WladyslawSzpilman

After Adolf Hitler seized power in Germany in 1933, Szpilman returned to Warsaw, where he quickly became a celebrated pianist and a composer of both classical and popular music. Szpilman composed many classical pieces, and some popular songs and soundtracks, and he toured Poland accompanying violinist Bronislav Gimpel. On 1 April 1935 he joined Polish Radio, where he worked as a pianist performing classical and jazz music, until the German invasion of Poland reached Warsaw in autumn 1939, and Polskie Radio was forced off the air. The Nazi-led General Government established ghettos in many Polish cities, including Warsaw, and Szpilman was forced to move to the Warsaw Ghetto with his family. He continued to work as a pianist in restaurants in the ghetto.