Written by Johann Ulfik of Koschentin KOSCHENTIN AND THE ULFIK FAMILY Every man must die, this has been the way God has determined it to be. From births and deaths comes one generation after another generation. The research and recordings were a lot of work and would be otherwise easily forgotten, therefore I have done research in the parishes where these recordings are made. There are many names that were still lost due to many injustices and a difficult life, much having been damaged or lost. Many simple people have absolutely no record and things were only known verbally from one generation to another. Unfortunately, in this time period, few people could read or write, therefore there were only a few records of worth. Many of our generations, will still be turned by a desire to know about our ancestors and will feel happy to find out things about them. I also write about the time when the people had no potatoes, coal, and knew of no machines. Before the onset of the newer times, the people were used up. This happened through the work in the fields, in the factories and in the coalmines. In our times, the second World War (in the Hitler times) we had to make a racial pedigree for 4 generations back. We called this "Rassenschau" (to show the race). Such records we were able to find through entries in the churchbooks. There the records of births and death were entered. After the second World War, during the search for records of the earlier times of our village of Koszecin, I saw the scribbled records in Sadow and Koschentin and found all my forefathers and was able to go back to the times of the 30 Year War. This caused me to find all my family that was recorded in the books. Everyone with the name of Ulfik, I have given and I have recorded everything that I was able to find prior to the 30 Year war. Our Father in Heaven gave us the commandment to honor our father and mother. He that obeys this commandment, troubles himself to also find his forefathers and find out about how they lived. For this reason I ask all to search out their ancestors, not only for themselves but rather for their descendants. This is also the reason why I made this record. For our forefathers, which lived here for many years and worked, and died: Many, Many, years before us, our fathers have worked here, They were true to their faith and honored God. They prayed to God and asked for his blessings. We are indebted to Him for everything which he has done for us. We pray for all things. THE LINE OF OUR FOREFATHERS. All those who have the name of Ulfik in their ancestry, should know that in all wartimes an immigration took place. This happened with every war. During the 30 Year War many families were separated and often lost to one another. The children were raised by different people and later did not know who their parents were and also didn't know their real names. The war was caused due to religious beliefs and many people showed the beliefs in various ways. At this time Nieder Schlesien belonged to the Hapsburgs. They called themselves at that time "Catholic disciples" and didn't let on that people of the Lutheran faith lived in the area. The Lutheran people came from England, Sweden, Norway, Holland and Denmark. They came to help their brothers of belief to fight in Silesia and in Czechoslavakia. As a result there was a horrible war which lasted 30 years. Because of this long war there was much need and all people were impoverished. The people suffered both in body and soul. As the Lutheran troops entered Ober-Schlesien, a Danish soldier from the Protestant army under General Mansfeld, born in the area of Stralsund, which at this time belonged to Denmark, whose name was Jakob Ulfik, a Protestant, met a young woman named Cecilja Warwas from Harbultowitz, married her, and settled down in this town. This is a portion of information that was handed down through verbal stories and through the parish records at Sadow. I will write all the extracts from the parish register to record the family lines. FIRST GENERATION The 30 Year War ended in 1648. Jakub and Cecilia married and had 2 sons which were recorded in the Catholic books in Sadow. The first son, Marcin, was born 1645 and Jan in 1650. They lived in Harbultowitz. SECOND GENERATION Jakub's oldest son, Marcin married in 1670 to Marrianna neé Nawrat of Harbultowitz. From this marriage came 3 children, Jan, Marcin, and Elzbieta. The mother-in-law of Marcin died on 3 Mar. 1712. The father-in-law died on 26 Dec. 1714. THIRD GENERATION The oldest son of Marcin and Maryanna neé Nawrat, Jan, married in 1694 with Marjanna Zaslanek of Harbultowitz. From this marriage were born two children, Pawel, born 1698 and Adam, born on 25 Dec. 1703. FOURTH GENERATION The oldest son of Jan and Marianna neé Zaslanek, Pawel, married Jadwiga Silek on 15 Feb. 1724 in Harbultowitz. The younger brother, Adam, married Regina Maska in Droniowitz. From the marriage of Pawel was one son by the name of Szymon and from the marriage of Adam was the daughter, Katarszyna, born on 17 Nov. 1731, Maciej, born on 31 Jun. 1733, Maryjanna, born 20 Oct. 1736 and Barthlomej, born on 27 Apr. 1742, all in Harbultowitz. FIFTH GENERATION Szymon, the only son of Pawel and Maryjanna neé Zaslanek, married Zofja Jemielonek. From this marriage there were the following children: Maciej, born 3 Sep. 1741, Katarzyna, born the 12th Nov. 1744, Ambrozy, 27 Sep. 1746 and Andrezej, born (?) all in Droniowitz. SIXTH GENERATION Maciej, the oldest son of Szymon and Zofji neé Jemielonek married Helene Wieczorek at about the age of 30 years. Helena was born 28 Feb. 1749 in Sadow. She was the daughter of Anton and Maryjanna neé Tobai. The marriage was on 19 Feb. 1770 in Sadow. From this marriage were born: Michal, born on 27 Sep. 1775, Marcin, 9 Nov. 1780 and Antoni, 12 June 1783 in Harbultowitz. The oldest son of this marriage, Michael, served in the Prussian army from 1795-1801. This was the time in Prussia of a horrible ruler for all who lived in Oberschlesien. The important overseer of this time was over everyone, and all worked for him and also the army was called to help. Not only were they to work but also to take care of the land. The father of this family died in Droniowitz in the age of 75 years. SEVENTH GENERATION Michael, the son of Macieja and Helena Wieczorek married Agnieszka Pilot who was born on 9 Jan. 1783 in Koschentin and they settled there and lived on the street today known as Beuerning. Barnowskiej Nr. 8. The marriage took place on 21 Jan. 1802 in the church St. Marcin in Czieschowitz. From this marriage the following children were born: 1. Thomas born 28 Feb. 1805 2. Karolina born 10 Apr. 1807 3. Wojciech born 16 Apr. 1810 4. Ludwik born 26 Aug. 1813 5. Maciej born 18 Feb. 1817 6. Andrzej born 4 Feb. 1821 The mother of this family died 1828 at the age of 45 years. The only daughter of this family married in 1829 and so the father had no one to care for his family and so he married again to Josepha, widow of Paul Woclawik. The marriage took place on 2 Feb. 1830. He died on 4 Apr. 1840 at the age of 65. EIGHTH GENERATION In the 8th generation, I give the children of Michal and Agnieszka neé Pilot, the six children in order are: Thomas The oldest son of Michal and Agnieszka neé Pilot, Thomas, was born on 28 Feb. 1805 married with Marja Goniwiecha, born 22 Aug. 1808. Their marriage took place on 17 Nov. 1833. From this marriage came the following children: 1. Karol born 7 Nov. 1834 2. Marja born 20 Nov. 1836 3. Jozefa born 25 Mar. 1840 4. Wojciech born 21 Apr. 1843 5. Franciszek born 9 Mar. 1845, and died 8 days later. 6. Jadwiga born 17 Oct. 1846 7. Andrzej born 20 Nov. 1850 8. Piotr born 29 Apr. 1854 and died on 25 May 1855 Karolina The second child and only daughter of Michal and Agnieszka Pilot, Karolina, was born on 10 Apr. 1807 and married Thomas Kandzia of Irkau, who was born on 10 Dec. 1805, son of Wojciech (Albert) Kandzia from Irkau. Because the Family Kandzia of Irkau goes back to the 18th century in Irkau and because through the marriage of Thomas and Karolina are related to the family of Ulfik, therefore, I will also give their ancestry. There was a Marcin Kandzia who already lived in Irkau before his marriage. He married Eva Kupris on 13 Sep. 1722. He was the father of Wojciech who died on 24 May 1814. The ancestors of Kandzias always lived in Irkau. The marriage of Thomas Kandzia and Karolina Ulfik was on 25 Oct. 1829. From this marriage the following children were born. 1. Marja born on 20 Aug. 1830 2. Jozef born on 27 Nov. 1832 3. Jozefa born on 27 Nov. 1834 and married to Walenty Valentin Grala of Irkau. 4. Karolina born 4 Mar. 1840 5. Magdalena born 6 Dec. 1844 6. Zusanna born 20 Nov. 1846 7. Jan born 24 May 1852 These are the children of Karolina and Thomas Kandzia which come from Irkau. Wojciech The 3rd son of Michal and Agnieszka Pilot born on 10 April 1810 and married Franciska Panok born on 28 Mar. 1815. The marriage was 16 Nov. 1835. From this marriage the following children were born: 1. Andrzej born on 6 Jun. 1837 and died on 10 Jun. 1860 2. Marjyanna born on 2 July 1839 3. Rozalja born 29 August 1846 died 10 Apr. 1853 4. Wincenty born 19 Jul. 1848 5. Augustyn born 19 Jan. 1852 died 20 Jul. 1853 6. Antoni born 10 August 1854 7. Janina born 6 August 1856 8. Agnieszka born the 25th Sep. 1858 9. Konstanta born 18 Sep. 1865 These are the lines from Wojciech, the 8th generation. Ludwik Ludwik was a son of Michala and Agnieszka Pilot born on 26 August 1813 who married Elzbieta Krus. She was born on 10 Oct. 1810 and married on 11 Feb. 1838. From this marriage came the following children: 1. Jozefa born on 14 Apr. 1845 2. Franciszek born on 10 Feb. 1852 3. Franciszka born on 7 Oct. 1854. married with Franciszek Nanska from Koschentin-Piasek. 4. Karolina born on 30 Dec. 1857 5. Zofja born on 25 Sep. 1860 6. Augustyn born on 7 Apr. 1863 The mother of this family died on 18 Nov. 1879. The father of this family, Ludwik, died on 9 Mar. 1915. He was 101 years, 6 months and 13 days old. He died in Koschentin-Piasek. Maciej The 5th child of the marriage of Michal and Agnieszka Pilot born on 18 Feb. 1817, married Teresa Skiba born 22 Oct. 1820, the daughter of Josef and Katarszyny Glowoc in Oct. 1839. From this marriage came the following children: 1. Franciszek born on 10 August 1841, and died right following the birth. 2. Josefa born on 28 Jan. 1843 and died right following the birth. 3. Albina born on 14 Dec. 1844 4. Franciszka born on the 10th Aug. 1848, and died right after the birth. 5. Marja born 29 Mar. 1850 6. Jan born on 24 Sep. 1852 7. Jozef born 12 Jan. 1855 and died in the Military in 1877. 8. Franciszek born on 29 Jul. 1857 9. Karolina born on 11 May 1860 10. Franciszka born 23 Sep. 1862 This is the 8th generation of Maciej. The mother of this family, Teresa Skiba, died on 30 Mar. 1876 at the age of 56 years. The father of this family, Maciej, died on 23 Jan. 1888 at 71 years. Jozef, the 7th child of this family served in the Prussian army on the Russian border. He was overcome and seriously injured. He died in the year 1877. Andrzej The 6th and youngest son of Michal and Agnieszka Pilot was born on 4 Feb. 1821 and worked many years as a church employee as the sexton in Lipinach till 1894. In the year 1893 in Lipinach the pastor and the Kaplan passed away under which Andrzej served for many years. The new pastor let him go for the reason that he was too old. It was also due to retirement pay. Now Andrzej had no work and also no income. He had no one and lived out a poor life from the handouts of other people. 9th GENERATION From the further generations of Maciej, there were 2 sides, the oldest son of Michal and Agnieszka Pilot. Wojciech The 4th son of Tomas and Marji Goniwiecha, was Wojciech (Albert) born on 21 Apr. 1843, married to Sophie Maslalerz, born on 13 Oct. 1843, on 21 Aug. 1865. From this marriage were the following children: 1. Marta born ? 1867 2. Marcin born 12 Nov. 1868 3. Marjanna born 2 Oct. 1870 4. Antoni born 28 Aug. 1872 and died 10 Apr. 1874 5. Agnieszka born 9 Jan. 1874 and died 10 Apr. 1874 6. Anna born 24 Mar. 1875 7. Anastazja born 25 Feb. 1877 8. Klara born 11 Apr. 1879 9. Waleska born 16 Apr. 1881 10. Franciszek born 29 Mar. 1883 11. Wawszyniec born 9 Sep. 1886 These are the children of Wojciech, the son of Thomas. Andrzej The 7th child of Thomas and Marji Goniewiecha, was Andrzej or Andreas, born on 20 Nov. 1850 married to Tekla Hoinca, born 1855 and married 1873. They lived in Koschentin on Stare Baronowski Nr. 8. From this marriage were the following children: 1. Marja born 10 July 1874 and died 10 days after birth 2. Jozef born 27 Jun. 1876 and died 10 days after his birth 3. Jozefa Julija born 10 Oct. 1879 and died 10 Nov. 1882 4. Franciszek Jozef born 6 Feb. 1882 The father of this family Andrzej died very early and his wife Tekla married a second time to Jan Stefaniego. From this marriage there were 3 daughters and they all died early and 1 son, Wiktor, was born in 1896. 9th GENERATION Maciej was the 5th son of Michal and Agnieszka Pilot and had the following children: Albina The 3rd born of Maciej and Teresa Skiba was Albina, born on 14 Dec. 1844. When Albina was 34 years old, Josef Watala introduced her to the 33 year old Josef Puchaly of Biezyna, district of Klobuck and wanted her to marry him. At first Albina did not want to marry him but through the urging of her father, Maciej, she married him on 2 Feb. 1878 and they moved away to Biezyna which was under Russian control. Immediately from the beginning of her marriage there were difficulties with the mother-in-law, Pucholy. The difficulties were cleared by Albina's father, Maciej, who married Mrs. Pucholy and they moved to Irkau. They sold wares in Irkau, but were not able to do so for long. In the meantime, her son, the husband of Albina, Jozef Puchala, was a slovenly man, and the worst thing was that he loved other women. Therefore, there was always unrest and problems. Because of this bad life and her homesickness for her home, Albina died in 1894 at the age of 50 years. From this marriage are 4 daughters and one son. A few years after the death of Albina, Puchala had a dishonest business dealing with some Jews regarding horses. He was hung. That was the biggest misfortune of this generation. Marja The 5th child of Macieja and Teresa Skiba was Marja, born on the 29th of March 1850. She married the miner, Josef Wieczorek when she was 22 years old. Wieczorek was 23 and lived in Lipinach. The marriage took place in Koschentin on 20 Jul. 1873. From this marriage was only one daughter and the mother died in June 1882 in Lipinach at the age of 32. Jan Jan was the 6th child of Maciej and Teresa Skiba, born on 24 Sep. 1852 and married Maria Hoinca who was born on 28 Aug. 1862 in Psarack, the daughter of Josef and Karoline Razik. The marriage took place in Koschentin on 24 October 1879. From this marriage there were the following children: 1. Marja, born on 13 Dec. 1880 2. Aloysy born on 13 Jun. 1882 3. Agnieszka Paulina, born on 2 Jul. 1884 4. Franciszek Ignacy born on 10 Oct. 1885 5. Wiktor Maciej born 23 Feb. 1887 6. Cecilie Teresa born 30 May. 1889 7. Andrzej Mikolaj born 29 Nov. 1890 8. Josef Aleksander born 20 Feb. 1892 9. Alojzy Jerzy born 9 May 1893 + 14 May 1893 10. Elzbieta Katarzyna born 2 Nov. 1894 and died 1 Jan. 1911 11. Anna born 28 Jun. 1896 12. Hieromin Alfons born 19 Jul. 1898 did not return from the war in 1918. 