Personal memoirs/bios
Learn the history
through these personal stories
Helena ANTOLAK- Deported to Archangielsk region with her parents, sister, and brother. Her father later died in Kermine, and the rest of the family were sent to Ifundi in East Africa. Helena later joined the Women';s Auxiliary of the Polish 2nd Corps and worked in a hospital in Scotland. After the war, she settled in Scotland.
Zofia ARENT - Deported to Archangielsk region with her parents and siblings. Her parents and two sisters later died there. Zofia and the surviving two sisters spent 5 years at the Polish settlement in Valivade, India. After the war, hey lived in England and then Canada.
Halina BABINSKA- Deported with her family, her parents died as a result of the conditions. She spent time in the Middle East, eventually settling in Canada
Alojzy BACH - He was sent to forced labour in Germany, then conscripted into the German army. He eventually joined the Polish 2nd Corps. After the war, he settlede in Canada
Czeslaw BALINSKI - Czeslaw described the deportation and life in Siberia in an essay he wrote as a cadet in the Middle East in 1942.
Bozena BALUT - Bozena Balut’s address to the Polish-Canadian Group on November 11, 1995. Inspired by her parents’ and grandparents’ generations, and by Polish soldiers serving in the Allied forces and in the Home Army. Dedicated to the memory of Jozef Majcher, soldier of the Polish Second Corps (and her mother’s older brother), killed in action in Italy in1944, and Stefan Jerzy Zukotynski, Flying Officer, RAF, Polish Squadron 300 (and her paternal grandmother’s youngest brother), shot down over France in 1943.
Edward BATOR - Deported with his family - he and one brother joined the Cadets, while his father and two older brothers joined the Polish 2nd Corps and participated in the Italian Campaign. After the war, he spent some time in the UK before emigrating to the USA. He later served in the US military.
Helena BATOR - Deported to Siberia,s he joined the Polish 2nd Corps then volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary of the Polish Air Force in the UK. After the war, she settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba,
Mieczyslaw BATOR - Deported to Siberia, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps and filled out a questionnaire in the Middle East in 1943. This is a translation of what he wrote.
Michal BEDNARCZYK - Michal fought in the September Campaign in Poland, was captured by the Russians and sent to a POW camp in Siberia. On release, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps and fought in the Italian Campaign. After the war, he spent some time in the UK before emigrating to Canada.
BERNADINE SISTERS of St. Francis - Sister Marietta (Romualda Smolicz), Sister Clarine Gomulka, and Sister Laetissima Grula of Delaware County, PA. describe their deportation experiences.
Teofila BIBIK - Teofila participated in the Home Army (AK) in Poland. She served as a courier. In 1957 she emigrated to Canada and became a successful entrepreneur,
Kazimierz BIELSKI - Deported to Siberia by the Russians, on release he joined the Polish 2nd Corps. He served in the Middle East and in the Italian Campaign. After the war, he came to Canada on a two-year work contract, after which he settled in Winnipeg.
Kajetan BIENIECKI - After participating in the Home Army (AK), he escaped Soviet-occupied Poland and made his way to Italy. Here he describes that journey in great detail. After the war, he settled in Canada.
Stanislaw BIERNACIK - Stanislaw fought in the September Campaign, evacuated to Romania, joined the Polish forces in France, evacuated to the UK, joined the 1st Polish Armoured Division, and fought in the European Campaign. After the war, he spent some years in the UK before emigrating to the U.S.
Kazimierz BIERNACKI - When the Russians invaded Poland, Kazimierz was forcibly conscripted into the Russian Army. Released by the 'amnesty', he joined the Polish 2nd Corps and served in the Middle East and in the Italian Campaign. After the war, he emigrated to Canada.
Feliks BILOS - Deported to Siberia, Feliks joined the Polish 2nd Corps and fought in the Italian Campaign. After the war, he settled in Canada.
Richard BITNER-GLINDZICZ - An excerpt from the book "Song for Kresy" : The journey south, after the 'amnesty'
Aleksander BOGDAN - Deported to Siberia with his parents and siblings, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps and fought in the Italian Campaign. He spent some years in the UK before emigrating to Canada.
BOGUSLAWSKI Family - The five young siblings were deported to Siberia and their grandfather insisted on going with them, even though he was not on the list. It was thanks to him that the children survived Siberia.
Emilia BOHDANOWICZ-FULMYK - Deported with her family to Siberia. On release, they reached the Polish army and evacuated to Persia. She lived in Teheran and Beirut until 1947 when she moved to the UK. She later settled in Canada.
