A German army officer who found international fame in ROMAN POLANSKI's 2002 film THE PIANIST has been honoured by Jews in Berlin, Germany.

Capt. Wilhelm Hosenfeld saved the life of Jewish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman during the Nazi genocide in Poland. He was portrayed by Thomas Kretschmann in the acclaimed movie.

Hosenfeld was posthumously honoured as one of the few German soldiers who aided Jews during the Holocaust. His son was present to receive the Righteous Among The Nations certificate and medal on Friday (19Jun09).

His son Detlev said, "We're aware of the fact that this is the highest honour the state of Israel awards to non-Jews."

The kin of Szpilman, portrayed by Oscar winner Adrien Brody in The Pianist, also attended the ceremony in Berlin. The late musician's son, Andrzej, told reporters, "He (Hosenfeld) was a person who helped very many different people from the beginning of the war."

Hosenfeld died in a Soviet prison in 1952.