13. Karol Wilhelm born 6 Jan. 1900 14. Jan Pawel born 25 Jun. 1901 15. Ryszard Ambrozy born 7 Dec. 1902 16. Lucja Otilija born on 7 Dec. 1902 17. Jadwiga Gertrud born on 8 Nov. 1905 The father of this family had an accident in 1906 in Woznikach. As he was driving a wagon with straw, they horses shyed and as he tried to stop them he fell onto the rig and ripped his kidney. He was sick for a long time and died on 25 Dec. 1906 in Irkau at the age of 54. Franciszek The 8th child of Maciej and Teresa Skiba was born on 29 Jul. 1857. He didn't work. His father, Maciej, wrote his money over to his daughter, Marja. When the daughter died, he wrote the money to the children of his only daughter, Marja, who was married to Wieczorek of Lipinach. As the father Maciej became ill, Franciszek cared for him. In January 1888, the father, Maciej, died. Franciszek was with him as he died and the money which had been set aside for the children disappeared. There was a trial as a result. But they couldn't determine anything and Franciszek did not admit to anything and they couldn't prove that he had done it. Regardless, Franciszek had money, he was a salesman and had money in the bank. As the First World War broke out he lost all his money in the bank and he lived in great poverty and very much alone. He died in Kochlowicach on 26. Aug. 1933 in the age of 76 years. Karolina Karolina was the 9th child of Maciej and Teresa Skiba born on 11 May 1860. At the age of 19 years, she married Karol Dziuk, who was 24 years old. The marriage was performed on Nov. 1879. From this marriage came the following children: 1. Jan born Nov. 1880 2. Zofja born 2 Nov. 1882 3. Wincenty born 22 Jul. 1885 4. Anna born 15 May 1888 5. Berta born 16 Jun. 1893 6 Jerzy born 24 May 1901 Franciszka Franciszka, the 10th child and youngest child of Maciej and Teresa Skiba, was born on 23 Sep. 1862 and married at 21 years of age with the farmer Jan Waclawek. The marriage took place on 26 Nov. 1883. From this marriage there were the following children: 1. Karol born 20 Feb. 1885 2. Franciszek born 5 Jan. 1887 3. Jozef born 30 Jan. 1888 4. Sofja born 27 Jan. 1892 5. Marja born 19 May 1894 6. Anna born 16 Sep. 1897 7. Wincenty born 20 Aug. 1900 (did not return from WW II.) 8. Gertruda born 19 Oct. 1909 These are the children of Franciszka. 10th GENERATION At the end of the 9th generation and at the beginning of the 10th, Tekla was the sister of our mother and therefore I have included her in our ancestry. Marja The oldest of Jan and Marja Hoinca's children, Maria, was born on 13 Dec. 1880. Already as a child, she worked on the farm of her parents in Irkau. She went to school in Cieschowa. As her brothers and sisters grew up, she went to work for rich people in the city. She married a Metal worker, Jozef Smudy, who was born on 26 Feb. 1881. The marriage took place on 7 Sep. 1908 in Koschentin and they lived in Labecach-Gleiwitz. From this marriage were the following children: 1. Wiktor Edmund born 13 Sep. 1909 2. Maksemilian born 5 Nov. 1913 3. August Rajmund born 30 August 1917 4. Alojs Stanislaw born 10 Nov. 1920 The mother of this family died 21 March 1943 in Hajdukach at 63 years. The father of the family died 22 Apr. 1959 in the old people's home in Cieschowa at 78 years of age and was buried there. Alojs Alojs was the 2nd born of Jan and Marja Hoinca, born on 13 Jun. 1882 in Lipinach at the time of the burial of Marja Wieczorek, sister of Jan. She died on 20 Jul. 1888 of Scarlet fever. Agnieszka Agnieszka was the third daughter of Jan and Marja Hoinca, born on 2 Jul. 1884 in Irkau. She went to school in Cieschowa. When she finished school, she went to her parent's farm and then for a long time she was with her aunt in Opole. She married Pawel Czaja. He was a Metalworker in Zawadzkiem. The marriage took place 29 Jan. 1905 in the parish of Sw. Trojcy (Trinity) in Koschentin. From this marriage there were the following children: 1. Henryk born 16 Jan. 1906 in Zawazkiem. He died 14 Oct. 1949 because of a motorcycle accident in Boronow. 2. Jan born 27 Jan. 1908 3. Agnieszka born 2 Apr. 1909 4. Emil born 13 Sep. 1910 and died 13 Sep. 1982 The mother of the family died at 59 years of age in Koschentin on 24 Apr. 1943. the father died on 27 July 1952 in Egersdorf, Hannover at 76 years of age. Franciszek The 4th child of Jan and Marja Hoinca was born on 10 Oct. 1885 in Irkau. The school he went to was in Cieschowa. When he was done with school, he worked with his father in the fields until he was taken into the military. This was in 1905 and he served in the 156th infantry Regiment in Brieg. At this time, his father had an accident and died on 25 Dec. 1906. The mother had many small children to care for on the farm and tried to get her son released from the military. Because she also had some older children at home, she was not able to have him come home. After a two year service in 1907, he was released from the military and took over the farm of his father in Irkau. But there were disagreements with the mother because of his brothers and sisters and so he left the farm and found work in Zabrze as a miner. After a while, he discovered that he liked farming better than mining in the dark mines. He met the widow Lucja Dresser of Piasek and on 19 Aug. 1912, they married in Lubschau where he stayed on the farm and raised her four children from the first marriage: 1. Wiktor born on 1 Sept. 1915. In 1914 as the first World War broke out, Franciszek had to go into the military again. In 1916 his wife, Lucja, died and as he had a small child, he made efforts to be released from the military. After the war, he worked on his farm and the care of his child was undertaken by Cecilja, his sister. On 20 Jan. 1920, he married again to Anna Sosnica of Piasek, born 18 May 1895. From this marriage are the following children: 2. Cecilja born 25 June 1921 and died 15 Aug 1978 3. Helena born 23 Apr. 1922 4. Karol born 25 May 1925 and died 18 Dec. 1975 5. Lucja born 20 Oct. 1928 The oldest son of the first marriage died on 28 Mar. 1936 in the military service. These are the children of Franciszek, who died on 22 Dec. 1946 at the age of 61 years. Wiktor The 5th child of the marriage of Jan and Marja Hoinca, born on 23 Feb. 1887 in Irkau was Wiktor. He went to school in Cieschowa. After his release from school he went to a 3 year apprenticeship as a smith in Opole. After his apprenticeship he worked as an apprentice with his father until his father died. The oldest brother was not released from the military after his father's death and so Wiktor had to come home and work on the farm. In 1907 Franciszek was released from the military and Wiktor was called into the military. He served in the cavalry in Berlin for 3 years. After his military service he opened his own blacksmith shop in Wojtowej-Gleiwitz. As the war broke out in 1914, he had to go to defend the country. After his release from the military, he worked at a workplace for the trains in Gleiwitz. On Oct. 22, 1918 he married Janina Gilner, born on 17 Dec. 1895. From this marriage there were the following children: 1. Pawel born 27 June 1820 and died right after birth. 2. Helena born 3 July 1922 and died 10 days later. 3. Rajmund born 27 Sep. 1925 and died on 16 Mar. 1939. 4. Gabriela born on 5 July 1934. According to reports he bought a house and a blacksmith shop in Chroposzowie and moved to that village and worked as a blacksmith. He died at the age of 71 on 24 Oct. 1958. Cecilja She was the 6th child of Jan and Marja Hoinca and was born on 30 May 1889, in Irkau. She went to school in Cieschowa. After her school release, she was at home and worked for some rich people. As her sister-in-law, Lucja, passed away, she went to her brother, Franciszek, and led his household in Piasek. Later, she married the farmer, Josepf Potempa, in Piasek, who was born on 2 May 1887. They were married in Koschentin on 30 Sep. 1919. From this marriage there were the following children: 1. Elsbieta born 14 Apr. 1921 2. Augustyn born 17 Aug. 1922 and died 15 Feb. 1980 3. Roman born 7 Feb. 1925 4. Jadwiga born 26 Aug. 1926 5. Jerzy born 24 Apr. 1928 and died 16 Nov. 1971 The father of this family died on 20 Jul. 1964 at the age of 77 years. The mother died on 20 Feb. 1972. She was 83 years old. Andrzej He was the 7th child of Jan and Marja Hoinca and was born on 29 Nov. 1890 in Irkau. He attended school in Cieschowa. After his schooling, he worked with his father on the farm. As his older brother was serving in the military and was released, and came home. Andrzej left the home of his parents and worked in Zabrze in a coalmine. He was not called to the military. At the time of the Second World War he was called in to serve as an auto transporter. At this time, his daughter, Helena, was born on 1 Dec. 1941 in Gleiwitz, where they lived at that time. Andrzej died on 18 Jul. 1961 in Gleiwitz at the age of 71 years. Jozef Jozef was the 8th child of Jan and Marja Hoinca, born on 20 Feb. 1892 in Irkau. He also went to school at Cieschowa. On 20 Apr. 1906, he was finished with his schooling and worked at the farm of his parents. In 1907, he was an apprentice as a glazier in Lublin. After 3 years as an apprentice, he took his exam as glazier and he worked in the kingdom glass works in Reichenbach or Chorzow, today Dziorzanow, and in Jauer, now Jawar in Niederschlesien. Oct. 1912 he was called for two years military service and served in the artillery in Leszno. As he was almost finished with this service, the war broke out in 1914, so instead of going home, he went to the war. As the war ended, in 1919, he went from the German army into the Polish army in Poznan. In 1920, he was released from the military, and he lived and worked in Poznan. He married Eleonora Wesalowska, who was born on 31 Dec. 1898 in Mosinie, daughter of Franciszka Weselowski and Marta Simon. The marriage was in the church at Niepokalonego on 26 Oct. 1920. From this marriage came the following children: 1. Ludwig born 21 Aug. 1921 in Ost Poznan. In the year 1942, he went into the German army and did not return from the II World War. 2. Eleonora born on 16 Feb. 1924 3. Zofja born on 30 Apr. 1926 +16 Aug. 1927 from whooping cough. 4. Marta born on 29 Jul. 1928 5. Bernard born on 11 Aug. 1930 6. Marja born on 26 Jan. 1933 7. Stanislaus born on 27 Apr. 1935. He was run over by a train on 21 Dec. 1951 in Labedach. 8. Aniela born on 8 Feb. 1939 9. Jan born on 4 Jun. 1942 The mother of this family died on 28 Feb. 1970 at the age of 72 years. Jozef Ulfik died on 4 Dec. 1982. Alojzy The 9th child of Jan and Marja Hoinca was Alojzy born on 9 May 1893 and died on 14 May 1893. Elzbieta The 10th child of Jan and Marja Hoinca was born on 2 Nov. 1894 in Irkau. She attended school in Cieschowa. She died on 1 Jan. 1911 at the age of 17 years due to diptheria. Anna The 11th child of Jan and Marja Hoinca was born on 28 Jun. 1896 in Irkau and went to school in Cieschowa. After she finished her schooling she helped her mother in the home and later worked in the home of rich people. She married a farmer named Marcin Potempa of Sleczkowo-Piasek, born on 11 Nov. 1889. The marriage took place in Koschentin on 30 Sep. 1919. From this marriage came the following children: 1. Hieronim born on 4 Sep. 1920 and died. 2. Jadwiga born on 12 Oct. 1921 3. Lucja born on 12 Oct. 1921 4. Marja born on 25 March 1928 5. Jozef born on 4 Feb. 1932 and died The father of this family died on 8 Jan. 1954 at the age of 65 years. The mother died on 24 Aug. 1979 at the age of 83 years. Hieronomin The 12th child of Jan and Marja Hoinca was born on 19 July 1898 in Irkau and went to school in Cieschow. He concluded his schooling as a shopkeeper and at the onset of the W.W. I.was pulled into the military. He was severely wounded and died on 12. Jan. 1918 in a hospital in Köln-Lindenthal. Karol The 13th child of Jan and Marja Hoinca was born on 6 Jan. 1900 in Irkau and went to school in Cieschowa and in Koschentin. After ending his schooling, he learned the occupation of smith and with the onset of World War I, he worked in a train works station in Gleiwitz and worked there until old age. He married Gertruda Wainczyk born on 8 Nov. 1904. The marriage took place on 1 Jun. 1927 at Lagiewikach church in Lubecko. From this marriage came the following children: 1. Henryk born on 14 Apr. 1928 2. Ignatz born on 31 Aug. 1929 The wife Gertruda died on 1 Aug. 1932 in Lublin-Steblow. Karol married a second time with Agnieszka Grabinska born on 1 Jan. 1913. The marriage took place on 25 Feb. 1933 in Lubecko. From this marriage were the following children: 3. Ryszard born on 13 Jan. 1934 4. Marja born on 15 Sep. 1935 5. Gabriela born on 15 Nov. 1938 6. Rajmund born on 26 Apr. 1942 died on 23 Dec. 1942 7. Alfons born on 25 Oct. 1944 8. Roman born on 28 Apr. 1946 9. Florian born on 28 Mar. 1948 10. Malgorzata born on 2 Dec. 1951 The father of this family died on 7 Jul. 1979 at the age of 79 years. Jan Jan was the 14th child of Jan and Marya Hoinca born on 25 Jun. 1901 in Irkau and went to school in Cieschowa and in Koschentin. After the conclusion of his schooling he worked on the farm of his father and later he worked on the railroad. He married Marta Kosmala born on 16 Feb. 1902. The marriage took place on 16 May 1927 in Koschentin. From this marriage came the following children: 1. Elisabetha Marja born on 15 Jun. 1928 and died 7 Sep. 1928 2. Lucja Gertruda born on 15 Jun. 1929 and died 7 Sep. 1929 3. Marja Wiktorja born on 8 Dec. 1929 and died on 25 Sep. 1932 4. Helena Mathylda born on 2 Mar. 1932 5. Alfons Gerard born on 24 Sep. 1934 The father of this family died on 15 Oct. 1966 at the age of 65 years. The mother died on 12 Jan. 1966 at the age of 64 years. Ryszard Ryszard was the 15th child of Jan and Marja Hoinca born on 7 Dec. 1902 in Irkau and went to school in Cieschowa and Koschentin. As