Max Wozniak
I was born in Cologne, Germany on September 22, 1926. There I attended a Jewish
school through 7th grade. During the 1930s and the Nazi persecutions of German Jews my
whole family was deported to Poland because my father had immigrated to Germany from
Poland years before. Then, on Septermber 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland, and we were
under German occupation for about six weeks. During this period Russia made a "Peace
Agreement" with Germany, enabling Russia to take over the Eastern part of Poland where we
were now staying. Within a couple of months Russia offered the refugees the option to go to
Russia, or stay where we were. My family and some other refugees decided to go to Russia as
we did not trust the situation with Germany. We were transported to Magnitogorsk, a mining
and industrial city in central Russia.
I went to school to learn Russian and continue my education which lasted only until April
of 1942, when I had to go to work in a metal - iron cast military factory during the war.
In 1946 we returned to Poland where I worked in a coal mine, and later in their
bookkeeping department. During that time I also became a soccer player. I married in 1969 in
Budapest, Hungary. Besides playing soccer in Poland, I also played in Israel and Germany. In
1961 I obtained a coaching license in Germany. I became a soccer coach in Germany, Israel,
and in the United States. In 1973 I became the US National Coach, traveling to Europe with the
team. I was inducted in the California Jewish Sport Hall of Fame, and also into the USA Jewish
Sport Hall of Fame.
http://www.jeanetteshelburne.com/HowWeMadeSomethingOutofNothing.pdf
