Upbringing

maternal grandparents and aunt

Peter's maternal grandparents and aunt

Kratkowska, also known as Jablonska

Grandfather: Disappeared in Russia during the Russian Revolution

Grandmother: Kratkowska. Murdered by Nazis in Treblinka. 1943 (?)

Aunt: Raisa Kratkowska. Murdered by the Nazis in Treblinka. 1943 (?)

 

Upbringing

Sophie and Stefan in Venice

Sophie and Stefan in Venice

Upbringing

1946
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baby peter in germany 1947

Baby Peter in Germany in 1947

Upbringing

Peter Koper, refugee

Peter Koper, refugee 

Upbringing

Stefan's first job in the New World

After the end of World War II and Peter's birth, Stefan and Sophie wanted to immigrate to the US. Stefan searched listings for federal jobs and found a position teaching Polish to US Army officers (and probably some CIA spooks). He was an ideal candidate: he was fluent in Polish and English; he had experience as a teacher and a writer; and perhaps most crucially, Stefan was an acknowledged anti Communist. This was 1951 – the height of anti-communist hysteria, and Stefan had served as a lieutenant in Poland's Armia Krajowa (AK), the nationalist, anti-communist political party and army.

 

Upbringing

Mar 16, 1951

peter and stafan sword fightng

Upbringing

1954

Sophie holding alligator

Upbringing