Discovering History at the Bicycle Rally: Toruń Fortress Museum and Fort XV

I'm happy to share my experience as a bike rally guide. During this extraordinary adventure, tourists had the opportunity to see many interesting places, including the Toruń Fortress Museum, where there is an exhibition dedicated to prisoners of war, and Fort XV, which was associated with the Stalag XXA camp.

The Toruń Fortress Museum is an extremely fascinating place that takes us back to times of war. Inside the museum, you can see an exhibition dedicated to the POWs, which shows their living conditions, the challenges they faced and the stories of many unknown heroes. Walking through these rooms and looking at the exhibits, the participants of the rally had the opportunity to understand the difficult reality that the prisoners of war in Stalag XXA had to face. This place gives us the opportunity to pay tribute to their memory and appreciate their courage.

The next point of our route was Fort XV, which was an integral part of the structure of the Stalag XXA camp. This mighty fort was used as a place to hold prisoners of war. During the visit to the site, the rally participants had the opportunity to see the preserved fortifications and learn about the history of this place. It was here that the prisoners experienced hardships and tried to keep their spirits up in times of war. Knowing this story, we become witnesses of their dedication and determination.

Being a guide on this bike rally was incredibly satisfying for me. I was able to share with tourists the history of these places that many know little about. Together with them, I discovered these fascinating traces of the past that had been hidden until now. The knowledge, understanding and respect for the history and fate of Stalag XXA prisoners, which I could pass on to the participants, were extremely important to me.

The bike rally is not only a physical activity, but also a great opportunity to discover and appreciate our heritage. Thanks to such events, we can combine the pleasure of cycling with expanding our knowledge of history and culture. I am grateful that I could be your guide on this unforgettable journey through time and space.

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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