Early life and family← Previous revisionRevision as of 11:51, 27 October 2026 Line 18: Line 18: == Early life and family == == Early life and family == Count Karl Josef Henckel von Donnersmarck was born on 7 November 1928 in [[Romolkwitz]] to Count Lazarus V Henckel von Donnersmarck and Countess Maria Franziska Anna Benedicta Walpurga Thekla von Stromberg und zu Eltz.{{Cite web |title=History of the Donnersmarck family |url=https://cekus.pl/en/history-of-the-donnersmarck-family/ |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=CEKUŚ |language=en-GB}} He was a member of the [[Henckel von Donnersmarck|House of Henckel von Donnersmarck]], a [[Silesia]]n noble family. He was a grandson of [[Edwin Henckel von Donnersmarck|Count Edwin Henckel von Donnersmarck]], a great-grandson of [[Lazarus IV Henckel von Donnersmarck|Count Lazarus IV Henckel von Donnersmarck]], and a great-great-grandson of [[Hugo Henckel von Donnersmarck|Count Hugo Henckel von Donnersmarck]]. Henckel von Donnersmarck was a first cousin of [[Leo-Ferdinand Henckel von Donnersmarck|Count Leo-Ferdinand Henckel von Donnersmarck]]. Count Karl Josef Henckel von Donnersmarck was born on 7 November 1928 in [[Romolkwitz]] to Count Lazarus V Henckel von Donnersmarck and Countess Maria Franziska Anna Benedicta Walpurga Thekla von und zu [[Eltz|Eltz genannt Faust von Stromberg]].{{Cite web |title=History of the Donnersmarck family |url=https://cekus.pl/en/history-of-the-donnersmarck-family/ |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=CEKUŚ |language=en-GB}} By birth, he was a member of the [[Henckel von Donnersmarck|House of Henckel-Donnersmarck]], a [[Silesia]]n noble family. He was a grandson of [[Edwin Henckel von Donnersmarck|Count Edwin Henckel von Donnersmarck]], a great-grandson of [[Lazarus IV Henckel von Donnersmarck|Count Lazarus IV Henckel von Donnersmarck]], and a great-great-grandson of [[Hugo Henckel von Donnersmarck|Count Hugo Henckel von Donnersmarck]]. Henckel von Donnersmarck was a first cousin of [[Leo-Ferdinand Henckel von Donnersmarck|Count Leo-Ferdinand Henckel von Donnersmarck]]. In 1945, following [[World War II]] and the [[Flight and expulsion of Germans from Poland during and after World War II|flight and expulsions of the Germans in Poland]], his family lost their estates in [[Silesia]] after they were seized by the [[Soviet Army]]. They did not accept German citizenship and continued to use their Polish pre-war passports, which were legalized in London by [[August Zaleski]], the Polish president in exile. Despite being of German nationality, Henckel von Donnersmarck and his family were confirmed as loyal citizens of the [[Second Republic of Poland]]. In 1945, following [[World War II]] and the [[Flight and expulsion of Germans from Poland during and after World War II|flight and expulsions of the Germans in Poland]], his family lost their estates in [[Silesia]] after they were seized by the [[Soviet Army]]. They did not accept German citizenship and continued to use their Polish pre-war passports, which were legalized in London by [[August Zaleski]], the Polish president in exile. Despite being of German nationality, Henckel von Donnersmarck and his family were confirmed as loyal citizens of the [[Second Republic of Poland]].