he finished his schooling, he worked for a while at home and at the time that Koschentin became part of Poland he worked for the post office in Koschentin. He married Marja Respondek born on 16 May 1904, on 11 Nov. 1925 in Koschentin. The following are their children: 1. Anna born on 26 Jul. 1926 2. Apolonia born 7 Feb. 1931 3. Edeltraud born on 4 Jan. 1940 4. Siegfried born on 16 Aug. 1942 He was in the German army during WW II and after the war he moved away from Koschentin with his family to Germany. Ryszard died on 2 Feb. 1985. Lucja The 16th child of Jan and Maria Hoinca was born on 7 Dec. 1902 in Irkau. She went to school in Koschentin. She was always at home with her mother and worked in the fields. She married Pawel Ulfig who was born on 5 Sep 1898. Their marriage was on 24 Nov. 1924 in Koschentin. They had the following children: 1. Hubert born on 16 Dec. 1925, who never returned from the II World War. 2. Jozef born on 7 March 1928 3. Klemens born on 15 March 1931 4. Sylvester born on 1 Jan. 1933 5. Thomas born on 22 Sep 1935 The mother of this family died on 12 Jan. 1966 at the age of 64 years. It is not known when the father died. Hedwig The 17th child and youngest child of Jan and Marja Hoinca was born on 8 Nov. 1905 in Irkau. She went to school in Koschentin. After her schooling she was at home with her mother and as her mother died, she married 17 June 1929, the railroader Franz Buka who was born on 17 Nov. 1898 in Woznikau. From this marriage came the following children: 1. Stanislaus born on 7 Nov. 1930 2. Stefania born on 23 Jul. 1932 The father of this family died on 29 Nov. 1968 at the age of 70 years. The Most important events of the 19th century: Much good came from the West for the families and what we still have in our memories will become lost if it is not written down. This is very important for the 10th generation of this family. The farm of Maciej of the 8th generation in Irkau came under the ownership of his son, Jan in 1879. In the year of 1889, a part of Irkau, was very damp and would grow no crops. It was a wooded area which you can still see today. In July of 1896, a home and bakery burned while they were baking bread. The house was very old and still had a thatched roof. But because everything was insured, the house and bakery was rebuilt in the next year. This time they were built of bricks. Irkau was very damp and because of this dampness, very little grew. In the year 1902, a Canal was built and therefore the profits were much higher. Our shed was of wood and because of this we had the chance to raise it one meter. In the year 1906, the father of this generation had an accident in Woznikach. He wanted to load straw and the horses spooked. He wanted to calm them and hold them firmly. But was thrown and slid by the cart and injured his kidneys badly. He was very sick and died on 25 Dec. 1906 in Irkau at the age of 54. He was survived by 4 children which were school age, and three children which had not yet started their schooling. The oldest son served in the military. The son, Wiktor, worked as a smith in Gleiwitz. When Andreas was 16 years old, Josef finished his schooling in this same year. The mother made efforts to get her oldest son released from the military but because she still had her son Wiktor at home, who was 20 years, she was not able to gain a release for her son from the military. A a result, Wiktor came home and took care of the property. In September 1907, Franciszek was released from the military and came home. At the same time, Wiktor was called into service and Jozef went to Lublin to apprentice as a cartwright. In the next year, Andrzej went to Zabrze and worked in the coalmines. Franciszek was now with the mother, his sister and the smaller siblings at home. In the next while, there were difficulties between Franciszek and his mother due to the younger siblings and so he left the family and drove to Zabrze to Andrzej and worked also in the coalmines. After Franciszek left his mother, she sold the farm (which was 54 morgen of land) and received 18000 Mark for it. This money in 1909 went to Franciszek Lesche. The mother bought a house in Koschentin and lived there with her minor children. She died on 4 May 1921 at the age of 58 years. Franciszek discovered the difference between his work at the coalmines and the healthier and selfmanaging work of farming on a farm. In the year 1912, he married the widow Lucja Dresser of Piasku, who had a farm and raised her four children of her first marriage. The Events Which the Descendents Should Know About: This generation undertook the buying of land in Irkau through Maria Ulfik neé Hoinca of Mosenie. Josef Watola, of whom we will hear more about. Josef Watola from Koschentin discussed land districts with Marja Ulfik from Irkau in regards to selling of lands of the size of 6 morgens. The buyers were suspicious about the size of the land and Watola drove to Lublin to the landregistry office and wanted to get the information regarding the lot number 164. The size was 1 Hektar and 42 ar and 40 m., therefore not quite 6 Morgen. Therefore it came to a verbal agreement without witnesses on 23 Oct. 1897 and the price was 225 mark for 1 morgen, all together 1350 Mark. Later it came out the the land was only 1 hectar, 16 ar. and 90 m. This was the amount of land as recorded at the landregistry office under lot 164. Mr. Watola said that he did not know this. The buyers paid taxes for the entire property, also for the land in Karlowitz. Watola had, therefore, the property in Karlowitz, costfree. Again Watola said he knew nothing about that. The entries in the registry office had taxed the entire land. In 1900, Watola arranged that after his death, in regards to the property in Karlowitz, that the property would go to Adolf Lesche of Koschentin. The entire sale of the property number 164 came under strife, due to the fact that the property was not as large as he had said and therefore he had been given too much money for it. At the court in Lublin in 1901, it was determined there was no written documents and no witnesses, when he had sold the property in Koschentin. The family Ulfik presented to the court an appeal and received the following results: That in regards between the plaintiff and the defendant: The plaintive, Marjanna, married to the farmer Jan Ulfik, in regards to the land Plot Nr. 26, side 2, property nr. 16, size of the land 25.50 ar. belongs to Koschentin and is to be sold to Adolf Lesza. He is still the current owner (at the time this book was written) as was determined by the court. The couple Ulfik was sentenced to give up the land which they had no official claims to and to pay the court costs. The court costs must be paid for. The court's determination must be followed immediately. Signed by Bieder-Weiss in Opole the 22nd of May 1902. After the sentence of the court couple Ulfik turned to the editor of the newspaper "Katolika" in Beuthen and they gave the following answer: Honorable Mrs. Ulfik: We advise you to not make a further complaint. An appeal in Breslau will bring no results since no witnesses will come forth which were available at the time of the sale. You will only get further costs to pay. Leave this into the hands of God. He will punish such things in his own way. The Costs come to 12.90 mark, of which you have paid .50. The remainder of the bill is 12.40 Mark which I have paid. Please pay this amount back to me. With greetings, Nowakowski The Ulfiks felt very hurt and now looked for a witness. All the people knew about this, because the news traveled very fast by mouth. No one would come forth as a witness. Watola died in August 1902, and the Heir was his wife Marjanna neé Bednarczyk, who continued the court proceedings. The couple Ulfik lost the Trial in Breslau in the Overland court and again had to pay all court costs. Watola was well known as a dishonest handler and therefore one wonders why the couple Ulfik was involved with him in such a business. They never received their rights. They sold the land in 1910 along with everything that they had to Franz Lerche and his wife, Josefa in order to be free of all the problems. This land belonged in the 1800's to Filip Pytel and the later owner was Duda and it was bought from him by Mathias Ulfik for 300 Taler. Due to the death of Mathias in 1879, this property was taken over by his son, Jan. The farm was somewhat out of the way and because in those days there were no streets and paths to it, when one wanted to go there, you had to make long detours to get there. There were five other farmers living there in the beginning of the 1900th century that had farms in Irkau. They were Ignatz Woclawek, Filip Pytel, Lorenz Karmainski, and Wojiech Kandzia (this is my direct Kandzia line) (Wojiech is the same name as Adalbert or Albert), and Ludwik Gansiniec. The 9th and 10th generations of Ulfiks lived in Irkau. I now end telling about these families and begin telling about the story of my own life. My Younger Years. How quickly the time passes and you don't even realize it. I now have to consider myself one of the old people. But as long as I have the time and good health, I want to recall about my youth and record it all so that the decendents will know how we lived. I was born in Irkau on the 20th of Feb. 1892. Irkau lies west from Koschentin. In Irkau lived 6 farmers. My father was also born in Irkau and died here also. He married Maria Hoinca who bore him 17 children. Two of these died early and one died in the first World War. The others grew to adulthood in good health. I was the 8th of the siblings and being in such a big family was not always so good, but still not bad. We were 10 brothers and 7 sisters. From 1898-1906 I went to school in Cieschowa in the 4 Class school. We learned German. It was a time when the Germans had a big influence over us. We had to speak German at home and everywhere. But at home we spoke Polish. At the school we had teachers which understood no Polish. We spoke together in Polish despite the law and we were often punished. The teachers were very strict, because we had to pay for their living and they received Ost Marks. As we prepared for the communion, the pastor interviewed us in Polish. At home we had an obligation. The way to school was very far, abt. 4 km.. The way was through the woods. In the summer it was very fun, but with rain, snow, frost and snow, it was very difficult. But without an excuse you could not be absent. Should you miss school, then you would have to pay a punishment fee. In the summer we went to school barefoot. As we finished our schooling, everyone had an obligation. The teacher also had a farm and raised chickens, pigs and cows. He had a lot of work and had only one maid. He also had children of school age. So he took the children from school and as punishment for doing something wrong, or not learning, they would have to go to the teacher's farm and work. The teacher possesses a lot of authority and power. The school in the German time was such where we learned arithmetic, writing, and reading. We learned also about the German history, about the kings and emporers and their families. They wanted to Germanize us very quickly. Those who learned to read and write in Polish were punished. Because of all of these things we were very happy when we finished our 8 years schooling. Further schooling was not desired by anyone. If one had enough money, one could go to higher schools but actually no one even thought in those terms at this time. The sons of the small farmers after having finished their schooling almost all went into the city and learned handwork occupations. At this time there were no extra earnings. The farmers also usually had many children and overall was poverty, because they had no income. So went my youth in the city, one would learn an occupationa and do it forever. For the girls and women it was bad as they worked very hard and received very little pay. Most of the girls served as maids to rich people. For girls or women to work in an office was unknown and certainly not possible. After finishing my schooling, I worked 1 year at the farm of my parents. As my father died in 1907, I too, went into the city to look for a job. I wanted to become a cartwright. I got my 3 year apprentice position in Lublinitz. I received free room and board. I had to bring my own bed linens and also 1250 Kilo of potatoes. I had a manager who was not a Catholic and was a German. He called himself Fabrikant Powazow. He had electric machines for the coverings and apolstery and gave that to his smith to do the polishing and the ending of the work was done by his son. In the firm worked a cartwright and sometimes two. At my hiring, my mother made certain that every Sunday I was free to go to church. On Sundays, the workers had to work until the middle of the day and already on the first Sunday was always told to me that I should work and not waste my time in the church. Also on Catholic holidays we were kept at work. On these days I went by foot from Lublin to Irkau to my family. Our mealtimes were as follows: Breakfast was eaten in the workplace. There was one cup of coffee and 1 roll and for the 2nd breakfast, 1 piece of bread and a cup of coffee. For lunch we were called into the kitchen. At a table with the boss and his family we received our food and had to take it in very quickly. The boss always made us. In the evening we received 1 cup of coffee and 1 piece of bread either spread with butter or animal fat. In my 3 year apprenticeship as cartwright I had to go to school two times in the week in the evenings and on Sunday afternoons would go to continuation school. I learned a lot during this time that could be used in my later life. In these years I learned everything in the German language. I was very happy that earlier in my parent's house that I read many Polish papers and religious books, which helped in my learning of Polish as we had no Polish school books. Many left their homes and when they wanted to write their families, they couldn't do it in their mother tongue of Polish, only in German. My Journeymanship After my 3 year learning time as cartwright, I took my test. This was in October of 1910. Now I had the same rights as an adult. As apprentice the rights were very minimal. Now there were cigars, as now I was a journeyman. I really had to strain to get the cigar lit. I smoked the entire thing and on the next day I was sick to my stomach and had a horrible taste in my mouth. So I asked myself, why should I smoke and pay money to do this? I figured out what 1 cigar cost and what one roll and sausage cost. I