WARTIME GUIDES

It was strong winter 1945. Some Germans told that it was - 20 cel. but situation was very hot. Soviets were very close to Torun, so close that prisoners heard bang outside the camp. Hitler decided to make stronghold from Torun, soldiers were given orders to defent city till last brick. Of course everybody knew about situation on front... Headqater in Torun had ready evacuation plan for civilians, POW and even for soldiers. It was action called Roland and it was divided for three sections: Roland Erwartung: Propaganda and preparing citizens for evacuation. Roland I: For woman, children and olders, this step began in first days of January. Civilans were moved to Wiecbork and Bydgoszcz, then went far away on West where trains could move. The same days Germans started to evacuated (20 - 21 January) POWs, Roland II: began at 30 January and it was an escape plan for German soldiers from Torun crew.  Below we published  how first day of this action looked like in dia...

More than 20 000 people from different countries like never before  waited for consignment from a camp post...  Christmas time was well celebrated especially by POW's. Men from rooms and wooden huts  prepared their own Christmas dinner, sometimes small gifts, and of course interiors, were well decorated by hand made ornaments and Christmas tree. What is more, actor groups prepared special shows (concerts, dance bands, plays, pantomimes) related to Christmas tradition and very often written in the camp. For Christmas were also published special number of a camp newsletter: Prisoners Pie (or New Prisoners Pie) Very interesting is also fact that POW's assoctations in motherslands organised events like competitions for the best Christmas hand made postcard! Front page of  the Christmas Number The New Prisoners Pie Front page of  the Christmas Number The New Prisoners Pie When it comes to the Christmas dinner, it's necessary to point out that the...