WHEN THE GESTAPO RANG THE DOORBELL - THE MICHALSKI FAMILY AND THEIR SILENT HEROES

Franz Michalski was born in Görlitz in 1934. The National Socialist definition for his father was “Aryan” and for his mother “Jewish”. Consequently he himself was regarded as a “Mischling 1. Grades” . With the help of people who risked their own lives, Franz, his younger brother Peter and his parents survived persecution. The story of the family’s persecution begins in Breslau and at the end of the war they were in hiding in Herrnskretschen. Their survival was greatly due to people in Goerlitz, Breslau, Berlin, Poppendorf, Tetschen-Bodenbach and Herrnskretschen. In contemporary witness interviews, Franz Michalski and his wife Petra tell young people the story of their escape through Europe.

Marie Rolshoven accompanied the couple to the places that became part of their story.

The Silent Heroes Memorial Center in Berlin has been documenting the history of the Michalski family and their helpers since 2008.

Marie Rolshoven  |  Director   
Jupp Tautfest  |  Camera
Oliver Dupont  |  Speaker
Isaiah Michalski  |  Music

Barbara Wolters  |  Cut

45 minutes  | Berlin 2018  | Schwalbe Film