bought the roll and sausage and strengthened myself and had a good taste in my mouth. So this is how I came to the conclusion not to smoke and have remained without smoking my entire life. Cigarrettes came first later on. The fashion in my days was to smoke cigars, pipe, or use snuff. In Oct. 1910 as an 18 year old journeyman, I traveled and worked privately as a traveling journeyman. I also worked by a master in Königshútte today known as Charow Miasta, from the 15th of November 1910 till 17 Jun 1911. There I received lodging, food and clothing. Then I traveled to Niederschlesien to Reichenbach, today Dzeiczanow, where I worked in a wagon factory, lived outside of the city. These people were all very different, and had different religions. The housewoman also belonged to a different religion, but respected me despite my religion and took me in. I was there for one half year. Immediately after my arrival in Reichenbach, I received in writing a letter from my parish in which I was asked to join the Catholic men's club. The village, time and place was also included in the letter. This was common at that time in all of Germany and was called "Katholisches Gesellenverein". This club was led my Catholic priests. From the very first meeting, I was very impressed. I was accepted so warmly as I have never been in my entire life. Our greeting was "Gott segne das ehrbare Handwerk" and the reply was, "Gott segne es." At this time in Germany it was customary for journeymen to wander from town to town and work underway and usually only for a short time. The further one got, the more one got to see. The "wolca" as this was called was not always loved. Some were lazy and dishonorable. Many times we met one another in our travels. It was not only cartwright journeymen, but also, shoemakers, smiths and carpenters and plumbers were underway. It was often fun when we met each other underway. When a master didn't have work for us, we were given 10 pennies from him. This time was lovely. One learned much and saw much and had a lot of good memories throughout life. In our Catholic Journeyman's club they had a wanderer book. And everywhere where you went you would sign and receive lodging and board. Often when I wandered I didn't go by foot, but rather by train. In 1911, I was in Jauer in the area by Liegnitz. Here there was much work for all the different kinds of jobs. There was also military here. Here were mostly young people but all with different occupations and beliefs. There were also Catholic Germans. Despite all the differences, I was respected and people trusted and respected me. as an example, one day a box came with clothing for me while I was not at my residence. The owner took the package and paid 25 mark customs for it. He had no worries about his money. He trusted me. As I came home, I immediately counted out the money to him and paid him back. Later I found a better residence where there were only two to a room. My partner was not Catholic. We got along very well. I was there until 1912 when I was called into the military. Despite the fact that I was in Germany, I continued to read Polish newspapers. After the meeting of the Catholic Club, I went from town to town. It was almost the same from place to place. In the year 1912 the Club was 50 years old and it was really celebrated. There was a celebration hour in the church and afterwards a big movement to the city. People came from many towns. I was very used to such Catholic managements as I grew up with such at home and as I was raised in a very Christian manner. In the Wanderbook was also entered when and where one attended church and when one went to confession. For me this was all no problem, as I was used to this from childhood and have always lived my life accordingly. Because I lived the commandments of the church, I was always looked upon differently by others. I found many friends, Poles and Germans. There was also Catholic Germans. With them I had the most contact after the meetings of the Catholic cartwright journeymen. I have experienced much and seen much and in the year 1912 I had a dream. I saw the heavens open and a great fire was in the east and in the west to be seen. I saw many weapons and heard shooting. I have thought often about this, but told no one about it. And now that I am old, I wanted to make a note of this dream. In the same year I was pulled into the military. So quickly as a river flows, so quickly passes youth, It passes hour upon hour always into the same past, It passes the flowering youth, which one lives On this earth where we are born, all goes into the past. Military Service In Germany every young, healthy man of the age of 20 must serve in the military. I was called into the heavy artillery at Leszno. This was in the time of the Kaiser I received the uniform of the time period. The military time and the following war took away my youth. As I was to go to the military, the Catholic Journeyman's Association had a big good-by party with dancing in Jauer. Every Vikar gave us words of advice to take with us on our way. Before the trip to the military, I received from the bank in Jauer money for the trip. I drove from Jauer to Glogau and from there through Lissa and to Posen and on the 15th of Oct., I was in Lissa. Before the trip, I sent all my things home to Koschentin which in the passing of time, I had purchased. As the train arrived in Lissa, waiting were men of the military. They led us to the barracks and on the next day we were divided into 6 batteries. We were with the cavalry and the horses. Afterwards we received our clothing. The civilian clothes we sent back home. Later began the daily service and after a month we were sworn in through Kaiser Wilhelm. We were German soldiers. At Christmas I received 7 days leave and traveled as a Prussian soldier back to my home. After New Years, we were back to work. On the 27th of Jan. was the birthday of the Kaiser. The Germans named this day "Kaiser's birthday." This was the biggest celebration for the military and for all of Germany. Already after New Years we practiced a parade march. We already had earlier inspections of our uniforms for the parade. Then there was a march to the church to attend services. After services the parade marched to the town square with the Regiment's music. Later we went back to the barracks. On this day we had better food and later there was dancing. The Kaiser's birthday was the best and nicest day of my military time. Afterwards and before we were drilled. The German soldiers had it somewhat easier than we did. The German soldier was respected and had more leave outside of the barracks. Who was noticed at the inspection, received no leave and no opportunity to go to town on Sunday. There were many orders, which must be learned by all the soldiers and kept by them. Each soldier received 3 Kilo of bread for 4 days. There was nothing to put on the bread. For the noon meal there was soup and to go with it a piece of meat. When that wasn't enough, you could have more soup. Mornings and evenings, there was coffee. The bread was dark and was called "Kommisbrot". If you had something to put on it, you did, when not, you didn't. The others ate it dry and drank coffee. We were able to go to church 1 time per month by orders of the general. It made no difference if you wanted to or not. There was also service on Sunday. We had to clean the stalls. The horses were respected more than we were. We had no pitchforks, and so we cleaned the stalls with only hay in our hands. On Sunday afternoons we were free, except when we were on guard, then we served. Every soldier had 6 uniforms. Four were for special occasions and 2 for service. On Sunday, when we cleaned the stalls and cared for the horses, we would then have to clean our things and put them in order. We had inspection and through all these duties we could go out on Sundays. The Germans had it very good. When they went out, they could go to their families or friends. The entire regiment moved out in spring for practices and in the fall we had maneuvers. In the year 1913, the entire regiment went to Biodruszko on the Warthe. This was in the area by Posen. The Germans called this the "Wartlager". The maneuvers took 20 days of Marching and shooting. Then we went back to Lissa. About the 1st of September the maneuvers began. They lasted till about the 27th of September. In the year 1913 were the maneuvers in Posen and they began with the new kingly castle to which the entire family of the Kaiser Wilhelm II were in attendance. It was bad weather and for this reason the 5th company was transfered to the former airport in Lawica and this is where the parade took place. At the start of the parade came 4 regiments of infantry, then the technical division, later the heavy artillery, then 2 regiments of the Field artillery and finally 2 horseback regiments. The first group at a trot and the second in a galopp. We had so many preparations and inspections and now everything was over and we were dirty and covered with mud. After all the stress and over exertion the parade went through many villages in the area of Posen towards Niederschlesien. Underway we were placed in private quarters. In the area of Posen everyone spoke Polish. I was always together with someone who came from Berlin. He did not understand the Polish language and therefore was jealous. As we came to Niederschlesien and the people only spoke German, he made me look bad all over. He laughed about me. I didn't smoke or drink and did not know very much about the world. The people, despite him, treated me well and were very kind to me. In fact, one woman said to me that she would gladly give me her daughter in marriage. My partner then spread gossip that I had lots of luck with women. The maneuvers began in Hirschberg and were called the Kaiser Maneuvers. They ended in Schweidnitz. In these Maneuvers, we saw for the first time an airplane. It was a double decker. We returned to Lissa and this ended my first year in the military. The Second Year of My Military Stint In Germany the men wearing the Kaiser's uniform were looked upon highly. Most of the men reported the the Kaiser's army in the infantry of the Guard and therefore received more respect when one served in these. The officers of these units were high standing personalities. The uniform which these units wore were distinguishable. In Germany there were men which were more respected than others in the military. The girls really looked at the men in their uniforms. There was even a song about it. As the maneuvers were ended, my second year began. The soldiers were released to the reserves and we took their places until October when new recruits came. Already at the start of the second year I was transferred to Warthelager in Biedrusko. I had a nice time there and my renumeration was received in Commando money. We received for 10 days, 3 Mark and 1 Mark Commando money. The birthday of the Kaiser was very well celebrated by us. This Commando lasted the entire winter and then we returned to Lissa. We were only in Lissa for two weeks and I was made Ordinance Captain and transferred to Berlin. I drove there and my thoughts were only about how I would find the address in such a big city. I was even given orders and I worried alot about it. I arrived in Berlin and got off at the Berlin "Zoo" trainstation and now I did not know where I should go. I went to a policeman and asked for the technical military Academy. My joy was immense, as it was right near where I was. But I was quickly saddened. I was asked if I was to report to captain Funk and was given his private address where I should now go. So again I stood on the street and didn't know where to go. Luckily the policeman was there who helped me again. He told me with which streetcar I should go and where I should get off. On the streetcar, I had a conversation with a man and the other people told me when I should get off. My boots made such noise that the people opened their doors to see what the noise was. A man helped me to find Captain Funk, who wasn't even there. This man told everyone that I was a man from the village and so I was stamped as the "man from the village." Captain Funk did not come for two days. My best uniform, which served as leave and vacation uniform, had to be worn daily. I received yet a 2nd and third set, which had to be kept at the military academy. I received a book with all the military regulations in it, which I had to learn. My captain lived in a private residence in Berlin-Charlottenburg and had a large apartment. There was a maid, his wife and a 3 year old son. The captain took the train to the academy. I went by foot. One time he offered me a cigarette and I told him that I did not smoke. He praised me and said to me that that was best and that it probably saved me a lot of money. I could go to church every Sunday and also on the holidays when I was not in service. 