Krystyna BOJANOWICZ-KACZMARSKA - Deported with her parents and sister, who died in exile. She reached Persia, then spent the war years in Beirut, Lebanon. She moved to England after the war, and eventually emigrated to the U.S.
Henryk BOLCEWICZ - A Polish pilot who flew missions in the September Campaign in Poland, then in France, and later in 301 Squadron in the UK. He spent the latter years of the war in several German POW camps. Henryk settled in England after the war.
Stefania BORST - She describes the 6 years spent in Kazakhstan with her 2 small children and her maid
Helena BOZEDAJ-DEMBINSKA - Helena participated in the Home Army (AK) in Warsaw, was arrested and sent to Germany for forced labour. After the war, she lived some years in the UK before emigrating to Canada.
Jan BRODA - Conscripted into the German Army, Jan managed to escape and join the 1st Polish Armoured Division where he served for the rest of the war. After the war he spent a few years in the UK before settling in the US.
Joanna BRODNIEWICZ - Deported to Siberia with her parents and sister, her father joined the Polish 2nd Corps on release from the labour camp. Joanna spent the war years in Isfahan, then Beirut. After the war, she spent some years in England before emigrating to the U.S.
Jan BRZESKI - Served in the 1st Polish Armoured Division and participated in the European Campaign. This text describes some of his wartime experiences. After the war, he returned to Poland.
Leonard BRZEZINSKI - Served in the Polish 2nd Corps, Signals Unit, and participated in the Italian Campaign. After the war, he came to Canada on a 2 yr work contract
Michal BRZEZOWSKI - Served in the Polish Air Force, in the September Campaign, in France, and in the UK. He was shot down over the Thames Estuary and his body was never found.
Tadeusz BUBIEN - Deported to Kazakhstan with his family in April 1940, he describes the harrowwing experiences that his family endured on several collective farms before finally making it back to Poland in 1945.
Stefan BURACZEWSKI - Forcibly drafted into the Russian army, Stefan was then sent to a labour camp in Siberia. On release,he joined the Polish 2nd Corps and evacuated to Persia. He then joined the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade in Scotland. He participated in 21 jumps, including Operation Market Garden over Arnhem, Holland.
Zbigniew BURAS - Zbigniew was 6 months old when he was deported to Kazakhstan with his family in April 1940. On release, the family spent some time in Valivade, India, then relocated to Koja, Uganda. After the war, they settled in the UK.
Pior BURCZYNSKI - Piotr fought in the September Campaign in Poland, and was then captured by the Russians and sent to a POW camp in Siberia. On Release, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps and fought in the Italian Campaign. He emigrated to Canada after the war.
Teresa BUREK-OSZURKO - Deported to Siberia with her parents, grandparents and siblings, her father joined the Polish 2nd Corps when they were released. The rest of the family spent the war years iat the Valivade Camp in India, then settled in Buffalo, New York after the war
Waclaw BUTOWSKI - Forced labour for the Germans. then conscripted into the German army. He eventually escaped and joined the 1st Polish Armoured Division. After the was, he returned to Poland.
Ludomir CABUT - Deported to Siberia with his entire family, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps when they were released. He later transferred to the Signals Unit of the 1st Polish Armoured Division (1PAD) and participated in the European Campaign. He settled in the UK
Andrzej CHENDYNSKI - Deported with his parents and 2 brothers, he was the only one who survived. Here he describes life in an orphanage in the USSR and then his life in Valivade, India.
Tadeusz CHICHLOWSKI - Tadeusz fought in the September Campaign in Poland and was then captured by the Russians and sent to a POW camp in Siberia. On release, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps and fought in the Italian Campaign. After the war, he settled in Canada.
Kazimierz CHMIELOWICZ - Participated in the September Campaign, then was in a Russian POW camp. On release, joined the Polish 2nd Corps and fought in the Italian Campaign. After the war, he settled in Canada.
Bozena CHODAKOWSKI - Deported to a slave labour camp with her family, her parents and brother died in the USSR. She and a remaining brother were evacuated to Persia and subsequently to Balachadi Camp in India. Bozena later settled in the US while her brother settled in Canada..
Zygmunt CHOJECKI - Deported to a slave labour camp with his family, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps on release, trained with them in the Middle East, and participated in the Italian Campaign, including the battle of Monte Cassino. He settled in England after the war, where he met his wife who had played a major role at Bletchley Park.
Cecilia CHOJNO - Deported to Archangelsk, Siberia with her family, she spent some time in Palestine, before spending 6 years at the Polish refugee camp in Koja, Uganda. After the war, she spent some time in England, before emigrating to Winnioeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Antonina CHORZEPA - Deported to a slave labour camp with her family, two of her brothers were later conscripted into the Russian army. Antonina returned to Poland in 1946.
