Wladyslaw Szwender
I was born October 24,1924 in Miedzyrzecze Podlaskie, voivodship of Lublin. When I was 1 year old, we moved to Baranowicze voivodship of Nowogrod, where my father got a job on the railways (PKP). In this beautiful city of the Eastern Borderlands (Kresy Wschodnie) I spent my childhood and the first years of my youth. I attended and completed The Maria Konopnicka elementary school, as well as two grades of the Thaddeus Rejtan middle school. We lived near the train station - Baranowicze Poleskie, the main junction of five railway lines, near the military barracks of the 78 Infantry Regiment and the 26 Lancers Regiment, and where the last commander of the Nowogrod Cavalry Brigade was General Wladyslaw Anders. In the garrison church, I was an alter server. The Treacherous attack of Nazi Germany on Poland, on the 1st of September 1939, was the beginning of changes in the fate of our lives. September 17th, 1939, Bolshevik Russia, which signed an agreement in secrecy with the Germans, on August 23 to attack our country, overrun our Eastern Borderlands (Kresy Wschodnie). I will never forget the content of leaflets dropped from planes that day by the Bolsheviks titled, "Kill your officers"
From the first days of the entry of the Bolsheviks, they began to arrest and plunder. My father was arrested Sept. 26, 1939 and was sentenced to 15 years in a labor camp near Archangel. The mass deportation of the Polish population to Siberia and Kazakhstan began on February 10, 1940. On April 13, 1940, we, that is mom, my sister and I were sent to Kazakhstan. We were transported in cattle cars. We worked there for a year as exiles in a kolkhoz (state farm). After a year they took us to Atbasar in Akmola province in Kazakhstan to build locomotive workshops. 5000 Polish exiles were brought in to work in these shops. We worked in two shifts of 12 hours (per day) in slave-like conditions. There was no chance that our fate would change any time soon.
It was not until June 22, 1941, when Nazi Germany invaded its murderous ally- Bolshevik Russia, that for us exiles, shone a glimmer of hope that our fate might change. July 30 1941, The Polish Government in London (with the support of England) signed the so-called "Sikorski-Maysky Agreement," identifying a common struggle against Nazi Germany. In theory - it was an "amnesty" for the deportees for transgressions not committed by them. The arrangement was based on the establishment of the Polish Army and common struggle on the Eastern Front under Russian command.
From every corner of Russia, the Polish deportees began to arrive in Buzuluk and Tatishchev. centers where the Polish Army was being formed. The conditions were terrible, people lived in tents in - 40C, without warm clothes and footwear and poor nutrition. Such were the beginnings of the formation of the future army under the command of General Wladyslaw Anders, a former prisoner, of the "Lubyanka". Later, due to weather conditions, the formation of the Polish Army was transferred to areas of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and southern Kazakhstan, where it was warmer, but the conditions there were not any better. There were more diseases, especially typhoid fever which took its toll and other diseases.
When I learned about the formation of the Polish Army, my desire was to get into the army. After the so called "Amnesty" our father joined us at Atbasar before Christmas 1941. By then I was 17 and 4 months. My parents tried to dissuade me from joining the army, telling me that I was too young. But my stubbornness and persistence won me consent. In a group of 35 like minded lads I left to join the forming Polish army. We drove to the village of Lugowaya, a venue of the 10 Infantry Division. It was February 1942.
Initially, due to the large influx of volunteers, lack of food and uniforms, young people like myself were not accepted. The situation was tragic. The army was not accepting us, and I could not go back to my parents because the return trip meant at least a 1 month of wandering without food. So a group of lads like myself wandered about the countryside until March of 1942 when transports with food and uniforms arrived from England. I was then admitted to the 27 Infantry Regiment of the 10th Infantry Division.