1914 for the holiday of Ascension Day I went to church and wondered very much because we often had the ordinances outside and here we always went to church. In Berlin, I searched for the organization of the Catholic cartwrights and visited their gathering. I was warmly accepted by everyone there. I received an invitation to a dance. There was much to see such as the "Siegersäule, the Zeughaus and the "reichstag and the King's castle" and much more. An interesting experience was the payment of funds. We were in a payment inspection. All companies and regiments had to step out into their ranks of the regiments. At the end there was a photo made which we received as a remembrance. In August 1914 my captain of the military academy of the 83rd regiment was transferred to Kiel in Schleswig-Holstein where we were to be taken for maneuvers. The captain lived in a hotel and I lived in the barracks with the infantry. My captain injured his hand while riding at a gallop pace and had to be quartered. I was in the barracks and had a good time. I had good care and had some free time. I saw the port with warships and went also to the islands and there I accidentally ran into my captain. He was taking a vacation there and merely asked how I was doing. At Kiel, I wanted also to go to church. I could only find Lutheran churches, but no Catholic. Through the searching, I came across one church but did not feel good about things there. Then I found a military church and there I spoke to the people who told me the Catholic church was on the outskirts of the city. I had the nicest time of my military services in Kiel. I was here when the war broke out. The preparations for war, the infantry and Marines I experienced while here. After a few more days we drove back to Berlin and then to Spandau. You could see everywhere the preparations for the war. Even the reserves were called back into service. I returned to my regiment and was made captain of the artillery. I drove to Lissa where the group was standing in preparation. Here I discovered that my regiment was going to France and that I should go to the area by Posen of Biedruszku where were only reserves. I was there for only one week and received orders that my 56th regiment of the field artillery was to go to France. This was 2 weeks after the mobilization. In Posen we were sent to the west. My military time was to have ended in two weeks, but the war came in between. The War It was the middle of September 1914 as we left Posen. We drove through all of Germany into a small French village. During the trip we only became acquainted with train stations. In Germany the people were sure that they would win the war and enlarge their country. On this trip I spoke with a veterinarian and he wanted that I stay with him as Ordananz. I stayed there as he had horses and a packwagon. So I could always drive. In the French villages there were many inhabitants and I made efforts to learn the language. The veterinarian had a French-German dictionary and lent it to me. In every free moment, I studied the language and as the people discovered I was a Pole, they helped me and had a great trust towards me. In this village, Vieville, we remained a longer time and they had a Catholic church. Amongst my associates there were many Poles from the region around Posen. It was already November. We went every night to the church and sang, in fact in Polish. The French listened to us and then also came every night to the church. The regiment Priest also heard about but did not come to our devotions. I had a songbook, Bible and a rosary always with us and therefore we had perfect devotions. By this time, I had learned French so well, that I was well understood. In fact, I was able to help others to learn. My veterinarian spread the word all over that I knew the entire dictionary. It was now 1915 and the war approached and there was no end in sight. There was a new German Regiment organized and from every unit, people, horses and weapons were drawn in. So I and my animal veterinarian came to a new field artillerie Regiment Nr. 241. We came to Elsass Lothringen to Saint Avalt. This was from Easter 1915. From there, we returned later to France. The Germans called the village Peisterwald and the French called it Boie du Pretr. There we found ourselves in a village in the foothills and then we went to the city Pont a Mouson. There was a lot of woods which were called Boie du Pretr. In the year 1916, I was released from the service with the veterinarian as Ordinanz. In my place, came an older soldier not fit for the front. I reported to my unit and at first was assigned as a temporary. In March 1916 I came to Vaux by Verdun. Already on the trip there I saw much damage. Broken wagons and buildings and dead horses and many refugees which were overtired. The many grenade targets were also seen. We saw into what a terrible area we were entering. I remained with the heavy artillery until the end. We took position in a large village of Dieppe and it was completely destroyed. We had many wounded and dead. We made caskets from the boards of the broken buildings. Many of my companions were killed at Verdun. Nothing happened to me, but I lost all my things among them many important records. But I had my prayer book and rosary always with me. I was at Verdun from the 10th till the 31st of March 1916. From here I went home for vacation. From the 22nd of May till the 24th of June 1916 I was able to rest in Peronne, which lied further to the West and had buildings and I was able to be camouflaged in the ground. From there, I drove on vacation to my home and to my mother and brothers and sisters, whom I saw in terrible circumstances. In Koschentin and in the entire area was a rural police and the mayor Pilot which went from house to house and took all that they could find. For the existence of the people, very little was left, only that which they thought was absolutely necessary. As the German army took from everyone, so it was here also. There was nothing anywhere including no food for the horses. Despite this, the war continued. After my vacation, the big battles began in France again and in fact, at the river Somm. On the 24th of June 1916 we were forced to return. Now the war began to use gas. Not from the weapons but rather from the air. This was on the 27th of June. Our location was destroyed and our gas masks were not meant for this kind. By telephone we got the report the 50 soldiers should make a charge. We pulled out and I was hit in the leg. I was called back and waited for the doctor. From this group of 50 soldiers, I was the only survivor. I came to a field hospital and after 14 days I came to a gathering regiment in France. On the 10th of Aug. 1916, I was transferred from my old unit which was in Poland. We were a small unit and drove through all of Germany to Volhynia where battles in the area of Kovel started. On 21 Aug. 1916 I received the iron cross, 2nd class. From 5th Nov. 1916 on I went further west in the area around the sea. We were there the entire winter. We enjoyed ourselves there also with Russians and we received from them bread and from the Germans, we got tobacco. We could meet with them a long time, until the time that it was forbidden and then we could no longer trade things. In the beginning of June 1917, we were loaded on the train and drove through all of Germany towards France to Sigfriedstellung. From the 8th - 16th of June 1917, we arrived in Flanders. Till 12 April 1918 we were between Mas and Mosel in the area of Cambrej. After a 5 year service in the German army, I was made a private First class. I was always told that I was not a German, but a Pole and thought of as the enemy and therefore could not be advanced. From the 24th-29th of April 1918 I was in a big battle in Kemmel, Belgium. On the 30th of April I was in Flanders and through a grenade splinter was hit in the left leg and taken my military medical train to Ulsen, Hannover. As my wounds healed, and I could walk again, I went to Beversen, Hannover for recovery. and on the 11th of September 1918 I was transferred to a military hospital in Schwinemuende. This was a city where mostly German fishermen lived. They were all Lutheran and had their church. We were all from Oberschlesien and were not able to find a Catholic church. We checked around and found Catholic sisters and their prayer rooms. After the devotions the Priest was waiting for us. He greeted us very warmly and asked us where we were from. He also asked how we felt among all the Lutherans. He also had it very difficult being among those that believed differently than he and were searching to harm the Catholics. On 20th Sept. 1918, I was released from Schwinemuende and had to report at the 55th regiment, which was no longer in Lissa, but had moved to Naumburg. Here in Naumburg, I received leave for home and as I returned on 20 Oct. I was transferred to Zeitheim, Sachsen and was trained in telegraph operation. As the war ended, I experienced in Nov. 1918 how the soldiers, tore off the uniforms and decorations of the officers. The old government was released and a labor-military government was formed. After this war, things were both good and bad for me, it was just important for me to survive. Thanks to the protection of God. My thoughts held in mind a cultured life with a family and with happy children. The biggest plague of the military, after the war was we went on vacation and had to be de-loused. There were special barracks set up to do this. We had to give our things that everything could be de-loused. This was the way it was because of the war. From Zeitheim I arrived in Posen on the 18th of Dec. 1918 for training as a telegraph operator. On my trip to Posen, I also drove to Koschentin because I had 10 farmers with me. Shortly before Christmas, I came to Posen and reported to the prescribed place as a telegraphic operator at a fortress. It was the time after the end of the war and most of the soldiers had been released to their homes. The Polish Military With great happiness I drove to Posen. I had a train which took me all the way home. As we arrived in Posen, there was so much comotion at the train station, such as I have never seen. I had no idea what was going on. It was very different than in Germany. In the military, I never had a newspaper in my hand, especially a Polish one. I only knew what I heard and what I saw. On the second day, as I went into the city, I was even more amazed. On every house there were Polish, French, English and American flags flying. The newspaper boys were shouting "Paderewski comes to Posen." I didn't know who that was. I had never before heard that name. The second day after Christmas there were shootings in the city and as I discovered, there was German military in Posen and an officer took his soldiers and they tore down the flags. The people went at the soldiers and it came down to shooting. On the next day, there was a sign on the door, "Germans must go into the Reich". I couldn't grasp all of this, because suddenly there was also Polish military there. The general was Dowbara Musnickiego. He was already a general when I was a child. After the Germans had to leave Posen, Poland began to rule itself. All the monuments and remembrances of the German time were torn down and there were very many of them. There was a big difference in serving the German and Polish military. Our Polish service was started every day with a prayer and ended with a song. Every Sunday and holiday we were able to go to church. The big holidays, like in Easter 1919 the military was at the "Platz Wolnoszci" (Place of freedom) and gathered and also the civil rulers were there. It was very nice and the new formation of the Polish rule was celebrated. In conversations with the local people, people found out right away that I was an Oberschlesier. I now took lessons in the Polish language and writing which I very badly needed. On a Sunday afternoon I went to the city and was spoken to by an old woman. As this woman discovered that I was from Oberschlesien, she asked me a lot of things. A lot of other people came and asked even more questions. Our train for the local telegraphists was sectioned off in Jarozin. We had lodgings there at the barracks. I worked in the telegraph offices. There came the time where I could go on leave. The regiment commander asked me where I would like to go. I told him that I had no where, where I could go. My family lived in Koschentin. Here in Posen, I knew no one. A comrade heard me and I spent my leave with him. It was in the harvest time 1919. Those who had been in the military longer years, now had the opportunity to leave the military. I busied myself working in a factory for land working machines in Posen-East, there we built wagons for the military. On August 7, 1920, I was again called into the military stationed at Wresni and later came to Grudziadza to the local telegraph. This was at the time the Russian army was marching to the area of Warsaw. They were forced to retreat and so I was again released from the military. On Sep. 21, 1920 it was my release day and I worked in Posen-East in a Machine factory. After the war, and after my military service in the wartime, can I, as can all, say they have experienced a lot of things. The best years of my youth were spent in the military and in the war. In 1912, I came into the German military and in 2 years the war broke out and for me it didn't end until 1920. Now finally I could live my own life and had to at first get used to it. After my release from the military, I only had one uniform and a little saved up money. My homeland still lied in Germany. Struggles for Oberschlesien always occurred between Poland and Germany. I was in Posen, which now belonged to Poland. I felt very fortunate here and had only worries about my family, which also wanted to be a part of Poland. After my release from the military, I only had my one uniform and my thoughts were directed on using the little money that I had earned to buy civilian clothing. I bought all that I needed in clothing, and a used suit. I had already forgotten what all belonged with it, as the style had changed a lot over the years. I also found an apartment at a widow's place. She had a daughter who she introduced to me. I had had no experience with young girls and so I had to learn alot. Only then did I start to think about starting my own family. As I learned a little about civilian life and adjusted, the Bolsheviks came to Poland and I again had to go to Grudziadza into the military. They had to retreat again and I got long leave and on 21 Sep. 1920, I returned again to Posen to my fiancee and worked again in the factory. On the 26th of Oct. 1920 was my wedding in the NUS church in Posen-East. This was the time of the voting in Oberschlesien. They wanted to belong to Poland. And therefore, my family was unable to come to my wedding. From the family of my wife, there were 17 people that came. So then I began my family and we worked out a plan for our life together. On the 3rd of May 1921, my mother passed away and I didn't find out until the end of August through a court letter from Lublin with the testament of my mother. From home, I heard nothing, because at this time was the third struggle in Oberschlesien and no mail was delivered. On the 21st of August, 1921, my first son. Ludwig was born. At this time, I became self supporting and self employed by opening a wagon cartwright shop. On the 31st of August 1922, I took my "master's" exam. But had to close the shop, as I earned very little. I found work in a private wagon shop in Posen. There was much unemployment at this time and more and more people lost jobs. For this reason, I left Posen and went to Koschentin to try to find a shop to open. Also this I was unable to do. There was no opportunity. I went to Kattowitz and found work at a car firm which built trucks and could use my own plans there and was the manager. So I worked in Kattowitz and lived with my sister in Hajdukach on the street Lipca 43. As I thought about my future, I discovered that I had no future with this firm, and applied at a train work shop in Kattowitz and in May 1923, I was hired. At this time there was a real shortage of apartments. In Oct. 1923 my family moved from Posen to Koschentin and we lived