In the Footsteps of Stalag XXA and XXB – A Journey of Remembrance by Motorcycle Across Europe

We had the honor of accompanying a special guest from England, who traveled through France by motorcycle to pay tribute to his uncle — a former prisoner of war held in German camps Stalag XXA and Stalag XXB.

In recent days, we had the privilege of being part of an extraordinary journey of remembrance. Our guest from England, after taking part in the anniversary commemorations in Saint-Valery-en-Caux, rode his motorcycle to Poland to visit sites connected to the wartime captivity of his uncle — a POW held in Stalag XXA in Toruń and later in Stalag XXB near Malbork.

For the first time, we had the chance to act as guides and road pilots — our guest followed us on his motorcycle as we led him through locations that may have been part of his uncle’s experience in Stalag XXA. Although the surviving documentation was limited, we did everything we could to highlight the relevant places and provide historical context for life in the camp.

Although we didn’t travel together to Malbork this time, we shared detailed knowledge about Stalag XXB, which we know well. We offered suggestions on what to visit both in Malbork and in its surroundings — enriching the journey with insights and guidance that we hope will help our guest better understand the camp’s history and conditions.

We deeply believe that the determination with which our guest came to explore his uncle’s wartime fate was moving and significant. We’re grateful to have been a part of this journey — as guides and people committed to preserving the memory of POWs in Poland.

It was another powerful and meaningful experience — and we’re proud to have contributed to a story that, in our view, still isn’t finished.

Comments

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...

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...

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