WARTIME GUIDES

     This month we had great plasure to help Carole and her brother Terry in researching their father's war path. Thanks to memories and pictures, we were able to show places connected to his history. There were also new facts about Stalag XXA and treatment of POW by the Germans; sometimes far from offical statement based on Geneva Convention.      We also vistited Malbork to pay tribute to their father's friend who was shoot just because he made an ugly comment ...

It was strong winter 1945. Some Germans told that it was - 20 cel. but situation was very hot. Soviets were very close to Torun, so close that prisoners heard bang outside the camp. Hitler decided to make stronghold from Torun, soldiers were given orders to defent city till last brick. Of course everybody knew about situation on front... Headqater in Torun had ready evacuation plan for civilians, POW and even for soldiers. It was action called Roland and it was divided for three sections: Roland Erwartung: Propaganda and preparing citizens for evacuation. Roland I: For woman, children and olders, this step began in first days of January. Civilans were moved to Wiecbork and Bydgoszcz, then went far away on West where trains could move. The same days Germans started to evacuated (20 - 21 January) POWs, Roland II: began at 30 January and it was an escape plan for German soldiers from Torun crew.  Below we published  how first day of this action looked like in dia...