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Marynka is an informal name of St Mary Magdalene Gymnasium in Poznań. One of its students was Henryk Zygalski. Was it there that his talent for mathematics was born and cultivated? Or was this talent, which decided about his later success, inborn?

 

Finding answers to these questions may be very difficult so let us start at the beginning.

Not much is known about Zygalski’s childhood. However, on the basis of the available documents we can try to analyse his education path.

He was born on 15 July 1908 and spent his childhood in a tenement house at 22 Mielżyńskiego Street (back then it was 19 Victoriastrasse). His parents were Michał and Stanisława, nee Kielisz, who ran a tailoring studio there. He grew up in a quiet, loving home where he could nurture his passions.

Because his parents were professionally active, he attended a German kindergarten, one of the first day-care centres. We know this because Zygalski wrote about it in his memoir from September 1939:

‘In 1913 I was sent to a German kindergarten (…).’

Then he spent three years in a primary school (Mittelschule) at Naumanna Street (today’s Działyńskich Street).

Little Henryk did not seem to be interested in his parents’ profession. He was more drawn to numbers and playing the piano. From his memoir we know that ‘from the early years he showed exceptional mathematical skills.’

In 1918, at the age of 10, he started first grade (of the reformed education course) at St Mary Magdalene Gymnasium in Poznań. The atmosphere at the Zygalskis’ home at the time was full of enthusiasm and hope, not only due to the fact that the young student began his education. It is worth remembering that it was the time immediately after the end of the First World War. Thus, Zygalski had a chance to receive education in the atmosphere of a regenerating country, which, after over 123 years of partitions, finally regained independence. Although he never mentions this period in his letters, we can imagine that, just like for his peers, for Henryk it was the time of lightheartedness, nurturing his passion for music, forming new friendships and cultivating talents.

Zygalski graduated in 1926, reaching the legal age and receiving a graduation certificate. Zygalski’s school-leaving exam documents were found during the search for information about Antoni Gościński – a Poznań doctor kept in the Mauthausen concentration camp during the war who was treating his fellow inmates. It turned out that Zygalski and Gościński were classmates.

Henryk Zygalski’s school-leaving exam took place in May. The written exams lasted from 4 to 6 of May, whereas the oral exams took place on 14 and 15 of May. The chair of the examining board was Dezydery Ostrowski, the school’s director at the time. The other board members included:

• Father Julian Janicki
• Dr Mieczysław Michałkiewicz (Polish)
• Kazimierz Pertek (Latin)
• Jan Odroń (Greek)
• Aleksander Tarnawski (History)
• Józef Huss (Mathematics and Physics).

The analysis of Zygalski’s exam papers tells us that he was not as good at subjects relating to arts and humanities. His grades for written exams in Latin and History were only satisfactory.

However, what may draw our attention is his exam in Mathematics, in which he received an A and for which was particularly praised by his professor:

‘Zygalski approached the exercises with such comprehension of the subject and so quickly that without hesitation I believe he deserves an A.’

Apart from Zygalski’s school-leaving exam documents, we also have his transcript of records. On its basis, as well as taking into account the aforementioned professor’s note, we can say with great confidence that already as a Naval graduate, Zygalski demonstrated an exceptional talent for mathematics.

It is worth emphasising, however, that despite his outstanding talent for mathematics, these grades prove that Zygalski was simply a good student and did not have any problems with other subjects, in which he received good grades.

What surprises in his transcript of records is an A in religious education because Zygalski as an adult frequently emphasised how unimportant spiritual matters were for him. For example, in his letter from 1967 he wrote:

‘I keep thinking what to do when Mummy dies. Would you like me to come to the funeral? I can’t be bothered to do it but perhaps I could do it for you and for the living. Because I have no feelings towards the dead. I’m quite cynical when it comes to these matters.’

We don’t know whether this reflects the spiritual attitude of young Henryk. If so, did his war experiences change his religious life? We can only guess.

What is certain, however, is that Henryk’s achievements in mathematics opened doors for him to the University of Poznań, where he commenced his education in 1926. It was there, during the secret course on ciphers, that he began to prepare for the fight against the most well-known coding machine – Enigma.

On the basis of several family memories and only few documents, it is difficult to say when and where Zygalski’s love for mathematics was born. The lack of detailed accounts of his early years makes it impossible to pinpoint the moment he got fascinated with this subject. What is unquestionable, however, is that his skills and talent for mathematics stood out since he was a boy.

Today, looking back, we can only guess what Zygalski’s first steps on the path to great discoveries looked like. However, his life and achievements prove that genuine talent will always find a way to reveal itself and influence history.

 

Joanna Szafrańska-Senenko, Enigma Cipher Centre

 

Bibliography:

Lt Arkowski K. (2014) ‘Geniusz, który złamał Enigmę, w szkole miał tróje’, Dziennik Łódzki, 13 February, No. 35, A.

Grajek M. (2007) Enigma bliżej prawdy, Poznań: Dom Wydawniczy Rebis.

Kapera Z.J. (2015) The triumph of Zygalski’s sheets, Kraków – Mogialny: The Enigma Press.

Turing D., X, & Z. The real story of how Enigma was broken (2019) Poznań: Dom Wydawniczy Rebis.