WARTIME GUIDES

 A single wartime photograph brought families together many decades later. A preserved group photo of British prisoners of war from Stalag XXA Thorn in Toruń became a unique link between generations and helped descendants discover the shared history of their relatives. Years ago, John and Terry travelled to Toruń to follow the footsteps of their relative. Later, it was discovered that a relative of another British prisoner was sitting right beside their fathers in the same photograph. This remarkable connection led another family to visit Toruń and discover the story of their loved one. One Photograph, Two Families and a Shared Story of Stalag XXA Thorn The history of Stalag XXA Thorn in Toruń is not only a story of wartime events, documents and dates. Above all, it is the story of people – soldiers whose lives were changed by captivity and families who, many years later, began searching for traces of their loved ones. Among the thousands of Allied soldiers who became prisoners of...

May and her husband Peter crossed the borders of Toruń, ready to discover places connected to their family history. Their journey had a special purpose - to uncover traces left by World War II in their family's story. Their relative was one of many soldiers from the Seaforth Highlanders who, as prisoners of Stalag XXA in Toruń, had to endure the horrors of those times. Thanks to preserving fragments of memories and family stories, Piotr and his wife had the opportunity to delve into the history of their loved one. Acquiring several basic facts was an important step for them in understanding what he went through during his stay in the German prisoner of war camp Stalag XXA. The visit to Toruń was not only a journey into their family's past, but also an exploration of the history of Stalag XXA itself. By visiting preserved places associated with the camp's history and its prisoners, Piotr and his wife could feel the closeness of those events and understand how much they chang...

  Another visit that enriched our knowledge about Stalag. Each time we learn new facts and curiosities that surely aren't found in books. This time, together with friends from the Toruń Museum, we arranged a visit for the family of a former British prisoner of war. He served in the Queen’s Royal Regiment. Thomas Chappell arrived with his regiment in France in 1940 as part of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force). In May of that year, he fell into German captivity, and he spent the rest of the war in Toruń in Stalag XXA. Everything indicates that he was held in Fort XIII and the surrounding barracks. His family has just begun the search for documents, so the continuation will follow. Thomas, upon his return to Great Britain, remained silent about his time in Stalag, which is why our "POW Museum" will do its utmost to assist the family in finding information about him.

During our research, very often we find out that offcial documents are not complete when it comes to detail information. It was like that when Paul visited us during his trip on war footsteps of his Father. Thanks his documentation we know that space offically dedicated do the officers were occupied by regular soldiers. What is more, we confirmed also place where was a dentist and we heard  many  stories about his proffesional work in Stalag XXA (20A).

On the footprint of sad story According to Mr Jastrzębski PhD - It's impossible for anybody to survive - But I still believe that somebody lives. What happened? We are looking for relatives of Mr Roman Łoziński (born 1922) form Czersk. Franciszek Kołodziejski (born1 920) from Czersk and Piotr and Juliusz Osowicki from Chojnice. Dangerous connections Łoziński and Kołodziejski worked on a farm in Duża Cerkwica where they met British POW - Everett worked in a working party but he was impriosoned in Chojnice. Everett share his plan with Polish friends how to escape to London. They organized civilian cloths. Everett prepared food on the way. They planned to walk on foot. Escape. .. In July 1942 they escaped from Chojnice (Konitz), stole food from barracks and stop for a while in Piotr Osowicki's house, which was very close to the camp. There son of Piotr Osowicki decided to help and join to the escapers. Unfortunately, in the morning all of them were arrested and...

It' s really nice when we find stories dedicated to Prisoners Of War of Stalag XXA (20a) in Torun. Accidentally we discover an interesting article about one POW whose garve was recognized in Germany. Pte George Henry Thompson died during the Long Marches. It is antoher story when unknown POW recoverd his identity. Now we also starting out new researches about POW who died in Torun. We hopethat after few weeks we could wirte here something. Below full text:

It's really nice when our guest came to Torun again. Colin visited Stalag paths again with his brother. The trip was the reason of celebration in Germany connected with offical burial of Anthony Coulthard one of the POW's who try to escape from Stalag two times. Unfortunatley he died during Long Marches.... But Coilns trip could't be organized unless his gradfather Stalag history which began in 1940.  Sgt. Neil McLellan was captured in France and transported to Torun. Thanks his photographic skills he became an offical Stalag Photographer responsible for pictures to offical camp newspapper The Prisoners Pie and after New Prisoners Pie but not only. His rich collection included many very interesting pictures from, sport competitons or entertainment. For special occasion serves series of pictures form funerals. Thanks which we could see how germans behave to the dead soldiers. There are couple of picutres from Garnison Cemetery which shows official procession and all ...

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...