Description
Object description
Polish Jewish NCO served with Polish Army in Poland, 9/1939; deported from Poland to Soviet Union, 1939-1941; NCO served with 3rd Bn, 1st (Polish) Independent Parachute Bde in GB and during Operation Market Garden, Netherlands, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as Jewish civilian living in Sanok, Austria-Hungary and Poland, 1914-1939: family; relations between Jews and Gentiles in home town; parent's political attitudes; education; anticipation of impending war during 1930s; Polish anti-Semitism; attempted boycott of father's shop; attending National Service with Polish Army. Aspects of operations as corporal with Polish Army in Poland, 9/1939: call-up for military service, 1/9/1939; under dive-bombing attack from Junkers Ju 87 Stukas; capture by German forces; escape from captivity and return to Sanok. Recollections of deportation from Poland to Novosibirsk, Siberia, Soviet Union, 1939-1941: deportation from Poland to Soviet Union, 1939.
REEL 2 Continues: arrival in camp in Novosibirsk; conditions in camp; rations available to deportees; relations with Soviet civilians in Siberia; question of escape from camp; behaviour of camp commandant; nature of treatment on receiving news of outbreak of war between Soviet Union and Germany, 6/1941. Aspects of journey from Soviet Union to GB via Iran and Palestine, 1941: joining Polish Army in the East in Soviet Union and move to Iran; illness from eating eggs on arrival in Iran; move to Palestine and turning down invitation to join Hagana; arrival in GB and start of training as paratrooper, 9/1942. Recollections of operations as NCO with 3rd Bn, 1st (Polish) Independent Parachute Bde during Operation Market Garden in Netherlands 9/1944: reception from Dutch Resistance; in action at Oosterbeek; orders to withdraw.
REEL 3 Continues: escape across River Nederijn; promotion to sergeant; relations with Dutch after Second World War; question of who make best paratroopers. Aspects of period as civilian living in GB after 1945: suicides amongst Poles after Second World War; reasons why he didn't return to Poland; taking up civilian occupation as shopkeeper.