The Gestapo did not find me at home, arrested my parent and younger siblings... They left me a note with a informing that I would either volunteer to the office of work, or my household would answer for me," says Józef Rybak, during the war the AK liaison. The veterans in an interview with Piotr Korczyński talk about September 1939 and the Red Army attack.
Father, Dr Stanisław Augustyn, was promoted to Major of the Polish Army and erstwhile the war broke out, he served as a regimental doctor in the 1st Podhale firearm Regiment in Nowy Sącz. Here, too, on August 31, 1939, my parent and I saw him for the last time. I remember what he said to me: “Hel, you are a wise and sensible girl, and I am giving to you a sick parent and a younger sister. Take care of them, I will go to war.” My father survived the fight and returned to Nowy Sącz. We already, after the evacuation of military families to Kresy, were in Brzeżany occupied by the Soviets. parent unsuccessfully tried to ask approval to return to fresh Sącz.
Meanwhile, my father was targeted by the Gestapo. He was arrested for having a weapon ammunition magazine, and was shot on suspicion of weapon possession on December 8, 1939. And you request to know that the father of planet War I had a peculiar depth of immunity. It featured the signatures of 2 emperors – German Wilhelm II and Russian Nicholas II. This paper was given for organizing in a neutral strip at the front of an outbreak infirmary where he treated soldiers on both sides of the conflict. The Gestapo did not respect this guile, but allowed their father to send a petition to Berlin for pardon. Unfortunately, it came besides late – 24 hours after the execution...
Helena Augustine (born 23 June 1923 in Brest on the Bug), after the evacuation of General Władysław Anders' Army from the USSR appointed to the Women's Auxiliary Service and then seconded to Africa. In Ugandan Masindi – 1 of the largest camps for Polish refugees – she worked as a teacher.
A blow from the east
Early in the morning of the memorable September 17 we heard the engine growling – from the side of Rakov. We thought at first that it was the sounds of German aircraft and due to the fact that the distillery had a advanced chimney, we began to fear they would choose it as the mark of bombing. We left the home and saw a cavalry unit on the way. “Where did the Polish cavalry come from across the russian border?” – that was our first thought. erstwhile they got closer, it all became clear... erstwhile they were passing us, a shot came out. I don't know if it was a ranger shot or a russian bachelor shot, but then the Soviets opened fire on the guards.
The palm combined with device weapon series lasted briefly and the aggressors went further. Then we found out that 1 of our soldiers was killed in the guardhouse and 1 was wounded. After the cavalry on the road to Rakowa there appeared motorized columns – especially trucks, and tanks passed nearby. Unfortunately, the Soviets had an overwhelming advantage.
Witold Grzybowski “Cat” (born 4 April 1928 in Moskorzewo, Włoszczowa County), the 2nd squadron from the 27th Ulan Regiment belonging to the Capital-Nalibocki AK Group of Lieutenants cc Adolf Pilch “Mountains”, “Dolinas”, then a soldier of the 25th AK Infantry Regiment of the Piotrkowsko-Opoczyńska Land.
Brother's destiny has never been explained
My father, Bronisław, worked at the textile mill office in Zyrardów. So it can be said that I come from an authoritative household and, for the time being, we did well. Unfortunately, the war interrupted this streak, and I was taken distant by my childhood and my older brother. In September 1939, I was 14 years old. There was a dramatic conflict in the Zyrardov area, in which the company of our troops tried to halt the force of the overwhelming forces of the enemy. The Germans virtually decimated it, and in retaliation for this opposition they later shot 20 giraffe notes. Many residents, including my family, drove out of town into an honest field. We camped on it for 2 days and 2 nights about cold and hunger. We were allowed to return to the city, but we had no peace. As I mentioned, the oldest brother, Tadeusz, who served in the cavalry, did not come home from the front – he most likely died in combat. His destiny has never been explained. On the another hand, my father and my elder, 2 years old, were forced to work in the Reich. I didn't see them until after the war.
Eugeniusz Stefankiewicz (born 27 March 1925 in Żyrardów; changed 15 February 2025 in Łódź), major at rest, soldier ZWZ/AK from 1940 to 1945 in Podkowa Leśna, in Kedywa, Milanówk and the dump facility “Tasak” in Izdębno Kościelny.
I volunteered to save my family.
During the first days of German aggression, the Tarnów was heavy bombarded by the Luftwaffe. Bombs besides fell on Rzędzińska's Will, due to the fact that it ran an crucial railway way Kraków – Przemyśl. The raids caused fires and fatalities, and then the business began and my escapes from transporting robots to Germany. erstwhile for the 5th time I did not appear on the call to Arbeitsamt, and the Gestapo did not find me at home, they arrested my parent and younger siblings: Sister Victoria and Brother Marian, and put me in Tarnów prison. They left me a note with a informing that I would either volunteer to work or my household would answer for me... I volunteered and got arrested again.
I can't remember precisely how many days I sat in it. My cell was guarded by 1 and the same dark blue cop. 1 morning I asked him if I could go to the bathroom. He agreed to walk me out, and he waited outside the door. erstwhile I left, he was gone! Apparently, he besides utilized the male toilet next to him. I immediately reached the corridor door – it was open! I was very fortunate due to the fact that another door opened to me, and behind them was a short corridor, which I ran right into the street! I was free again, but my household was inactive held hostage in prison. prof. Sliż, Ślązak employed as a translator at the Rippolda Confection Plant in Tarnów helped us. Thanks to his efforts, I yet received a work certificate that protected me from carrying out forced labour and my parent and sister and brother were released. In this facility, I worked as a seamstress, sewing... work clothes for forced laborers.
Józefa Rybak from the home of Ciochon “Jasmin” (born 6 December 1924 in Wola Rzędzińska), a liaison of the AK “Genowefa” facility, followed by the “Barbara” Battalion of the 16th AK Infantry Regiment, after the war a teacher of Polish language and past in primary schools in Szczecin.
Fragments of interviews with planet War II veterans conducted by Piotr Korczyński for “Polish Armed Forces” and “Polish Armed Forces. History”.
