WARTIME GUIDES

Since last post we found new documents and facts about Stalag. Slowly but precisely we started to analyse them and acquired stories which could be a script for some war movies... At first we would like to share with you a very interesting story of signalman Edward Smith. This man served in Australian Army, he was caught in Greece but escaped many times from different POW's camps. Last stop was in Stalag XXA in Torun.... he met here his brother, felt in love and many more.. but he decided to escape again... In Stalag XXA - probably on Working Camp near Brodnica Edward is 5th from right standing  When he arrived to Warsaw with false documents Polish Underground Army prepared for him transport to England. But it was last day of  calm in Warsaw. Everybody knew that something would happen in days, maybe hours. When Polish officer asked him if he is read to go to London Edward answered.... No. I know about planning uprising, I will join you and fight with you, because im ...

It's really nice when our guest came to Torun again. Colin visited Stalag paths again with his brother. The trip was the reason of celebration in Germany connected with offical burial of Anthony Coulthard one of the POW's who try to escape from Stalag two times. Unfortunatley he died during Long Marches.... But Coilns trip could't be organized unless his gradfather Stalag history which began in 1940.  Sgt. Neil McLellan was captured in France and transported to Torun. Thanks his photographic skills he became an offical Stalag Photographer responsible for pictures to offical camp newspapper The Prisoners Pie and after New Prisoners Pie but not only. His rich collection included many very interesting pictures from, sport competitons or entertainment. For special occasion serves series of pictures form funerals. Thanks which we could see how germans behave to the dead soldiers. There are couple of picutres from Garnison Cemetery which shows official procession and all ...

In may we had greate opportunity to guide Imelda and David thru Stalag Ways in Torun. After two days we enlarged our knowledge about Autralians who was imprisoned in Fort XV. It's quiet difficult when we compare Polish and Western documentation about ways of treatement, work for Germans etc. To be sincerly there are two different points of view sometimes such strange that is very hard to recognize what was true. Below article about stay in Toun a sight seen by the eyes of our Aurtralin firends. My trip to Poland was a journey to find where my father Louis Paul Huon lived for 3 years during the war.  Something you may not know about Torun is that during the Second World War many Australian, Italian, Russian and English soldiers were detained in prison camps by the Germans. Our first stop was the beautiful old town of Warsaw with lovely accommodation where we rested in preparation for Turon.After 3 nights we hired a car and drove to Torun.  Again our accommodation was ri...

Sometimes in media around the world appears articles about Stalag XXA. Thanks Internet researches we found  interested facts and below we put links to it. Sometimes you'll need Google translator. Last Soviet POW died Story of 3 flying crews Italian POW form Stalag XXA became 100 years old Postcard from Stalag XXA (source from: FB profile: Stalag XXA / 357 - XXC / 312)

That was wonderful trip. During three days we saw couple of places connected with POW path of Jack Stansfield. Moreover thanks his son Michael we saw notes with memories of last days in Stalag XXA in Torun. In opposit to all facts which says that prisoners left camp in late december 1945 Jack wrote that they started to march on 21 january! That means that lasts groups of POW left camp in 10 days before Torun was liberated. Fortunatley Jack survived afeter he escaped from march. He met russians army and polish partizants. Below we presents you short memories about Jack and trip to Poland... My father was called Jack Stansfield, he was born in August 1918. He was brought up in the market town of Malton in North Yorkshire where his parents were publicans. He joined the Territorial Army in March 1939 and was mobilised on the declaration of war. Jack enlisted in his local regiment joining the 5th Battalion of the Green Howards. After a short time at the Regimental HQ in Richmond, North...

Dear Friends, We wish you all happy Easter, hope you spend it with your families and memories about those who passed away... Hania and Paweł

Saturday 21 February was the one of the most beautiful day in our guide career. During offical celebration of International Tour Guide Day we were awarded for our job to preserve internetional hertiage. After the event we went back to work because this evening Hania had lecture dedicated to POW and uknown stories from Stalag XXA. We are happy that somebody have seen our passion. That was hit of motivation for harder work. Thank you!

We would like to inform that Wartimeguides were responsible for City Council project dedicated for the youth. One day trip on the patriotic path in Torun. During sightseeinf Pawel showed exposition in museum dedicated to WW II next we moved to Historical War Museum for the Peters lecutre about POW and stories of witness from Stalag time. Our trip finished in Fort IV where young people could see how lookes like adapted fort. Moreover visit in Fort was also goog opportunity to empathize how felt POW when they were forced to spend sometimes 5 years in fort. For us it was a new experience and way to share our passion and knowledge about Stalag XXA. We hope that it wasn't last time.   In Museum at WW II exhibition At Peters' lecture

After one year of mailing and conversation on via Inernet we met in Torun. That was wonderful time. It gave us a lot of new knowledge not only about Stalag. Every single trip makes an new relationship, how worthy it it! My name is Sandra Butterfield and this story is about a trip I took to Torun, Poland with my father-in-law Ray Butterfield and my husband Mark. The trip was as a result of Ray’s love for his father Fredrick Butterfield, and the passion and dedication he had developed towards the 2/5Australian General Hospital in which Fred served. I never met Fred Butterfield, when I met my husband (Mark) Fred had passed away. But he still lived on in Mark’s memories. In the early days of our marriage on Anzac Day, Mark would go and retrieve a blue ice cream container which was full of military buttons and badges that his Pop (Fred) had brought back from the war and gave to him when he was young. Mark would place this container on the kitchen table and proceed to toast his Pop wi...