“You are my escape from oppression you will keep me and you will ply me with joyful songs of salvation” These words etched on a Beirut tombstone capture the spirit of Hanka Ordonowna. This plaque commemorates her a true icon of Polish cabaret.
Hanka Ordonowna born Maria Anna Tyszkiewicz was more than a singer. She was a dancer an actress a poet and a lyricist. Her career spanned the vibrant interwar period. She graced the stages of Warsaw’s most prestigious cabarets and theatres. Her unique voice and captivating stage presence made her a star.
Ordonowna’s life wasn’t without hardship. World War II brought tragedy. She was arrested for protesting a German propaganda film. Imprisoned in Pawiak she was later rescued by her husband. They fled to Lithuania only to fall into Soviet hands. Her husband was imprisoned. Ordonowna went to Moscow hoping to secure his release. She was arrested and sent to a labor camp in Uzbekistan.
Despite these challenges Ordonowna showed incredible resilience. After release she dedicated herself to rescuing Polish orphans scattered across the USSR. She organized their evacuation a feat that took her across India to the Middle East ultimately to Lebanon. There she established a theater and cared for children. Her experiences are vividly detailed in her book Exiled Children written under the pseudonym Weronika Hort. The book is a testament to her strength and compassion.
Ordonowna’s legacy goes beyond the stage. Her story reminds us of resilience hope and the enduring power of the human spirit. This plaque is a fitting tribute to a woman who defied adversity and left an unforgettable mark on Polish culture and history. Her ashes eventually returned to Warsaw’s Powązki Cemetery a final resting place for this extraordinary woman.