WARTIME GUIDES

November in Poland is a unique time dedicated to reflection and remembering those who have passed away. It's a month when cemeteries glow with the light of thousands of candles, and memorial sites take on special significance. Toruń, a city with a rich and diverse history, also holds painful memories from World War II that are worth exploring—especially the stories of the prisoners of war from Stalag XXA. Memorial Sites Dedicated to the Prisoners of War In addition to its famous landmarks and charming Old Town, Toruń is home to places that remind us of the tragic fate of thousands of POWs held in Stalag XXA. This German-run prisoner-of-war camp housed soldiers from the Allied forces, including British, Russian, and Italian troops, who endured some of the harshest conditions during the war. One of the most significant memorials in Toruń is the monument dedicated to the victims of the Stalag XXA POW camp . In November, when the city is enveloped in a spirit of remembrance, this monum...

An visit from a family from Australia and the USA, eager to learn about their father who served in the 2/5 Australian General Hospital during the war, became an opportunity to uncover the history of POW camps in Poland. The trip to Stalag XXA in Toruń also revealed an unexpected connection to the city's Jewish heritage. It was an incredible journey through time. We had been preparing for quite a while for Jill's trip, who came with her family from Australia and partly from the USA. Her relatives wanted to visit the places where Jill's father, who served in the 2/5 Australian General Hospital during the war, had been imprisoned. Thanks to memories and preserved documents, we managed to visit key locations and sketch a larger picture of the organization and history of POW camps, including Stalag XXA. This story, by pure coincidence, also revealed a connection to Jewish heritage, providing an opportunity to bring that part of Toruń’s history closer. We are glad that we could h...

This extraordinary journey allowed relatives of those imprisoned in the German POW camp in Toruń, Stalag XXA, to visit the very places where their loved ones were once held captive. Among them was Evelyn, who sought information about her father, who spent many long years in captivity. The harsh labor and conditions took a toll on his health. According to family stories, he even attempted to escape, for which he was confined in solitary. Thanks to extensive documentation, we were able to locate all the places of his imprisonment, and in most cases, we could even enter them. The uniqueness of this trip was further enhanced by the presence of Evelyn's closest friend and her grandchildren. The participation of the younger generations is particularly significant, as the responsibility of passing on the memory of these events will soon rest on their shoulders. We are grateful to have been able to assist in this meaningful endeavor. 

 James came to Toruń, driven by the history and memories of his grandfather, who spent many years in German captivity as a prisoner in Stalag XXA, enduring long years of suffering and the cruelties of war.  As a young soldier, he was captured near Arras and transported to Toruń. Until now, we didn't have detailed information about the exact locations of the internment, but thanks to the incredible fragments of memories shared by James, we were able to add more details to our understanding of the camp.  Stories about the Germans burning boots, the dramatic events on the frozen Vistula River during the Long March, and the touching story of our guest's mother's name will stay with us forever. We hope that James also found what he was looking for.  We all the best o allow him to touch the history that has left so many traces in our city, even if only for a moment. Thank you for your visit. You can count on us in your further searches...

The journey of two sisters from Scotland to Toruń had an extraordinary goal: to find the places where their father stayed during World War II. They knew only a few details about his auxiliary service in a hospital, but their determination and desire to discover their family history led them through the fascinating corners of the city. Upon arriving in Toruń, we began with conversations and analyzing the scant information they had. They knew their father worked in a hospital, but the exact location remained a mystery. After a lengthy discussion, we managed to determine that he was most likely assigned to the medical facility on Jęczmienna Street. However, this was not the only clue. Family stories indicated that their father used to skate on handmade skates on the moat around one of the forts in winter. This led us to Fort XIV, the only fort in Toruń with a moat, which served as a hospital for Stalag XXA prisoners during World War II. The discovery of these places evoked a wave of ...

As part of doctoral research dedicated to the phenomenon of military cultural tourism, with a particular focus on prisoner-of-war camps, I would be grateful if you could complete a short survey. Your responses will certainly enrich our understanding of tourists' needs and help improve the tourist offerings and commemoration of POW heritage, not only in Toruń. The survey results will be used for research purposes. The study is anonymous. Thank you very much in advance for your time. Best regards, Paweł Bukowski Ładuję…