Thanks to gen. Anders, who himself was a prisoner of the Soviets and best understood our position, we left with the first transport across the Caspian Sea to Persia (Iran) in the British zone. In the port of Pahlavi (now Anzali) after burning our lice infested rags and receiving new uniforms, we celebrated Easter on April 5, 1942 as free people. With this wise move, General Anders rescued about 120 thousand soldiers and civilians, creating a so-called "Free Poland" in exile From Persia (Iran), we went to Palestine, where on 3 May in Quastina camp a new military formation was organized, The Independent Carpathian Rifle brigade, which was made by combining the 9th, and 10th Infantry Division that came from the Soviet Union. On May 9th, this brigade became officially the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division. From that day on I was a soldier of fourth company of the 6th Battalion, of the 2nd Brigade of the 3 Carpathian Rifle Division, which served until demobilization on November 13, 1946.
Then we were redeployed to Iraq, where we began intensive training on new equipment, and simultaneously defended the oil fields of Iraq against the German offensive. We were constantly training in the areas of Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon until the transition to Egypt and then departure to Italy. We landed in Taranto, Italy on December 22, 1943. In February of 1944. we went into action on the mountain section of the river Sangro. Our task was to patrol and defend the hills above the Sangro.
In April of 1944. we replaced the British troops of the fourth Battle of Monte Cassino. To reach the starting point, we walked at night about 20 kilometers in very difficult muddy, mountainous terrain. After a few days, our 4th Infantry Company was withdrawn for training to fight with tanks. We again returned to our starting positions, but this time we were transported by jeeps. The first attack started after 2 hours of the first artillery fire at 1 AM on May 11. Following the large losses we received orders to return to the starting point. We prepared for the next strike by detecting the enemy positions and completing ammunition supplies as well as other provisions.
The second attack of our company took place on May 17. We took part in it together with tanks in the direction of Massa Albaneta. In the Gorge (name on the map), after a massive fire by the enemy, I was wounded and brought to the first aid station, and then transported to the main medical point and to the hospital in Casa Massimo.
After recovery, I returned to my unit that fought in the vicinity of Osima - Castel Fidardo. In our constant fighting in pursuit of the enemy, we had gained an important port of Ancona on the Adriatic, and dozens of smaller towns. The culmination of battles of the 2nd Corps was the conquest of Bologna and the end of the campaign in Italy.
Over the next two weeks Germany surrendered (May 8, 1945) and World War II ended. For us, the soldiers of the 2nd Corps, most of which came from the Eastern Borderlands was not a joyous day. Our ancestral lands were occupied by the Red Army and in the hands of the Soviets, and they had no intension of returning our Eastern Borderlands. Our allies - England and the United States had agreed to that at Yalta and Tehran, thereby betraying their most faithful ally [Poland].
Until the trip to England we stayed in Italy and performed guard duty. Meanwhile, I attended 3D.S.K. (3 Carpathian Rifle Division) junior and high school completing 4 years of junior high and graduated with a junior high school diploma Then I went on to complete school and ended as infantry platoon cadet.
I had no intention of returning to Poland which under communist rule. My parents and sister were still in Siberia. Since Canada has proposed to accept 5000 soldiers on two-year contract to work on Canadian farms, I volunteered to go. After signing the contract and the medical tests, the first transport of 1691 persons arrived in Halifax on board of "Sea Robin".
Even before we left for Canada, in the camp "Falconara" in Italy a new organization, the Polish Combatants' Association (SPK) - "Canada", was brought to life on October 3, 1946, which turned out to be very helpful in our future life.