there on the street Liowa 1. From there, I drove daily to Kattowitz to work. In 1924, the shop was transferred to Piotrowic. For me, this was very difficult, and so I was transferred to Tarnowitz. Now I had things closer and easier to get to work. In the year 1927, I was transferred to a train works shop in Lublinitz. Now it was even closer to work and easier to get there. Here, however, I met a manager who was an alcholic. Many workers brought him alchohol and so they often drank at work. A worker who didn't drink was not well looked upon. It was an atmosphere that only an alcholic could stand. As I didn't drink, I was not well liked and everyone considered me as a spy. After many intrigues, I was transferred back to Tarnowitz. There were alcholics here, as well, but the situation was not as bad as in Lublin. They also considered me here as a spy, as well, and gave me the dirtiest work to do. I no longer worked at my profession. I was used to more delicate work with my hands, as I was a Master and generally only did the fine work. But because the times were very difficult, I stuck this work out and this lasted until the outbreak of the second World War. Inhabitant Notifications in Oberschlesien As I had started my family in Posen, which belonged now to Poland, and there was a terrible fight for Oberschlesien, there came a commission from England, France and Italy and determined that the people had to decide which country they wanted to belong to. In the French, this was called "Plebiscitte." Now occurred a fight between Germany and Poland, so serious, that one would think that Hell had opened up and all the devil's had been released. In the beginning, everyone treated one another as brothers, but because everything was in German hands, the fight began. We looked for help in the Catholic church. To understand all of this, you first have to know how everything is organized. Our Cardinal Kopp belonged to the Bishop's council of Breslau and this was also German. One could see, though, that the church was not for politics, but rather for religion only. At confession, you received a picture of St. Hedwig upon which was written in German and in Polish the following: Holy St. Hedwig, protecting angel of Schlesien, protect our German Schlesien. There was a special commission and it determined who could vote, and these were the Germans, which were born here. This was the biggest impression upon us Poles from the Germans. It was the greatest power of the Germans which had been put upon us in the 20th century. I was outside of the area of Schlesien and reported at a voting place in order to get a permission to vote. I had to bring two witnesses, which knew me well. Later I received the permission from Koschentin. As we drove to the voting place, we received provisions and care. We received Kielbasa and smoked ham. From Posen, we drove by train which was of the royalty. It stopped only at the stations where people got on that were going to vote. As we drove to Kepna, we all had to get out and received Kielbasa and ham. As the train crossed the border into Schlesien, we could tell right away that they were against Poland and as we came to the Kluczberg area, it was very bad. In this area was mostly a German settlement. Here was the reporting place to get our papers stamped and through English people got our voting papers. The paperwork took a lot of time, and on the train, the people all sang the song, "Poland lives" and the Germans sang, "Behind the Border". As now everything was taken care of, we drove further. We drove past Oels, Lublin to Koschentin. There I get off by myself. Entirely by coincidence, my youngest brother was at the trainstation and we went home together. At home I found my mother who was very sick. She told me all the things that were going on and all the things that were going on in Schlesien. On Sunday the 20th of March 1921 was the election. There were alot of people everywhere. We took my mother to vote. We had to drive her, as she was very sick, but she still wanted to voice her opinion. Many Germans approached us to buy stamps as a souvenir of the election. The voting results were as follows; Villages voting were 984. 253 were outside. The following resulted. The voices for Poland were 385 and for Germany 586. From the outside, voted 216 for Germany and the other votes did not count. The election cost alot of money and work and the people which lived here, no one seemed to be interested. No one seemed to care how the people in Schlesien felt or what they wanted. Only those who were born here could vote, and many from the outside now who were born here, couldn't care less what happens to the land and to whom it belonged. By voting the Germans always had more voices. More Germans were always coming to Koschentin. And the church worker, Wojcik, who was very much for Germans and the mayor Karol Pilot also. The mayor was born here, but the Germans had bought him as well as the councilmen of the village. The pastor Karola of Hohenlohe Ingelfingen was of German descent. THe villages which had no councilmen, had no voting rights. After the vote, I packed my entire remembrances of my youth and went back to Posen. I worked again as a mason and on the side, I worked as a cartwright in my own shop. For this time in Schlesien, I was paid like all other workers. The newspapers brought many reports about the vote in Oberschlesien. My Family As it was with the creation of the earth, all waters flow to the sea and so also our lives from generation to generation. Every young man ages in the years and builds himself a nest for his own family and where he raises his children for the joy of the Father and for the increase of mankind. My own life began late. The cause was the First World War. As it ended, I was 27 years old and I married at 28 years. From there on starts the Jozef Ulfik generation. I married Eleonora Wesolowska who was born on 31 Dec. 1898 in Mosinie in Kreis Posen. We married on 26. Oct. 1920 in Posen-Ost. From this marriage came the following children: 11th GENERATION 1. Ludwik born on 21 Aug. 1921 in Posen-Ost. He went to school in Koschentin and was a photographer in Tarnowitz. By the outbreak of the Second World War, he had to go into the German army to Russia on the river. There he came into Russian captivity where he died on 4 Oct. 1942. 2. Eleonora Born on 16 Feb. 1924 in Koschentin where she also went to school. She became a nurse and married on 27 Nov. 1978 to Rufin Janszki who was born 14 Nov. 1914. 3. Zofja Born on 30 Apr. 1926 and died from whooping cough on 16 Aug. 1927. 4. Marta Born on 29 Jul. 1928. She went to a Polish school until 1935. In the war times, the lessons all were in German. She married Gerard Dudek, who was born 11 Jun. 1929 in Oels. The marriage took place on 22 Jan. 1951 in Koschentin in the Holy Trinity church. From this marriage came the following children: 1. Waldemar born on 5 Oct. 1953 in Oels 2. Gisela born 21 July 1957 and died 3. Regina born 31 March 1959 in Oels 5. Bernard Born on 11 Aug. 1930 in Koschentin. Till the year 1937 he went to the Polish school and later he went to the German school. He worked as a farmer in the Metal factory in Hojduk. He married Marja Rzezniczek who was born on 2 Aug. 1931 in Kamien. They were married in Koschentin on the 2 Feb. 1960 at the Holy Trinity church. From this marriage came the following children: 1. Andrzej born on 9 Dec. 1958 in Koschentin 2. Joanna born on 9 May 1963 in Koschentin 3. Marjan born on 2 May 1964 in Koschentin 4. Jacek born on 6 Mar. 1966 in Woznikach 5. Piotr born on 23 Aug. 1973 in Koschentin 6. Marja She was born on 26 Jan. 1933 in Koschentin. During the Hitler times, she went to school and learned German. After the war, she went to school in Lublin and from there she was sent to Koszalina and since that time, she also lived there. There she married Henryk Sagatowicz who was born on 13 Mar. 1927 in Wilenszczyscie and lived in Koszalin. The marriage took place in Koszalin on 6 June 1954. The following children came from this marriage: 1. Jerzy born on 12. Jul. 1955 2. Beata born on 5 Apr. 1969 The father of this family died on 27 Nov. 1976 at the age of 49 years. 7. Stanislaus Born on 27 Apr. 1935 in Koschentin. He went to school in the Polish school in Koschentin. Later he went to Lublin in the school of Mechanics. After completing his schooling, he worked in Labedach and lived in a worker's house in Pyskowicach. On the 21st of Dec. 1952, he was run over by a train. 8. Aniela She was born on 8 Feb 1939 in Koschentin. She also attended the Polish school. Her husband was Jan Pialkowski, born 5 Jan. 1927 and they lived in Lublin. Of this marriage was born a daughter on 19 Sep. 1975 with the name of Aleksandra. 9. Jan He was born on the 4th of Jun 1942. He attended the Polish school in Koschentin and later apprenticed in Tarnowitz and later worked at the train station in Tarnowitz. He married Teresa Lubasik on 8 Sep. 1969 in Kamien. She was born on 31 Mar. 1946 in Bezozowice-Kamien. Their children are: Ewa born on 6 Jul 1970 and Malgorzata born on 11 Aug. 1978. On 26 October we prepared for our 50th wedding anniversary. The mother of this family died, however, on 28 Feb. 1970. In the year 1945 we had celebrated our 25th anniversary, but for our fiftieth, we came short by 7 months. In the year 1948 we received a document from the church bishop for long years of togetherness at the church. To the couple Ulfik Josef and Eleonora, Good luck wishes in the Lord, looking back at your long years of family, we hope that you will have the continued blessings of God and peace of the Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. May the Lord be loving and give his blessings on your family. For you and your children through the 3rd and 4th generations, that he may always remember you. We give you this special blessing in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen. Kattowitz the 3rd of Oct. 1938. Stanislaus Adamski Bishop of Kattowitz. As a long time citizen of Koschentin, it was in the time after the war, that there was much joblessness and there also was much homelessness. Therefore, I had to return to my hometown of Koschentin. I found work in Katowicach and an apartment in Koschentin. So I moved from Posen and lived in the village of my family. I was unable to find a living place, anywhere else. In the beginning I had wanted to have my own Cartwright business. However, this did not work as there was not enough work and the pay was not enough. So I went daily by train to Kattowitz and then back home, I would work privately. In Koschentin all the Polish Bureaus and schools were now closed. The overseer for this district was Anton Gawlik and he wanted to run the Bureau according to his good ways. He had the feelings that all people which had a higher education must be an example for others. After the vote, the Priest Gaska came to Koschentin. He traded places with the priest Wojcikiem, who went to Zabelkowa. He was a brutal Priest and had a completely different demeanor in regards to the division of property and there began the fights between him and Gawlik. He began a brutal fight in the community and in the church. Everything went against Mr. Gawlik. It went so far, that Priest Gaski, and all the people, who were sympathetic with the fight on the side of Gawlik that their church blessings were taken away. I remained jovial. As I recall, every Sunday, rather than preaching religion, Priest Gaska scolded and spoke about Gawlik and his followers. Many people went away from the church as a result and no longer attended services. In the summer, I went by bike to Lublin and in the winter I went with the train to Tarnowitz. There on Sundays, I found my freedom and I also had my workplace there. Through the behaviors of Priest Gaski went a complaint to the Bishop. This brought about nothing and against Mr. Gawlik was made a trial, and in fact a Bishop's court. I was also called as a witness. In Dec. 1927 came the following verdict. Pastor Gaska was, because of his position, vindicated and after that, he no longer held himself back. The parish, as a result was completely split. In the year 1927 Gawlik, through the landcourt Biolika was released of his duties. Nothing could be done about Pastor Gaski. Gawlik was always a good registrar and was honest and knowledgeable and he had to go. Some people said that he drank. In the year 1929, I was voted into the city court. I had much to put into order in regards to the unfairly divided property. But we couldn't really do much about it till the outbreak of the second World War. I have recorded everything in this book, under the title of What happened in Koschentin. In Jan. 1935, there was a department for orphans. I was in charge of this office till the second World War. In the year 1924 I purchased a newly built house with a garden on the street Dwarcowej (Bahnhofstrasse) from a building association. I was a member of this association. I received everything for 7,200 Zlotys, which I could pay in payments. The garden was 1 morgan in size. The fencing and many other things I had to do myself. I bought land from Pastor Karol zu Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen for 150 zlotys. In November 1924, I moved with my family in this new house, despite the fact that there was still much to do. As this settlement was now occupied, pastor Karol came and visited the families. He asked about the family, the occupations and work. Everyone thanked him for the land they purchased at some reasonable prices. In Tarnowitz I worked at a wagon factory. When I got home after work, there was still much to do, such as gardening, and around the house, repairing bicycles and building beehouses. Over the entire year, I had much to do. At the trainstation, I earned 200 zlotys monthly, from which I fed my family, paid my house payment and all the other bills. At the outbreak of the Second World War, I still had 4,610.20 zlotys of debt. Catholic Society for Anti-Alcoholics Already in the first World War, till this day, I was against the use of Alchol. I didn't even know what damage it caused at that time. In the war, tobacco and alcohol were given out in the military. It was a big difference from before the war and now. I had never seen anyone smoking in the barracks or drinking. That tobacco and alcohol which I received, I traded for food, because we received little to eat. Among the soldiers, were many who prefered smoking and drinking to eating. As I visited my sister in Wielki Hayduk, I met a woman who worked for the Priest. At that time, I disclosed myself not to drink or smoke and to