WARTIME GUIDES

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Son Retraces His Father’s WWII Path – From Stalag XXA in Toruń to Forgotten POW Graves

It is rare to meet families with such well-preserved wartime archives, but this story is one of them. The son of a British POW visited Poland to trace his father’s path during World War II. Based on remarkable archival materials and photographs, we now know that his father was held in Prabuty, Bydgoszcz, the forts of Toruń (Stalag XXA / Stalag 20A), Chełmno, and a village near Chełmno . Thanks to precise verification of these records, it was even possible to locate the site where one of the prisoners was buried. With high probability, the same tree still stands there, silently witnessing that event over 80 years later. A truly moving moment came during a special tribute: a bagpipe concert in memory of the father and all those who perished during WWII . This was the first time we experienced something so emotional and powerful in our work to preserve the memory of prisoners of war in Toruń . Stories like this remind us why documenting the history of POWs in Stalag XXA is so import...

Secret Communication Channels in Stalag XXA in Toruń

During the operation of the German prisoner-of-war camp Stalag XXA in Toruń, there was an official channel of communication between the prisoners and their families. It consisted of letters and postcards sent under the supervision of the German administration. Every message was censored, and its content strictly controlled. Nevertheless, there were cases where prisoners embedded coded information about their own situation or the fate of their fellow soldiers in such correspondence – but that is a story of its own. However, it is hard to imagine that during the occupation, with thousands of prisoners located so close to civilian areas, no unofficial network of communication would have developed – and its organization is remarkably interesting. This communication had a completely different character – it was part of the activities of the Polish resistance and the involvement of Allied soldiers. Thanks to these efforts, intelligence reports were smuggled out of Stalag XXA, while informati...

Family of British POW Stands Exactly Where Their Father Was Held in Stalag XXA

Raymond was captured during the events connected to the Dunkirk operation. As a prisoner of war, he was held in the military forts of Toruń, part of the German POW camp Stalag XXA (Stalag 20A) . Like many British POWs in Toruń, he was also sent to work in rural areas of the region. Surviving documents reveal that he spent time near Bydgoszcz, Chełmno, and Grudziądz. One particularly fascinating detail is a German record of his escape and a gap of over six months in official reports on Raymond whereabouts. Even more intriguingly, relatives recognized his handwriting in Fort XI from photographs in the Imperial War Museum. His time in the camp’s prison cell may have been connected to sabotage he reportedly carried out while working on a farm near Grudziądz — at least according to German reports. This was one of the rare families who were able to visit every confirmed location where their relative had been held. We are honored to have taken part in preserving and sharing Raymond sto...

From London and Dubai to Toruń – Tracing Their Grandfather’s POW History at Stalag XXA

Two cousins from different continents came to Poland to uncover the wartime past of their grandfather – a former prisoner of war held at the German Stalag XXA camp in Toruń. In recent days, we had the honor of accompanying two cousins who traveled to Toruń to visit the place where their grandfather had been imprisoned during World War II. One arrived from Dubai, the other from London – united by a shared desire to reconnect with a difficult chapter in their family history. Archival records show that their grandfather was captured near Dunkirk and transported to the Stalag XXA prisoner-of-war camp in Toruń. It is known that he was already wounded at the time and suffered from lung-related health issues, requiring medical attention. However, his stay in Toruń was short-lived. Shortly after his arrival, he was assigned to a forced labor detachment somewhere within what is now the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region. These work units were scattered across local villages and towns, and living c...

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,...

Emilianowo – A Forest Outpost Between Toruń and Bydgoszcz. A Key Escape Point from Stalag XXA

Situated in a strategic location between Toruń and Bydgoszcz , Emilianowo (German: Emilienau ) played a crucial role in the Polish resistance movement as early as 1940. This small forest lodge became one of the most important contact points for underground networks operating around the German DAG ammunition plant in Bydgoszcz , and most importantly – for Allied POWs escaping from Stalag XXA in Toruń and from German forced labor detachments in the surrounding towns and villages . A Forest Gateway to Freedom The so-called northern route of escape passed through Emilianowo. It was a covert trail leading across Pomerania toward the Baltic ports, mainly Gdańsk. For many escaped POWs, this was the first secure stop along their journey. In Emilianowo, they could rest safely, receive new clothes and false documents, get food supplies, and obtain crucial information to help them reach the coast. Among those who passed through Emilianowo were Allied officers such as T. Cullen , J. Grieg...