Description
Object description
Polish private served with Polish Army in Poland, 9/1939; civilian in Warsaw, Poland, 9/1939-3/1940; escaped from Poland to France, 3/1940; served with Central Liaison School, Polish Army in France, 3/1940-4/1940; captured in Slovakia, Czechoslovakia during attempt to return to Poland, 4/1940; inmate of Montelupich Prison, Kraków, Poland, 4/1940-11/1940; inmate of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau Concentration Camps, Poland, 11/1940-8/1944; inmate in Gross-Rosen, Buchenwald, Natzweiler-Struthof and Dachau Concentration Camps, Germany, 8/1940-4/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Imperial Russia and Poland, 1916-1939: family's circumstances; escape from Imperial Russia during Revolution; period as apprentice in GB, 1939. Recollections of operations with Polish Army in Poland, 9/1939: role with liaison unit; effect of German Air Force raids on Polish mobilisation; evacuation eastwards; attacks by Ukrainian Fifth Column and Soviet Army tanks; move to Warsaw; contrast in civilian attitudes in east and central Poland. Recollections of period as civilian in Warsaw, Poland, 9/1939-3/1940: German behaviour at checkpoints on outskirts of Warsaw; food shortages; organising food collections; working as glazier; start of German reprisals; minor involvement with resistance.
REEL 2 Continues: lack of information on progress of war. Recollections of escape to France, 3/1940: preparations; escape from German round up at Kraków Railway Station; attitude of smuggling organisations on southern Polish border; aid from smuggler to cross border into Slovakia; behaviour of Czechoslovakians; reception in Hungary; journey to France via Venice, Italy; attitude of Italians to Polish refugees. Recollections of period as private with Polish Army in France, 3/1940-4/1940: arrest by Polish military police on French border; interrogation in transit camp; contrast between Polish and French Army rations; move to Central Liaison School, Polish Army; social mixture of Polish Army troops; reaction to Phoney War period; decision to return to Poland.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of capture during attempt to return to Poland in Slovakia, Czechoslovakia, 4/1940: method of crossing frontiers; use of diplomatic passports; crossing into Hungary; conditions with group smuggling Polish bank notes in Slovakia; crossing river in village; arrest by gendarmes; disposing of personal arms; arrival of German Army troops. Aspects of period as inmate in Montelupich Prison, Kraków, Poland, 4/1940-11/1940: interrogation; conditions in cell; character of interrogator. Recollections of period as inmate of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau Concentration Camps, Poland, 11/1940-8/1944: prior knowledge of camp; reception on arrival, 11/1940; processing and issue of uniforms; inmates swapping of camp numbers.
REEL 4 Continues: work regime; adapting to camp regime; importance of having a trade; assignment to light work and work as gardener; assignment to engineering group; role as machine setter; obtaining work in Schutzstaffel (SS) garage; technique for acquiring food; treatment of Jewish and Soviet inmates; contact with Gypsies; work in kitchens; story of fortune telling of Gypsy inmate.
REEL 5 Continues: contact with Estonian guard; move from Auschwitz I Concentration Camp, Poland to Dachau Concentration Camp via Gross-Rosen, Buchenwald and Natzweiler-Struthof Concentration Camps, Germany, 1/1945. Aspects of liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 29/4/1945: arrival of United States Army troops; overeating by inmates; inmates' revenge on Schutzstaffel (SS) guards. Reflections on period as inmate in Gross-Rosen, Buchenwald, Natzweiler-Struthof and Dachau Concentration Camps, 8/1944-4/1945: question of which inmates controlled Buchenwald Concentration Camp; method of surviving in camps; relations between inmates; aid given to cousin; presence of homosexuals in camps. Recollections of period as inmate in Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau Concentration Camps, Poland, 11/1940-8/1944: incidents of corruption.
REEL 6 Continues: stealing of Jewish valuables by inmates and Schutzstaffel (SS); female inmates; behaviour of Gypsy women; German gassing of Gypsy inmates; camp orchestra; question of development of site, 1996; question of compensation for Holocaust experiences.