fight against them and to make the people aware. As I lived in Koschentin, I started a society against alcohol. Pastor Ciepiela came on 21 Dec. 1924 to help and Pastor Gaski made an announcement for a church assembly, but he didn't come. We began on that day the society against alcohol and started with 12 members. The district legislature was in Kattowitz and the property jurisdiction was in Posen from where we received writings and legislation for all of Poland. Our society had a meeting every month to which the church officials and the politicians were invited. Despite our invitation, the meetings were not well attended. Every year in the first week of February was a advertising week against alcohol. In this time there were street gatherings and we sold various brochures for explanation. We also went into the houses. I drove often for speaking assignments in Kattowitz and Posen and in 1935 was a meeting in Warsaw. We had enemies everywhere. Our members were thrown out of houses and also injured. For this reason no one wanted to have our yearly meetings in the streets and help with them. All were afraid for themselves and their families. Also in the next year, we could do no more in Koschentin. So we gathered only in the neighboring villages. The members of our group were mostly older people and women. We could win none of the younger people to our side, because they were not strong enough to stay away from alcohol. We had hoped for support from Pastor Gaski, but unfortunately we received none. Not only did he drink for celebrations, but he always had beer in the house, which he drank daily. He was against our society and wanted to discontinue it. Pastor Gaski went so far, that for the members of our society, he removed all the churchly blessings. For these reasons, in the year 1932, we had to dissolve our society. I could not resolve myself with the dirty dealings of Pastor Gaski and in the end was excommunicated from the parish. I joined then in 1932 in Tarnowitz with the society there and as a result of my membership, won much for myself and my family. When one drinks alcohol, one can not have a clear mind and the family has no peace and happiness. At many workplaces I met people that worked on the job. He who was not for drinking was considered a spy. People tried to remove these non-drinkers from the workplace. In fact it happened to me as I worked in the trainstation. The Second World War In April 1939 we could already see that a war was about to break out. In the newspapers you could read that Hitler wanted a war with Poland. In the last weeks of August started the preparations of using gas masks which were given out and there were practices as to how to use them. In the night of 31 August till 1 Sep. 1939, I had the nightshift and we were unloading machines in Tarnowitz as the Germans bombed the city and all the neighboring areas. We walked away and I could not return to my home. Everywhere the bombs fell and I walked in the direction where it was possible to go. I was now fleeing. These are the dates and names of villages where I stayed. Day and village 1 Sep. Siewiesz (overnight) 2 Sep. Zawiercie (train) 4 Sep. Kielce (payment for the train and then by foot) 5 Sep. Skarzyszka (was already bombed out went by foot) 6 Sep. Zdzichow 7 Sep. Radom 8 Sep. Policzno-Kozielec 9 Sep. In the night, for the most part stayed in bombed out barracks by the Weichsel to Maciejewice 11 Sep. Krempa Now-Sobelow, trainstation Karetnica, Trojanow, Swelz 12 Sep. Kurow, Kartenszow 13 Sep. Prasionka, Krzochow 14 Sep. Marycin Lublin and with the train to 16 Sep. Chelm 17 Sep. Kowel, on Sunday we marched in to this place and there were many injured. I was injured on my forehead, but despite that, went to church, in the night we went to 18 Sep. Lubilow-Holobyl. Discovered here that the Russian army was approaching. 19 Sep. Kowel, with the train went to the Bug river. The bridges were destroyed. Went through the river and about 2 hours we reached Ludwiczow Chelm 22 Sep. Janow through Siedlincz 25 Sep. Zawadow-Puchzow Kijany-Dolne here I crossed the Weichsel 26 Sep. Luszczow, Wola-Sernicka, Palecznicza 28 Sep. Tarlow in the night to Ostrow Parczew 29 Sep. Wierzbowka in the night to Wolyn, Radzyn 30 Sep. Stok in the night to Wojcieszkow, Adamow Wola Gulawska 2 Oct. Lipiny in the night to Leopoldow, trainstation Deblin under German occupation. 3 Oct. Mlynki in the night to Deblin. Here was strict controll by the Germans. All were under watch regarding the trainstation bridges which went over the Weichsel (Vistula River) and by foot to Zajciesza and from there with the train to Radom. 4 Oct. Skarzyska-Kiele to Czestochowa and from there with the train to Lublin. There overnight and then on the 5 Oct. by foot to Koschentin and early in the morning I reached home where I was then called to become a Nazi. After a long period of back and forth, I finally reached my home. It was then that I noticed that the war really began. The Germans began trouble and ruling in Koschentin. At home, you felt secure. You only had to watch out for certain people who were spies. In Koschentin there was a Hitler Police officer by the name of Schultz and he led the people in a dictatorial fashion. Everyone that came from the Polish army was handled in a brutal manner by him. Without payment, we were ordered to clean the streets. Immediately after my return I had to report to the employment office in Lublin. There I received a book for the unemployed and had to go weekly to have it stamped. In the middle of October, I and many of our community were sent to the sugar factory in Glogau by the employment office. There I had to work till the middle of December and as I returned home, I had to again report to the employment office in Lublin and received a pass for the unemployed so that I could get some financial support. 1939 was a very cold winter and we had lots of snow, and therefore we couldn't reach Lublin and therefore also received no financial support. In Jan. 1940, I was sent through the employment office to a paperfactory in Kalet. I had to load wood in the wagons. This I did until the middle of April. Later I worked for a company called Olek in Bytom. I worked for a company that supported the trainstations at first in Koschentin and later in Wielkich Strzelec (Gross Strelitz). In Gross Strelitz I lived privately with a family of my brother-in-law. There I met a man from Strzebin with the name of Strekbein. I spoke with him alot about politics and our life in Poland then and now. I trusted him and spoke often to him, as to how I felt about many things. Mr. Streckbein took me to the police. There he explained that I hold Poland high and denounce Germany in my speech. Mr. Hoynca was called to be a witness at the police station. He explained to the officers that Streckbein had misunderstood me and somehow he managed to clear me. Hojnca explained to me what he had all told the police and warned me not to have such discussions and to be more careful. He also told me what would have happened had he not been able to clear me and had not have been on my side. I would have been turned over as a spy. In the time that I was in Gross Strelitz, came out new German Legislation and rules. They read as follows: District court of the NSDAP Gross Strelitz the 7th of Aug. 1940 To the managers of offices in the district of Gross Strelitz. As we have determined, in our district there is still Polish being spoken in our companies. We as Germans must step forward and not allow such goings on. The foreign element can not be allowed to speak in their langauge. We cannot forget that in this war 60,000 Germans were brutally murdered by the Poles. We must keep our blood pure and should forget nothing of what has been done to us and without punishment, nothing should we let go unnoticed. Today, we must do everything possible to establish our language. Everyone is to know this, and he who does not obey, will be taken care of properly. We ask that all offices not allow the Polish language to be spoken there and that all be informed. He who does not obey will be punished. We again want to advise that all be present for an office meeting and told of the new ruling and that they obey this order. We must be an example. Heil Hitler District Manager Göbel This is what the Germans did to discontinue the Polish langauge. We were threatened by death. In Gross Strelitz I had the opportunity to see the Bug river. and there I visited the Cloister of the Holy Anna. In the wartime, many people came here and the services were held in German. By the company Olek I worked till 27 Aug. 1940 and later I became busy with my own work at my profession. I was given an assignment to work at a brick masonry in Laryszowie-Miodary. This is in the area of Tarnowski-Gory. As this work was completed, we were all sent to Byczynie, where I worked building a similar brick masonry. Aug. 8, 1941. I worked for the firm Huta in Miechowicach. There was built an electrical plant and I worked as a concrete worker. It was in the time when the war was still raging and when the Germans were still certain that they would win. Population lists for Polish Citizens The community of Koschentin counted me amongst their Polish citizens. From them, my taxes were determined from my income and I had to wear a "P" on the inside of my clothing. I could now only go home, when I had an official pass from the police. To go home once a week to my family, I had to have this pass. Because Hitler did not give us much for our services, this became very difficult. My son Ludwig worked at this time in Blachowni by Kedzieszyna and he was counted to the same political side. But despite this fact, he was drafted into the German army. First he went to Darmstadt and from there to the Russian front. We received a letter from him and he would always write about how hungry he was. Our letters came back, "Addressee unknown". From his letters we could determine that he was not only very hungry, but also very overworked and tired. On 10 Oct. 1942 we received from his company the following news that during a Russian attack on 4 Oct. 1942 he was probably taken in Russian captivity. At the same time as Ludwik was pulled into the military, this was the end of Mar. 1942, there came from the Germans a new ruling. Everyone that wanted to become a German, had to be listed on a population list. Those that didn't get on the list disappeared and no one knew what became of them after that. At this time, I worked in Miechowice and could not drive home every Sunday. My family was only sent the list after a half year had passed. I considered what I should do about this. One heard so much and it seemed as though there was no other way out. Even my son, Ludwik was drafted without having been on this list. My wife had to take care of all the official business in this regard. She had to put up with alot as a result. I filled out the list and my wife took it to the registration office. We had to wait a very long time for an answer. As it finally came, the contract was rejected. We were told that we could make an appeal. I chose not to do this and at my work the police would always question me about it. So that I could have some peace, I would always say, "I haven't received notification about it yet." This I said till the end of the war. I was not home each Sunday and therefore, I also had some peace, because the people rarely saw me. In Koschentin I had made notification at the police office and when something came from these offices, my wife took care of it. In Koschentin there were various citizens put into the head government positions. They were required to find out, who spoke Polish at home and to inform about this. One day Germans knocked on our door and placed a sign on it which read: Who speaks Polish is a bum. One occasion my wife was turned in as to having spoken badly about Germans. She was sent to the police and later to the court in Lublin. The woman Malgorzata Grysko, who made this known, made other complaints about my wife at the police station as also at the court and a neighbor who was called to witness made statements of the exact opposite. As I agreed with the testimony of the neighbor, my wife was acquitted. As the Russians marched into Koschentin, Malgorzata Grysko had married Kandziela and with the Germans was shipped to Germany with many other Germans. On August 4, 1942 our youngest son Jan was born. Miechowice The electrical plant was built in Belau and I worked as a carpenter there. We all lived in barracks. Over these people stood a barrack leader and he took care of the needs for furniture, bedding and kitchen materials. He was really over everything. There were many rules and regulations for Germans and foreigners. With the building of the plant were workers and war prisoners, alike for the entire world, Italians, Poles, Russians, Czechs, French and Jews, Flemish, and Dutch people. Free Jews and those from internment camps. The prisoners were also from England and Russia. You could hear many languages being spoken, but they were not allowed to speak to one another. The first encounter that I had with foreigners was with the Italians. The Italians had foreign dictionaries with them. With the help of these books and the Italians, I was able to learn this language. I helped them to learn the German language, in speaking, reading and writing. As I worked with them, I learned the language very quickly. I was then put in their barracks and was the interpreter for them in German and wrote many letters for them as well as letters to the German Government. The Italian workers were allies to the Germans and had things better than many others. You noticed they received much more than the Poles did. Many Poles worked here, mainly young girls. If they wanted to learn the Italian language they had the opportunity. When the Italians went on vacation, they told at home how things were here. Even the Priests and the friends said that I was their best friend. When they returned, they told about their homes and were happy that I spoke their language. They would bring me many presents when they returned. One Sunday, as I went home to Koschentin, I took an Italian with me, so that he could meet my family and learn of how life in Poland was. Among the many foreigners that worked in Miechowicach, were many Russians. They were treated very poorly and suffered much with hunger. Among them were many intelligent men and they were given difficult and dangerous jobs to do. Many became scared and didn't want to do the jobs. The Russians were one day taken as English prisoners. The English prisoners