WARTIME GUIDES

 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...

This extraordinary journey allowed relatives of those imprisoned in the German POW camp in Toruń, Stalag XXA, to visit the very places where their loved ones were once held captive. Among them was Evelyn, who sought information about her father, who spent many long years in captivity. The harsh labor and conditions took a toll on his health. According to family stories, he even attempted to escape, for which he was confined in solitary. Thanks to extensive documentation, we were able to locate all the places of his imprisonment, and in most cases, we could even enter them. The uniqueness of this trip was further enhanced by the presence of Evelyn's closest friend and her grandchildren. The participation of the younger generations is particularly significant, as the responsibility of passing on the memory of these events will soon rest on their shoulders. We are grateful to have been able to assist in this meaningful endeavor.