From Stalag XXA Thorn to Stalag XXB Marienburg – continuing the journey through the history of POW camps

The story of captivity that began in Stalag XXA Thorn in Toruń found its continuation in Stalag XXB Marienburg in Malbork. After a short break, we returned to this important chapter of wartime history together with our Australian guest, following the traces of his relative and discovering another part of the prisoner-of-war story.

This journey connected two places that were part of the complex history of German POW camps during World War II. Visiting Stalag XXB Marienburg allowed us to explore locations connected with the functioning of the camp and the everyday experiences of prisoners who lived behind barbed wire. These places help us better understand their difficult reality – the hardships, uncertainty, hopes, and personal stories hidden behind historical records.

During our visit, we also paid tribute to those who lost their lives during captivity. Remembering the fallen was an essential part of this journey, reminding us that behind every camp number and archival document there were real people, families, and stories that deserve to be preserved.

The visit to Malbork became a valuable continuation of the history we had previously explored in Toruń. It completed the story of our guest’s relative and allowed us to connect two important chapters of his family’s wartime journey – Stalag XXA Thorn and Stalag XXB Marienburg.

We are grateful that we could take part in this unique journey of remembrance, following the traces of prisoners of war from Toruń to Malbork and helping preserve the memory of those whose lives were shaped by the experience of captivity.

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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