Forced Labor & the Firearms Industry during World War II

Compiled by Larry B. Schuknecht

The following page contains written accounts by persons, who experienced forced labor, in one form or another. 
The first account is by Kazimiera Kurowska, a member of the Polish Home Army, who served as a nurse during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944.  After the defeat of the uprising, Kazimiera was transported to Suhl, where she worked as a forced laborer in the Firearms and Bicycle factory of Geb. Luck; until the liberation by the Allied forces.  After the war Kazimiera lived in Olsztyn, Poland.  For her heroism during the war as well as her lifetime work on behalf of other people, Kazimiera Kurowska received a number of medals, including the Warsaw insurgent Cross, The Underground Fighters Cross, The Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, The Grand Cross of the Polish Red Cross, and others.  

Kazimiera Kurowska’s memoir is currently being prepared for publication by her grandniece Joanna Kurowska Ph.D., an independent scholar and a former Senior Lecturer at the University of Chicago. Joanna has graciously given me her permission to include this chapter here.

Please click the arrow at the bottom of Kazimiera Kurowska’s text, to scroll the pages. 

Following are additional documents pertaining to Kazimiera and her time at Suhl.

To read about the Geb. Luck firm, click HERE.

Now I introduce Reinhold Jäger, the youngest brother of Franz Jäger.

Following are two stories written by Dietrich Apel about his experiences during the War. They and the Reinhold Jäger story are part of the manuscript The Jäger Family of Gun Makers by Larry B. Schuknecht and is presently available for purchase on a CD. See the HOME page for more information about the CD.

My friend Dietrich Apel had a personal interest in the trials and tribulations imposed on the Jews. In his vast files I found the following story about the efforts to save Jews by the Camera maker Leica. While not related to Gun Making, I include it here to honor Dietrich.