CHROCIELEWSKI - Description of the Caspian Sea Crossing to Persia in 1942
Feliks CHUSTECKI - Deported to a slave labour camp at age 14 with his family, he later became a pilot in the Polish Air Force in the UK, and settled in Britain after the war.
Franciszek CHWILOWICZ - Franciszek was a sargeant in the Polish Air Force in the UK, and settled in Canada after the war.
Wanda CHYCZEWSKA- Deportedwith her family to a slave labour camp in Siberia, she then spent the war years in a Polish refugee camo in Tanzania. After the war, she lived in Englnad, beforeemigrating to Canada.
Mieczyslaw CISZALOWICZ - He describes pre-war life on the settlement in Eastern Poland before he was deported to Siberiawith his parents and siblings. He also describes life in Siberia, life in Masindi in East Africa, and then his life after the war.
Karol COMPLAK - Member of the 1st Polish Armoured Division who participated in the European Campaign and was part of the occupation force in Germany after the war.
Lech CYGANIEWICZ-HALKO - Excerpt from his book "The Anchor The Chosen Coat of Arms" describing life at Stalag IX-B Fallingbostel where Warsaw Uprising participants were taken.
Stanislaw CZACZKA - Deported to Siberia, he joined then Polish 2nd Corps, trained in the Middle East, and participated in the Italian Campaign. He settled in the UK after the war
Roman CZERNIAWSKI - Initially spying for Poland, then Britain and then pretending to spy for Germany while instead working for the Allies, during his extraordinary undercover life Roman Czerniawski had not only been a secret agent, he had also been a double and triple agent.
Wladyslaw CZEZOWSKI - At the onset of WW2, Wladyslaw was forcibly conscripted into the Russian Army and served there for nearly two years before being released by the 'amnesty'. He joined the Polish 2nd Corps and fought in the Italian Campaign. After the war, he settled in Canada.
Bernard CZORTEK - Bernard was deported by the Russians. Released by the 'amnesty', he joined the Polish 2nd Corps and fought at Tobruk and in the Italian Campaign. After the war, he settled in Canada.
Boleslaw CZUBAK - He fought in the Septmber Campaign, was captured by the Russians and sent to Siberia. On release, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps, taught in a Cadet School in Palestine and was later sent to the Italian front. After the wsr, he settled in Canada.
Anna CZUBRYT - Anna was deported to Siberia with her husband Michal, and their infant son Jozef. Michal joined the Polish army, while Anna and Jozef spent 6 years at the Polish refugee camp in Valivade, India. After the war, the family settled in Canada.
Michal CZUBRYT - Michal was deported to Siberia with his wife Anna, and their infant son Jozef. Michal joined the Polish army, while Anna and Jozef spent 6 years at the Polish refugee camp in Valivade, India. Michal served in the3DSK of the Polish 2nd Corps and fought in the Italian Campaign. After the war, the family settled in Canada.
Jan CZWARNO - Jan fought in the September Campaign, evacuated to Rumania and made his way to France. He was part of the Dunkirk evacuation to the UK. He joined the 1st Polish Armoured Division, trained in Scotland, then fought in the European Campaign. After the war, he settled in Canada.
Jerzy CZYCZKO - Jerzyfought in the September Campaign, then was captured by the Russians and sent to a POW camp in Siberia. On release, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps, trained in the Middle East, and fought in the Italian Campaign. After the war, he settled in Canada.
Waldemar CZYZ - Waldemar was a member of the 1st Polish Armoured Division and and participated in the Northern European Campaign. He settled in the US after the war
Wladyslaw DABROWSKI - At the age of 16 years, Wladyslaw was deported to Kazakhstan with his family. On release, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps, trained in the Middle East, and fought in the Italian Campaign. He returned to Poland after the war.
Andrzej DEBICKI - A very detailed account of his experiences: as a participant in the September Campaign in Poland, he was a POW at various Russian camps. On release, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps, and participated in the Italian Campaign. He was awarded the VIRTUTI MILITARI medal
Franciszka DOBROWLANSKA - Born in 1906, she writes a detailed account of her life from early childhood. After their husbands were arrested by the Russians, she and her sister were deported to Siberia with their children. On release, they spent the war years in Koja, Uganda in Africa. She settled in the UK after the war, later emigrating to Canada.
Wawrzyniec DRAPALA - Born in 1900, Wawrzyniec fought in WW1 and the 1920 Polish-Soviet war. In 1940, he was deported to Siberia with his family. On release, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps, trained in the Middle East, then fought in the Italian Campaign. After the war he emigrated to Canada.