Marian Hemar

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Marian Hemar (1901 – 1972), born Jan Maria Hescheles, was a Polish Jewish poet, journalist, playwright and comedy writer.

Hemar (this pseudonym was apparently formed from the first two letters of his last name, combined with the first three letters of his middle name) was born April 6, 1901, in Lwów. He studied medicine and philosophy at the local university and took part in the fights for the city in 1918 and 1919 as a volunteer on the Polish side. In 1925, already a famous author, he moved to Warsaw, where he formed a famous "Qui Pro Quo" cabaret with Julian Tuwim. He was also one of the backbones of the Cyrulik Warszawski ("Barber of Warsaw") cabaret and a notable author of hundreds of Polish Radio sketches. After the outbreak of World War II he fled Warsaw being searched by Gestapo and reached Romania. Later he joined joined the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade.

He organized concerts, speeches and field theatre plays for the Polish soldiers fighting in numerous battles. He also organized one of the few theatres operating in besieged Tobruk. After the war, he was unable to return to communist Poland due to his political allegiance. Hemar remained in the United Kingdom, where he was one of the best-known members of the Polish diaspora. He also continued to be popular in Poland with his weekly programs in the Polish division of Radio Free Europe.

Hemar died February 11, 1972, in Dorking near London. He is buried at the local cemetery, although there are plans to move his remains to Poland.