From Halifax, we left on a special train to our destinations in various provinces, according to the distribution list from Italy. I my destination was Alberta, and was assigned to work on a farm near Vermilion. After completing the two-year contract (I changed a few farms in search of better conditions and pay), I came to Edmonton and from where I would go for periods of 6 months to work in Fort Smith (NWT). In Edmonton I met and married a fellow Siberian Pole on 7 January 1950. From this marriage were born five children: three boys and two girls. I found a job at the post office, as a postman, where I worked for 30 years, retiring in 1989. I'm blessed with 11 grandchildren and venerable years in Edmonton. I belong to the S.P.K since 1946 to the present day, serving different functions in the organization. Received many awards: for my military service I was awarded the "Cross of Valor", the "Cross of Monte Cassino" badge for wounds, I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
For community work, I was awarded the "Golden Cross of Merit". I also received the " Siberia Cross." I took an active part in raising funds for the Siberians monument in the Biala Podlaska, and for the "Monte Cassino" monument, in Warsaw.
Wladyslaw Szwender
Translated from Polish - Helena Fita
From the first days of the entry of the Bolsheviks, they began to arrest and plunder. My father was arrested Sept. 26, 1939 and was sentenced to 15 years in a labor camp near Archangel. The mass deportation of the Polish population to Siberia and Kazakhstan began on February 10, 1940. On April 13, 1940, we, that is mom, my sister and I were sent to Kazakhstan. We were transported in cattle cars. We worked there for a year as exiles in a kolkhoz (state farm). After a year they took us to Atbasar in Akmola province in Kazakhstan to build locomotive workshops. 5000 Polish exiles were brought in to work in these shops. We worked in two shifts of 12 hours (per day) in slave-like conditions. There was no chance that our fate would change any time soon.
It was not until June 22, 1941, when Nazi Germany invaded its murderous ally- Bolshevik Russia, that for us exiles, shone a glimmer of hope that our fate might change. July 30 1941, The Polish Government in London (with the support of England) signed the so-called "Sikorski-Maysky Agreement," identifying a common struggle against Nazi Germany. In theory - it was an "amnesty" for the deportees for transgressions not committed by them. The arrangement was based on the establishment of the Polish Army and common struggle on the Eastern Front under Russian command.
From every corner of Russia, the Polish deportees began to arrive in Buzuluk and Tatishchev. centers where the Polish Army was being formed. The conditions were terrible, people lived in tents in - 40C, without warm clothes and footwear and poor nutrition. Such were the beginnings of the formation of the future army under the command of General Wladyslaw Anders, a former prisoner, of the "Lubyanka". Later, due to weather conditions, the formation of the Polish Army was transferred to areas of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and southern Kazakhstan, where it was warmer, but the conditions there were not any better. There were more diseases, especially typhoid fever which took its toll and other diseases.
When I learned about the formation of the Polish Army, my desire was to get into the army. After the so called "Amnesty" our father joined us at Atbasar before Christmas 1941. By then I was 17 and 4 months. My parents tried to dissuade me from joining the army, telling me that I was too young. But my stubbornness and persistence won me consent. In a group of 35 like minded lads I left to join the forming Polish army. We drove to the village of Lugowaya, a venue of the 10 Infantry Division. It was February 1942.
Initially, due to the large influx of volunteers, lack of food and uniforms, young people like myself were not accepted. The situation was tragic. The army was not accepting us, and I could not go back to my parents because the return trip meant at least a 1 month of wandering without food. So a group of lads like myself wandered about the countryside until March of 1942 when transports with food and uniforms arrived from England. I was then admitted to the 27 Infantry Regiment of the 10th Infantry Division.
Thanks to gen. Anders, who himself was a prisoner of the Soviets and best understood our position, we left with the first transport across the Caspian Sea to Persia (Iran) in the British zone. In the port of Pahlavi (now Anzali) after burning our lice infested rags and receiving new uniforms, we celebrated Easter on April 5, 1942 as free people. With this wise move, General Anders rescued about 120 thousand soldiers and civilians, creating a so-called "Free Poland" in exile From Persia (Iran), we went to Palestine, where on 3 May in Quastina camp a new military formation was organized, The Independent Carpathian Rifle brigade, which was made by combining the 9th, and 10th Infantry Division that came from the Soviet Union. On May 9th, this brigade became officially the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division. From that day on I was a soldier of fourth company of the 6th Battalion, of the 2nd Brigade of the 3 Carpathian Rifle Division, which served until demobilization on November 13, 1946.
