Tadeusz Jurczyk, gunner, aged 20.
On 13 April 1940, I was arrested and deported to Kazakhstan together with many other families. It is known that in the entire Poland occupied by Russians, this day was the date of mass arrests and deportations of many Polish families. They were arrested at night and almost at the same time. The deported families were mostly those whose fathers, brothers or other relatives had been previously arrested. That could have been predicted. However, no one suspected what consequences would be associated with the deportation and, besides, everyone preferred to stay at their land with their families than seek escape somewhere on the German side. Some families, or rather individuals, managed to escape. For families comprising numerous minors this was impossible.
I was deported to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Pavlodar Oblast. There, all families were assigned to the so-called kolkhozes and sovkhozes. At the beginning, together with several families, I was assigned to the [Nadezhda] Krupskaya kolkhoz, 22 kilometers from Pavlodar. Families who were with me:
| 1. | Stefania Gallewicz with two [people] |
| 2. | Lucyna Gallewicz, Benedykt Gallewicz |
| 3. | Freda Gallewicz |
| 4. | Wiktoria Bakumowicz with her daughter and son |
| 5. | Szewko with her son |
| 6. | Helena Puchalska with two children |
| 7. | another Puchalska, with two children as well |
| 8. | Mrs. Niedźwiedzka with her four-year-old son |
| 9. | Wiśniewski with his family – two daughters, wife, granddaughters. |
Apart from that, many other families from Białystok and its vicinity [were deported]. It should be emphasized that in this district, i.e. [illegible] region, Pavlodar Oblast, there were mainly families from the Białystok Voivodeship. In each kolkhoz, there were several or a dozen of families. Those mentioned above shared my wandering until the last days.
The first days were hard due to the sudden changes in our life: everything was strange and wild, work in the fields, ploughing with bulls, gradual getting used to the surroundings and the local life. We found out that the inhabitants were prejudiced against us, but after a few weeks spent with us, they got to know us better and sometimes even admired us.
This initial good attitude of the local community gave us the hope that maybe we would somehow survive.
The Zhanabet (Kazakh) kolkhoz was our new place of residence, to which we were deported. It was located 160 kilometers from Pavlodar, in the middle of nowhere. We met there a new type of people (Kyrgyz), their wild life and customs. We were mostly accompanied by women and children, men were scarce, and those who were with us were young boys. We lived together with the locals, disgustingly like the Arabs, but Poles can handle it everywhere. The fraternal coexistence of the local inhabitants raised our spirits. Nearby, there was the Irtysh River – only by the river there was a forest with berries and mushrooms – and beside it there were only vast steppes. We were isolated from the world. The nearest post office was 12 kilometers away. Means of support were missing. Mrs. Wachowska, the wife of a police sergeant died – she was the first victim. Sadness. What will happen to us?
November 1940. Despite the prohibition, together with several families we moved to the Pyatiryzhysk kolkhoz. Here, there was a larger concentration of Polish families:
1. Mrs. Kutyłowska with her son and daughter;
2. Mrs. Żukiewicz with her son and daughter;
3. Mrs. Stasiewicz with her son and daughter;
4. Mrs. Wigant with her son Teodor;
5. Mrs. Majewska with her daughter;
6. Mr. Mordasewicz with his wife and daughter.
All the families were from Białystok. Russians were all around; the place was better, safer. We started to believe in a better tomorrow. Young people organized evening parties. The longing for the homeland, dreams and pursuit of a common goal made us all one family. Winter came. Terrible and threatening, Siberian winter.
Poles are tough, they do not break down and die, but survive. We, the young, could handle everything, but we felt sorry for women and children. We worked in a forest at tree felling, far away, in the middle of a snow storm. The earnings were low. The standard of living worsened. There were no means of support, everybody was trading, selling their own property.
May 1941. We went 60 kilometers further, everyone tried on their own, fought to survive. Priirtyshskoye sovkhoz. We worked in workshops and in the fields. The work was hard, arduous. We were focused only on surviving, on living. The shipments from home helped us a lot, and the letters from Poland were comforting.
I must admit that despite the censorship, I received letters containing information from all over the world. The correspondence was mutual. We were very happy that we could communicate with our home country. I worked in a tractor and car motor repair workshop. The average earnings were 300 rubles a month. As a worker of this sovkhoz I was granted a flat and could exercise all the rights of the local workers. Unfortunately, not everywhere Poles were treated the same. Sometimes you had to listen to such unpleasant things that made your teeth clench.
The NKVD, i.e. the local police, tried to bribe Poles. Some were urged to become traitors. The objective was so clear that everyone really shuddered while thinking about it. However, sometimes you had to be careful what you said, as local Poles would sometimes be arrested. They fell out of the frying-pan into the fire, as they say.
June 1941, great news: Germany declared war on Russia! We raised to our feet. Something was about to happen. We waited for a miracle. There were various rumors. The Polish army was being formed! Our hearts were filled with joy. Finally! We were so proud. The Polish army! But how to join it? It was impossible to leave. Some of us sold everything they had and went to Buzuluk at their own cost. Others had not enough funds to travel. Hesitation. What to do? Volunteers. General mobilization was not yet announced. We decided to wait until spring. This time with certainty, with hope. Time was dragging on, winter was hard, when? When? On 26 February 1942 – finally: enlistment of Polish men. Joy, anxiety, sadness. Our families stayed behind. Regret, sadness, but we had to accept our fate.
1 March, Pavlodar. Recruits from the entire oblast. Departure by train to Lugovoy, concentration of Poles.
Encampment, 28 February 1943