WARTIME GUIDES

We are pleased to share memories from a trip following the POW footsteps of Pauline's relative Last year we bought a 3 month interrail pass in their 50th anniversary half price sale and we have just finished using it. 7 countries, 40 trains and an interlude in the middle back in the U.K. to welcome our first grandchild. I can heartily recommend this way of travelling, even if the extra fees for reservations and different ways of making them from one country to another can sometimes test your skill and patience! For me, travelling from country to country by train reinforced the need for a Europe whose countries can live in peace and there are all too many daily reminders that we are still not there.                                         Anyway as you can see we took the opportunity to finally visit Toruń, which was informative, moving and interesting. Such a beautiful...

I can't pass by the information that for another year city authorities took care of the official celebrations of V-Day 8.05. I am glad that each year someone from the prisoners' relatives comes to Toruń to mark the presence of relatives who remember... It is also very nice that the memory of Stalag XXA is present in the local consciousness, preserving the memory of it for future generations.

  Among the journeys following the footsteps of prisoners, there are challenges that are truly remarkable. Certainly, such was Jennifer's visit, who flew from Australia to see the places where her father had been. During his stay at Stalag XXA camp, he decided to escape, aiming for Gdynia and the smuggling route to Sweden. However, he was overwhelmed by the weather conditions and faced problems with water and food after successfully leaving the camp. The local population quickly noticed a person unfamiliar with the language, drawing the attention of partisans. In this way, Harvey joined the Gryf Home Army unit, fighting against the Germans until 1945. One could write extensively about his adventures and sometimes tragic events. Nevertheless, through preserved documentation and the memories of his daughter, all the places were visited and meetings with the Polish family of Harvey's wartime friend were held... what a meeting it was! The culmination of the search was the posthumou...

During yesterday's Wednesday meeting dedicated to military history, I had the privilege of delving into the fascinating history of the Stalag XXA prisoner-of-war camp in a way that truly captivates me—through the stories of individual people. I strived to capture the essence of my tours, transporting the audience through time and space, uncovering stories that could easily be transformed into movie scripts. These are tales of unwavering human spirit, incredible determination, and extraordinary sacrifice that endured in the harsh conditions of the prisoner-of-war camp. Stalag XXA, one of the largest POW camps during World War II, holds countless stories of heroism, friendship, and hope. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my experiences as a guide and shed light on the daily lives of the prisoners in Stalag XXA. My hope is that this presentation allowed for a better understanding of the remarkable relationships and bonds that formed among those deprived of their freedom. The ...

Once again, guests from Great Britain visited us. Among them was the daughter of a British prisoner of war and the son of a soldier who fought at Monte Cassino. Gunner Charles James George Davis of the 140th (Army) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, was mobilized on 1 September 1939 and sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force. He was captured by the Germans on May 29, 1940. He spent the rest of the war in the Stalag XXA prisoner of war camp in Toruń and in work commandos in the region. In Toruń, he was held in a sub-camp of Fort XII in Podgórze, where there is a band and he plays the trumpet. What was it like for his presence among our exhibits, a trumpet mouthpiece found in the area of ​​Fort XII. The guests were guided around the museum exhibition by: Toruń guide Paweł Bukowski and two MHW volunteers, Weronika and Zofia. In a fascinating way, it introduces visitors to the history of Poland, the city and the fate of its inhabitants during World War II.

Today I would like to share with you the extraordinary experience of visiting the remains of Stalag XXA in Toruń together with Mr. Tom McGrath, the author of an extraordinary book: Unspoken, which tells the story of his father and his escape from the camp. It was the history and the places he met during our journey together that inspired him to write this unique book, which tells the story of a daring escape from the camp and an adventurous way to Spain. Mr. Tom McGrath was fascinated by the history of his family and their connection to the Second World War. He decided to visit the remains of Stalag XXA to explore the part of history that had such a big impact on his loved ones. I was honored to be your guide on this extraordinary journey. Mr. McGrath delved into the secrets of this camp, as well as uncovering the untold stories of the prisoners and their extraordinary escape attempts. He gained valuable testimonies and information that formed the basis for his novels. For me personall...

I am delighted to announce that my latest article on prisoners of war at Fort XI has been published in issue 14 of the Atlas of Toruń Fortress. It brings me great joy and honor to contribute to the exploration and documentation of this incredibly important part of our region's history. In my article, I focus on a detailed understanding of the lives and fates of prisoners of war who were held at Fort XI during World War II. Through thorough research and source analysis, I aimed to reconstruct their daily lives, the challenges they faced, and the exceptional friendships and bonds that formed among those deprived of their freedom. Fort XI in Toruń, which is part of the Toruń Fortress, played a significant role as a prisoner-of-war camp. My goal was to highlight this significance and pay tribute to the memory of the prisoners of war who were held there. By sharing their experiences, I sought to bring readers closer to the dramatic reality of life in the camp, while also showcasing the ...