Then we were redeployed to Iraq, where we began intensive training on new equipment, and simultaneously defended the oil fields of Iraq against the German offensive. We were constantly training in the areas of Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon until the transition to Egypt and then departure to Italy. We landed in Taranto, Italy on December 22, 1943. In February of 1944. we went into action on the mountain section of the river Sangro. Our task was to patrol and defend the hills above the Sangro.
In April of 1944. we replaced the British troops of the fourth Battle of Monte Cassino. To reach the starting point, we walked at night about 20 kilometers in very difficult muddy, mountainous terrain. After a few days, our 4th Infantry Company was withdrawn for training to fight with tanks. We again returned to our starting positions, but this time we were transported by jeeps. The first attack started after 2 hours of the first artillery fire at 1 AM on May 11. Following the large losses we received orders to return to the starting point. We prepared for the next strike by detecting the enemy positions and completing ammunition supplies as well as other provisions.
The second attack of our company took place on May 17. We took part in it together with tanks in the direction of Massa Albaneta. In the Gorge (name on the map), after a massive fire by the enemy, I was wounded and brought to the first aid station, and then transported to the main medical point and to the hospital in Casa Massimo.
After recovery, I returned to my unit that fought in the vicinity of Osima - Castel Fidardo. In our constant fighting in pursuit of the enemy, we had gained an important port of Ancona on the Adriatic, and dozens of smaller towns. The culmination of battles of the 2nd Corps was the conquest of Bologna and the end of the campaign in Italy.
Over the next two weeks Germany surrendered (May 8, 1945) and World War II ended. For us, the soldiers of the 2nd Corps, most of which came from the Eastern Borderlands was not a joyous day. Our ancestral lands were occupied by the Red Army and in the hands of the Soviets, and they had no intension of returning our Eastern Borderlands. Our allies - England and the United States had agreed to that at Yalta and Tehran, thereby betraying their most faithful ally [Poland].
Until the trip to England we stayed in Italy and performed guard duty. Meanwhile, I attended 3D.S.K. (3 Carpathian Rifle Division) junior and high school completing 4 years of junior high and graduated with a junior high school diploma Then I went on to complete school and ended as infantry platoon cadet.
I had no intention of returning to Poland which under communist rule. My parents and sister were still in Siberia. Since Canada has proposed to accept 5000 soldiers on two-year contract to work on Canadian farms, I volunteered to go. After signing the contract and the medical tests, the first transport of 1691 persons arrived in Halifax on board of "Sea Robin".
Even before we left for Canada, in the camp "Falconara" in Italy a new organization, the Polish Combatants' Association (SPK) - "Canada", was brought to life on October 3, 1946, which turned out to be very helpful in our future life.
From Halifax, we left on a special train to our destinations in various provinces, according to the distribution list from Italy. I my destination was Alberta, and was assigned to work on a farm near Vermilion. After completing the two-year contract (I changed a few farms in search of better conditions and pay), I came to Edmonton and from where I would go for periods of 6 months to work in Fort Smith (NWT). In Edmonton I met and married a fellow Siberian Pole on 7 January 1950. From this marriage were born five children: three boys and two girls. I found a job at the post office, as a postman, where I worked for 30 years, retiring in 1989. I'm blessed with 11 grandchildren and venerable years in Edmonton. I belong to the S.P.K since 1946 to the present day, serving different functions in the organization. Received many awards: for my military service I was awarded the "Cross of Valor", the "Cross of Monte Cassino" badge for wounds, I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
For community work, I was awarded the "Golden Cross of Merit". I also received the " Siberia Cross." I took an active part in raising funds for the Siberians monument in the Biala Podlaska, and for the "Monte Cassino" monument, in Warsaw.
Wladyslaw Szwender
Translated from Polish - Helena Fita
