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Showing posts from January, 2026

January 1945: The Long March from Stalag XXA Toruń

  The end of January marks a crucial and tragic moment in the history of Stalag XXA in Toruń ( Stalag 20A Toruń) and Stalag XXB Malbork ( Stalag 20B Malbork) . At this time in 1945 , German authorities issued evacuation orders to POW camps and labor detachments across the region. The advancing Soviet army forced the German command to move prisoners westward. The Departure from Stalag XXA Prisoners from Stalag XXA Toruń began their march on January 21st at around 3: 00 AM . This marked the beginning of what later became known as the “ Long March” or “ Death March” — a dramatic and painful episode remembered in the memoirs of Allied prisoners of war held in northern Poland. Thousands of POWs left the camps around Toruń and began marching in freezing winter conditions. Many of them would walk hundreds of kilometers across occupied territory. Parallel Marches: POWs, Forced Laborers, and Concentration Camp Prisoners What is less widely known is that the POW columns from Stalag...