WARTIME GUIDES

Only local guides and enthusiasts know how much do the signatures mean to Prisoners of War (Stalag XXA) and its relatives. This time we came to fort with another element of its history. A history of a soldier who wrote a sign in the cell but also took this unique picture!

Since August we have a big discussion in Torun about mass graves which were discovered in Glinki (district of Torun). During the diggins workres found a huge number of sceletors. Works were stoped and area was closed till clear this case. It's good to know that since 1941 there was a wooden hut camp for Soviets and other nationalities. After the War since 1945 Red Army imprisoned there Germans PoW which existed in terrible conditions. Estimated of dead there is around 4 000 people. We knew about exhumations but eveything seems that not all of Germans graves were found. During our researches we have met a few people who gave us new facts about the camp after the war. Thanks German exPoW and Polish people who lived near the camp we know that was also Polish section there. We believe that when all researches will finish this place will be well memorialized and all investments will relocated. Below some picutres from local newspaper Nowości

Since last post we found new documents and facts about Stalag. Slowly but precisely we started to analyse them and acquired stories which could be a script for some war movies... At first we would like to share with you a very interesting story of signalman Edward Smith. This man served in Australian Army, he was caught in Greece but escaped many times from different POW's camps. Last stop was in Stalag XXA in Torun.... he met here his brother, felt in love and many more.. but he decided to escape again... In Stalag XXA - probably on Working Camp near Brodnica Edward is 5th from right standing  When he arrived to Warsaw with false documents Polish Underground Army prepared for him transport to England. But it was last day of  calm in Warsaw. Everybody knew that something would happen in days, maybe hours. When Polish officer asked him if he is read to go to London Edward answered.... No. I know about planning uprising, I will join you and fight with you, because im ...

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 ...

In may we had greate opportunity to guide Imelda and David thru Stalag Ways in Torun. After two days we enlarged our knowledge about Autralians who was imprisoned in Fort XV. It's quiet difficult when we compare Polish and Western documentation about ways of treatement, work for Germans etc. To be sincerly there are two different points of view sometimes such strange that is very hard to recognize what was true. Below article about stay in Toun a sight seen by the eyes of our Aurtralin firends. My trip to Poland was a journey to find where my father Louis Paul Huon lived for 3 years during the war.  Something you may not know about Torun is that during the Second World War many Australian, Italian, Russian and English soldiers were detained in prison camps by the Germans. Our first stop was the beautiful old town of Warsaw with lovely accommodation where we rested in preparation for Turon.After 3 nights we hired a car and drove to Torun.  Again our accommodation was ri...

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...

Austen Deans was a soldier of New Zeland forces. He was sent to defent country far away from New Zeland...firstly North Africa and secondly Europe. When German won capampaing in Crete Austen and rest of soldiers as a POW were transported to Stalag XXA in Torun. After four days of trip to Poland soldiers were located in old prussian forts. Austen was imprisoned in Fort XV. Below we present short part of his fascinating biography.... One of Austen Deans painting shows Fort XV In the first few months at Stalag XX-A Austen also worked as a temporary tailor, repairing old British army greatcoats for the Russian POWs. As they were not party to the Geneva Convention they had no access to supplies and provisions through the Red Cross, and would have frozen to death had the Germans not provided the coats. The three friends were able to continue painting. Austen carried on with his portraits of other POWs and as many landscapes as he could produce from within the confines of the camp....

It was pleasure for us to be guests one of the famous Torun's radio. Pawel had interview about history of Stalag XXA and modern "sentimental" tourism. That was a great opportunity to show unknown stories about POW's and expalin how this heritage it is worthy for unique groups like families, friends etc. who prepare to this trip sometime about one year and the are able to come here even from New Zeland. During the interview

One of the most famouse priests Jan Twardowski told that:  Let us hurry to love people they depart so quickly” Jan Twardowski. We met Jack by Skype and that was fantastic to spoke with man who remember true facts about war time in Torun. Thank you for whole knwoledge... Below we would like to show you the eulogy J ack Morgan Walker was born to Sarah & Sydney Walker on the 4th Oct 1922 at Cheetham Hill Manchester England. They immigrated to Australia in 1926, Dad was 4. They rented a house in Bronte where his younger brother Ralph was born in 1928. Dad attended Clovelly Infants School, Woollahra Opportunity School & Randwick Boys High. After gaining his Intermediate Certificate his first job was with Anthony Hordens in the city selling sox, ties and handkerchiefs. He then worked 2½ years as a window dresser at David Jones Store in the city. When he was 16 the family moved to Oatley. He was always mad on motor bikes so when he was old enough he bought a ...

We would like to inform that our local press published article dedictaded to people aroud the world who are travleing on the routes of POW's. Thank's that Torun wasn't destroyed in WWII  sightseeing of fortification is possible and in some objects are still visible oryginal Stalag XXA remains. Passionates form Torun and relatives from countries where POW's came from are probably last people who is remember about this heritage. Click here to see the article.

Last weekend of may we were guides for Evelyn and Wighton Clark. It was pleasure to show them places connected with Stalag XXA. Below we are showing a resume from trip of footprints of gunner Hugh C Bone. The day after the BBC’s television coverage commerating  the 70th anniversary of the evacuation of the BEF at Dunkirk, there was a programme shown relating to those soldiers who were left behind in Normandy, in the main the 51st Highland Division, a Division who along with the French helped hold back Rommel’s Panzers  in order to allow the evacuation to take place. Their understanding was that they would be evacuated too. During that t.v. programme, I listened to POWs recount their experience of battle and incarceration in Stallag XXA in Poland and for the first time I had an insight into what my father had been through from 1940 to 1945. From then on I wanted to find out as much as I could.  This was extremely difficult, as like the majority of POWs my dad ...

Last long weekend, Paweł was asked by international radio RMF FM to give a talk about heritage and tourism of Stalag XX A. Talk was concrentrated on fort XI where you can see wartime pictures commemorating soldiers, prayers, political slogans etc.. Fort XV which is known for its interesting story. During the times of Stalag XXA, 1939-1945 there were imprisoned poeple of diffrent nationaliteis like Australians and Italians who refused to work for the enemy. Therefore, they had time to organize sport or theatre events. Learn more about fort XI and fort XV in the links.

I'm happy to say that Paweł's work has been described by The Guardian! The story tells about Peter Walker's visit in Toruń last year. He came to Toruń to find his grandfather's keys which he hid during his stay in Stalag XXA. And thanks to Paweł's research he managed to do so! after 70 years. This story is very motivating for us and shows us that our work is needed. Here is the link to the article

Last weekend was very sunny and fulled of Stalag XXA researches. Inspired by new sources we went to Fort XV and Museum Of Fortifications (http://www.torun.fortyfikacje.pl/) to find new facts about imprisoned soliders. Trip throught fort XV was interesting because we found places conncted with Austrialan soldiers. Normally Fort XV is closed but it is possible to get permission form the owner to get into. This object is not only conneted with WWII POW's. From modern facts we know that there where the comunists prison camp for german soldiers and polish civilians conneted with underground army AK... we belived that in archives are some notes which describes stories conneted with them. During your staying in Torun we trult recommend The Museum of Fortifications it shows very interesting facts about forts but not only because they have reprinted colletion of paintings of Frank William Wheeton one of the POW's in Fort XV. Thanks them we can see how looked like the Fort XV area during...