Discovering the Unknown Side of Torun: A Bike Tour Full of History and Secrets

Today, I would like to share with you an extraordinary adventure I had as a guide during a bike tour for the residents of Torun. It was not only a great opportunity to spend time outdoors but also an amazing experience of discovering lesser-known stories and places with a military past.

Leading this tour, I had the pleasure of sharing stories that are hard to find in books on a daily basis. These were tales that surprised the participants and brought to life unknown aspects of Torun. Uncovering hidden histories became an integral part of the mission I undertook.

Our bike routes took us through corners of the city rarely seen by the average passerby. During the journey, I showed places that were usually associated with something completely different but harbored stories connected to the military aspect of the past. It was a true exploration of the unknown side of Torun, where streets, buildings, and squares gained new meaning.

One of the most important elements of our tour was shedding light on the fate of the prisoners of Stalag XXA, about whom very few in Torun are aware. This allowed us to pay tribute to their memory and remind people of the tragic events that took place in that location. Stories about the lives of the prisoners, their daily struggles, and hopes for freedom touched the hearts of all the participants.

Many residents of Torun were surprised when they learned about these unknown stories. However, that was the purpose of our bike tour – to uncover hidden aspects of the past in order to honor their memory and share this knowledge with others. We witnessed emotions, astonishment, and curiosity that accompanied the participants throughout our journey.

In conclusion, leading this bike tour was an extraordinary adventure for me. Discovering lesser-known histories, revealing places from their military perspective, and bringing the stories of the prisoners of Stalag XXA closer to people's hearts were not only enlightening but also deeply emotional. I am glad I could share this experience with you.

Comments

Thanks this trip we've discovered new facts about POW from Stalag XXA in 1945

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...

Living conditions in Stalag XXA

Monthly bath in Stalag XXA Living conditions Lawrence Travers Dorins a former POW describes „fort XI was surrounded by a high bank and the fence around it with gates across the entrance road, on one side there was also a dry moat with a bridge on it. The bridge led to a tunnel” The fortress was covered with trees, bushes and earth so that the fortress could not be visible from the bird's eye. Prisoners slept in caponiers where initially were supposed to sleep Prussian soldiers. Yet PoW describes the rooms as if there were designed as rooms in the concentration camps. Rooms looked as semi tunnels. “The perpendicular walls were about 3m high and the height of the arched roof was about 5 m, wooden bunks provided sleeping spaces. Each room had only two small windows which obviously allowed no ventilation. Due to the end of the night the air was solid and everyone would have a headache due to oxygen starvation” .In those rooms kept approximately 32 men. There were three shelves whe...

Just few hours to understand life in Stalag XXA(20A) in Torun

"I will always be grateful to Pawel for helping me understand better what happened to my father when he was captured by the German army after the fighting at Dunkirk. Like many former British POWs, Dad was reluctant to tell his children very much about what he had endured during the war. We knew he spent most of the war in German POW camps, in particular one in Poland. From his army records we discovered that camp was Staleg XX-A. I contacted Pawel at very short notice recently when I was in traveling with my husband in Europe. Pawel was able to meet me in Torun to walk me through the history of Staleg XX-A and some of the forts of Torun. My father, John Wilkinson, was with the British Expeditionary Force, serving in the Light Tank Regiment of the 1st East Riding Yeomanry. We believe he fought at Cassel in France before being captured. It was extraordinary for me to walk with Pawel at Torun where the British POWs disembarked, knowing my father would hav...

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