no one came she received nearly 30,000 comments from people expressing their sadness that such an adorable puppy looked so distraught They followed up with thousands of birthday wishes and heart emojis has over 700,000 followers and her own manager Tons of people online have opinions about whether hound parties should even exist. An OP on Quora asked, "Why do pet owners throw birthday parties for their pets?" One commenter kept it simple: "Because it’s fun Dogs have about the same mental functioning as a toddler when it comes to navigating interactions with human beings Do you think a baby has any clue what’s going on when you throw a 1st birthday party but you can see it brings them joy and you enjoy it too Nobody came to his birthday 😞💔🎂 #sad #sadvideo #dog #dogparty #birthday #dogbirthday #puppy #brusselsgriffon As for the logistics of it all, in the subreddit r/dogs a Redditor posted: "Dog birthday party help: We adopted our good boy 3 years ago next week and we want to have a little party in our backyard with neighborhood dogs Any tips or ideas on how to make it fun and keep it safe/contained?" A commenter had excellent advice as to only having well-behaved dogs in attendance: "Hand out invitations with your pup in tow and assess any behavioral incompatibilities before even mentioning anything." And this wisdom was aimed at helping alleviate a dog-mob mentality when it came to treats: "You could do goodie bags for people to take as they leave While some seemed adverse to the idea, more and more people are embracing their canine hoe-downs, whether it's an actual birthday or a "gotcha" day, for those lucky rescue animals out there. Recently, in the subreddit r/aww someone posted a flyer of a puppy in a red party hat ruff." A date and time followed by more woofs Bark less…Maybe." As someone who's fluent in "dog," I can tell you that's a solid invite to what sounds like an off-the-chain party This post already has over 50,000 upvotes and nearly a thousand comments people actually went to the party and posted some photos in the Reddit thread Happy Birthday GIFGiphy one eagle-eyed viewer had a compliment for the flyer itself One for the dogs and one for the humans." Another viewer had excellent advice for those searching for a companion on say I have a strong vibe if you go you are going to meet someone that you will really want to know." Not sure if they meant a dog-friend or a human-companion E-edition PLUS unlimited articles & videos Personalized news alerts with our mobile app *Refers to the latest 2 years of stltoday.com stories Please subscribe to continue reading… a Jewish prisoner secretly penned a short note and hid it inside a violin he had crafted under harrowing circumstances — a message to the future that would remain undiscovered for more than 80 years made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials,” the worn note read built in 1941 by Franciszek “Franz” Kempa while imprisoned by the Nazis at Dachau in southern Germany It wasn’t until art dealers in Hungary sent the instrument out for repairs — after having stored it for years among a set of purchased furniture — that its history came to light Although the instrument’s craftsmanship pointed clearly to a skilled maker which didn’t match the evident skill involved made by a man who was proficient in his craft,” said Szandra Katona “But the choice of wood was completely incomprehensible.” revealing Kempa’s hidden note — an apparent explanation Kempa’s “violin of hope,” as it has come to be called President Donald Trump on Friday called for Ukraine and Russia to meet for “very high level talks,” saying they .. The World Food Program says its food stocks in the Gaza Strip have run out under Israel’s nearly 8-week-old .. Copyright © 2025 Central Pennsylvania Newspapers LLC | https://www.altoonamirror.com | 301 Cayuga Ave. Dear Reader,Unfortunately our comment platform isn\'t available at the moment due to issues with our paywall and authentication vendor A violin made in 1941 inside the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau was found to contain a hidden note from its maker   This newscast is updated weekdays at 6am This article was originally published on WBUR.org. Volunteer looks at the extraordinary story connected to the origins of a violin in Hungary… a Jewish prisoner secretly penned a short note and hid it inside a violin he had crafted under harrowing circumstances – a message to the future that would remain undiscovered for more than 80 years It wasn’t until art dealers in Hungary sent the instrument out for repairs – after having stored it for years among a set of purchased furniture – that its history came to light made by a man who was proficient in his craft But the choice of wood was completely incomprehensible.” revealing Kempa’s hidden note – an apparent explanation was the first concentration camp established by the Nazis in March and remained in operation until it was liberated by American forces on 29th April The documents also suggest that Kempa was known to the Nazis as an instrument maker – something Tamás Tálosi Sight+ is a new benefits program we’ve launched to reward people who have supported us with annual donations of $26 or more. To find out more about Sight+ and how you can support the work of Sight, head to our Sight+ page We’re interested to find out more about you as we improve and expand our coverage and so we’re asking all of our readers to take this survey (it’ll only take a couple of minutes) To take part in the survey, simply follow this link… and website in this browser for the next time I comment For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use This image obtained from AP video shows a tag with the text ''K.L Dachau'' seen through the f-holes of a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope'' in Magyarpolány Although the instrument's craftsmanship pointed clearly to a skilled maker Get the latest breaking news as it happens By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy and Szandra Katona inspect a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope'' in Magyarpolány Tags from its maker are seen inside a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope'' Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in. A violin with a hidden message inside, crafted in a World War 2 concentration camp, has been discovered in Hungary. An art expert couple stumbled upon the instrument by chance, intending to donate it, when they accidentally uncovered a secret message, a name, and a location - Dachau Concentr… During World War II, within the walls of the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, a Jewish prisoner secretly penned a short note and hid it inside a violin he had crafted under harrowing circumstances — a message to the future that would remain undiscovered for more than 80 years. This image obtained from AP video shows a tag with the text ''K.L. Dachau'' seen through the f-holes of a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope'' April 22 in Magyarpolány, Hungary. Although the instrument's craftsmanship pointed clearly to a skilled maker, the professional repairing it was puzzled by the poor quality of the wood and the crude tools used to create it, which didn’t match the evident skill involved. Art collector couple Tamás Tálosi, left, and Szandra Katona inspect a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope'' April 22 in Magyarpolány, Hungary. Dachau, located near Munich, was the first concentration camp established by the Nazis in March 1933. It initially housed political prisoners but later became a model for other camps, imprisoning Jews, Roma, clergy, homosexuals and others targeted by the Nazi regime. Over time, it became a site of forced labor, medical experiments and brutal punishment, and remained in operation until it was liberated by American forces on April 29, 1945. At least 40,000 people are believed to have died there due to starvation, disease, execution or mistreatment. Tags from its maker are seen inside a Dachau-built instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope'' Sept. 8, 2020, in Magyarpolány, Hungary. However, all known instruments that survived Dachau are believed to have been brought in by prisoners. Kempa’s “violin of hope,” as it has come to be called, is the only known instrument actually built inside the camp. A handwritten and hidden tag in Silesian dialect (mix of Polish and German) inside a Dachau-build instrument dubbed the ''violin of hope'' reads: ''Trial instrument, made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials, K. L. Dachau. Anno 1941, Franciszek Kempa.'' It is unknown how the violin left Dachau and ultimately made its way to Hungary. But Kempa, according to documents provided to the Hungarian art dealers by the museum at the Dachau memorial site, survived the war and returned to his native Poland to continue making instruments before dying in 1953. The documents also suggest that Kempa was known to the Nazis as an instrument maker — something Tamás Tálosi, one of the art dealers, believes may have spared him the fate of millions of others who perished in the camps. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! A violin with a hidden message inside, crafted in a World War 2 concentration camp, has been discovered in Hungary. An art expert couple stumb… Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don&rsquo;t miss our weekly town hall. Secret note from World War II hidden inside 'violin of hope' tells tale of survival by JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press