Halina Kuc
Class 4
Elementary School in Błaziny
Iłża district
My most memorable moment from the occupation
The night of 10/11 January 1944 is the moment I remember the most. At about 2 a.m. I was awakened by a loud banging on the door. Hearing the noise, my father got up and opened the door. The Germans entered our house and ordered my father to get dressed and follow them. My mother, my siblings and I started to cry and beg the Germans not to take my dad away, but they were not listening, and instead told father to hurry up. Father said his goodbyes and left. When I went out in the morning, I saw men being led by the Germans from the other side of the village. The whole village was surrounded and all the men were being taken to the school. Women and crying children went out to the road. People went to the school to say goodbye to their families. Everybody expected something horrible, but the Germans were walking around all happy and smiling. My mother, my younger sister and I went to the school to see father and say our goodbyes. Unfortunately, it was the last time I saw him.
My father comforted us, gave us some advice, and asked us not to worry. Other men were also comforting their wives, children, and mothers, saying that they would soon return, although they did not believe it themselves. The Germans ordered them to line up in groups of four and announced their departure. Where to? Nobody knew. It was the final farewell. Everybody was crying. The Germans pushed the women and children away, surrounded the men, not letting anyone to get close, and then led the men out of the gate. The women wanted to walk with their loved ones, but the sentry did not let them. My mother and sister ran beyond the gate, but the barrel of a German rifle stopped them short. My father did not return, and nobody knows what happened to him.