were very different than most of the others. One could immediately tell that they grew up in a very cultivated manner more so than the Russians. the Germans handled them very differently. The English received packages from the Red cross of England. The Russians received help from no one. No one cared about them. The English were proud of their nationality and held themselves as such. Among them were also some that worked in Polish firms and these already could speak Polish. After a time the English were pulled out and there came from a camp Jews from Belgium, France, and Holland. The Jews had the Jewish star which they wore on their chests and on their backs. They were forced to hard labor and received little nourishment. The leader of the building went through the building site and struck the Jews with a large stick. For the rest of us, it was forbidden to help them or to show them any sympathy. I could not understand how people could treat other people as lower and lesser than themselves. That they were hardly given anything to eat and still had to give such hard and difficult service. I tried to give them some food now and then when I could for them to divide amongst themselves. One time a party leader came to me and started to cuss at me and said that he would send me to a death camp. He asked me why I had done this. Then I gathered all my nerve and said to him, that it was my duty as a Catholic. After these words, a change was seen immediately on his face. He changed and began to shake. This lasted a few minutes. Then he said to me that I should not do this anymore and he wouldn't say anything to anyone about it this time. There were more Jews, which wanted to show me their gratitude and at this time it was not possible. The most of them were very rich and invited me after the war to come to them. A Jew which was a Pole, but who spoke not a word of Polish as he had lived in Paris, Edelstein, being his name, invited me to visit with him for a month after the war. He said he would pay for the trip and all expenses. He was already very weak and the Germans brought him to the hospital. We knew that those who landed in the hospital landed in the oven. To the Poles and the Jews, the Germans were the worst. They had no rights except to work. For sustenance, they received the minimum. The Germans used me as an interpreter for Polish, French and Italian. But not just the Germans came to me. The workers here were many Polish and Russian young ladies and many Italians and Frenchmen wanted to make contact with them. I became their interpreter and had to write many letters and translate for them. Through this, I received the title of "Professor". When they were not able to understand, they came to the "Professor". I had to write many love letters, but when it became to private, I refused to do this. The work program included working on Sundays. I did not like to work on Sunday, but I had to. When I needed to do this, I would already have to go at 6:00 in the morning to church. On one Sunday there was a bad accident by an electrical shock and there were deaths. In Miechowicach I was turned in by a spy that I had spoken about my son Ludwik and how he had been drafted into the German army and how he had been shipped to the Russian front. It was very good that I found out about this. Here in Miechowicach, I had had the opportunity to get to know people from many lands. Amongst the Jews, were many who owned their own firms. They worked very hard here and were seriously tracked and chased down. We lived in Baracks and we had to first get used to it. After a while we noticed that we had lice. There were so many that we could no longer sleep. So it was determined that they would be gassed and in fact on a Sunday, because many were going home for the weekend. So it was done on Saturday and everything was gassed. Unfortunately, despite the gas, it did not kill the eggs and so after a short time they all returned. The End of the War Already at Christmas in 1944 one could notice that our building company was still run by Germans. Amongst the Germans, you could notice much nervousness. They still hoped that Hitler would win the war. We were also aware of what was going on and were aware of the withdrawal of the German army. As the Russian army was already in Czestochowa, many Poles walked away from here. The other foreigners had to stay here, because they didn't know where they should go. I took all my things on my back and headed for home. I went to Karbu on the train and then I would go by foot to Bytom and coincidentally a train went to Tarnowitz. To Lublin there was no train. In Tarnowitz I got onto a train of refugees on the way to Oppeln. From there I went to Tworog and then by foot to Koschentin. In the woods I met three German soldiers. I said that I was on my way to work and I was able to continue to go. The entire night I walked and returned home on 18 Jan. 1845 completely exhausted. At home, everything was in good order only the fact of our missing son. He never returned from the war. The Germans left Koschentin. It was on an ice-cold day and they took everything with them. They even took all the cows. At noon the Russian militia came into town. Their first question was: How far is it to the German border? Their behaviour was very friendly, but as they heard that they were already over the border, they quickly changed their attitudes. With the entry of the Russians we thought that it couldn't be any worse for us than under the Germans. We were now free and could again speak Polish. We shouldn't therefore have anymore fear. The trains still didn't go. We had to walk everywhere that we went. All of Poland that from the Germans went to Germany turned now towards their freedom from their camps were returning. It was at this time very cold and for personal care, things went pretty badly. Everyone did and gave what they could. Many people came to see their families or friends. Therefore, we had many worries, because we all had very little to offer. To control the laws in Koschentin we founded the citizen's police watch. I also belonged to this. Later people came to us from the East and we didn't know who had sent them here and how we should control the laws in Koschentin. They were very bad people. The rules which we had once had, were now past and everyone lived again in fear. The Germans had taken away many things from us and the Russians when they had marched through, also. We had nothing anymore. We also had no income. The firms were all closed. The government of the city was divided and I was to take that which had been left by the refugees and return all the properties. They wanted to give me other posts, while all the disorganization and unfairness thrived, but I did not want to. So I returned to Tarnowitz and wanted to work at the wagon factory again. The factory was very much destroyed and had to first be rebuilt. They told me that I also had to work on Sundays so that it would be rebuilt sooner. So I worked 7 days a week and had no time to rest. After the Russian freeing, everything that belonged to the Germans, now belonged to the Russians. Everything that they like, radios, typewriters, sewing machines and many other things, they took for themselves. So they did with weapons in their hands. In the plant I met people who had worked with me there before and also throughout the entire Hitler times. It was a difficult work and we earned so little that no man could support a family with it. Food ration cards were distributed with which you could purchase foods. The prices were not equal. There was the organization for the people and others for the Police and military, which paid less for everything. There were so many meetings that no one attended them any longer. Now we were strictly controlled and had to attend. I wanted to do work at the control and also in the bureaus. I chose not to because these jobs were overfilled. In a meeting as we discussed "Norm" I said the following: The workers are dictated as to how much work they do and in fact the norm goes always higher. Those in control have no knowledge about this work. As I too often made this comments, they took pains to get rid of me. On the 22nd of May 1951, I had to go to a Physicians commission and they told me; that for the work in the firm, I was now too old and that they no longer needed me and sent me to the hospital. At the time I was 59 years old. I would like to recall of the time when the Russian army came to Poland. At this time, our clocks were set to Russian time 2 hours difference. From 19 Jun 1945 till 1968 I stood under the hat of the genossenschaft for which I never had an interest. On the 30th of June 1946 came a notice of which all people were given to note: a: Are you for the disolvement of the Senate? b: Are you for the establishment of the vote for land reform by government or privately? c: Do you want the Polish border to be established on the Oder-Neisse? We all knew that we had to answer yes to all the questions, and that a no would not be accepted. All the people that were against this were barred from voting. I sat one week in Lublin. The Time Of My Peace-The Hospital During the time that I was written as ill by the physician commission I also received sick money for three months in the same amount as my earnings had been. On 26 Sep. 1951, I received from the PKP (Wagon factory) the news that I was being retired, that I no longer was fit for the work. My wage at the last of my work had been 282 Zlotys and for the entire year of my work I got 119,36 zlotys monthly and for my wife and 3 children 190,50 zlotys. According to all my calculations for my 28 years of labor for my retirement I got 400 zlotys. I could not survive with my pension, and so we were in need and poverty. I quickly took work in the fields, harvesting, mowing, and building, repairing wagons and such things. I did not earn much but it helped. In the beginning of 1952 my son Stanislaus was finished with his schooling as a Metalworker and began working at the metal factory in Labedach. He lived in the workers housing in Pyskowicach. He went daily with the train to his work. On the 21st of Dec. 1952 as he drove to Labedach, he got off on the wrong side and was immediately struck by a train and killed. I was notified by the police and went there directly. The police in Labedach handed me papers and I drove to Pyskowie to his apartment and picked up his things. On the next day I went to his workplace and there I received 2,000 zlotys death funds and this covered the burial. The firm took his body to Koschentin. At Christmas was the burial and a delegation from his firm came and an orchestra. It was something for the entire family as he had just barely begun working there. To relieve us of some of our financial problems, I made a application at the work office in Lublin for an opening in the state song and dance group, "Slask" in Koschentin. On 11 Feb. 1956, I began with a student loan of 1,98 zlotys to work for the firm. For the night shift I got 2,18 zlotys and a uniform as the watchman. I earned monthly 470-520 zlotys. From 17-30 March 1957 I had vacation and went to the Carpathians in the vicinity of Hirschberg. This was the first and last time in my life. July 1957 PZLP and Slask organized their government and they began their own rules and regulations and I was installed as the housemaster. and I received for 120 hours monthly 664 zlotys. In the year 1958 came the notice that retired people making more than 500 zlotys would have any excess withheld. So now I worked only 100 hours per month, and earned less money. I worked in this capacity until 1967 and felt good working with the young people, which for the most part were very friendly. On Oct. 1967, I received a release with the comment that one could find work in the Landwirtschaft and that the hours would not be shortened because of a pay of only 495 zlotys. I took in that time, this work and did this until November and than reported to the doctor. I spoke to him and said that I was not used to such work and as I was already 76 years old, it was too hard for me. The doctor made a protocoll and sent it to the physicians commission in Lublin. The commission asked me how old I was and and after they heard that I was already 76 years old, I was told that I should report to them each month. This went on till 1968. In March I received my dismissal, but I still was owed checks for services rendered and had to therefore turn to the courts. I received the backpay. At Christmas 1968 was a big gathering for the group Slask for which I received an invitation and they gave me a Christmas check of 300 zlotys. I wrote to the PKP with the request that they give me credit for the worktime during WW II and add it to my pension. They let me know they figured 5 years, 4 months and 18 days of duty and they added this to my pension. and so monthly I received 257 zlotys. On 20. Dec. 1958, I received the news that the DOKP that I had reached the border time of 60 years of age and would receive 787,22 zlotys. I wrote for a supplement for my wife and received 37.50 and my son and received 65 zlotys. On 17 Feb. 1968, I got another letter from the DOKP that I could now get a pension of 958,32 and 30 z. for my wife and I worked from 1910 on. 1912 I had to join the military and 1914 in the war of which I just came back in 1920. I lost my entire youth. this was not figured into my pension. The Search For My Son My son Ludwik was a photographer by occupation, but worked in the Hitler time as a worker for the firm of Holzmann in Blachowic Slaskiej. The community of Koschentin counted him to the population of Poles and after that determined the payments on his loan. On 25 Mar. 1942 he was drafted into the German army, despite the fact that he was a Pole. He was sent to Darmstadt. We received the first letter from there and answered it right away. Three months later we received the news that he was on the Russian front. On the way there, he would always give us a sign that he was alright. Our letters all came back with the note Address unknown. As we later found out, we didn't have the correct address. As he arrived there, he wrote us his last letter. Russia the 20.1 Dear Parents, Today it is now one month since we have been on the Russian front. It makes me very sad that till this day, I have received no letters from you, and no news as to how you are and if you are even still alive. In the last letter I sent you airmail stamps, so that I can get the news from you faster, but still till now, nothing. I also sent you 30 Marks and in the next days I will send you 70 Mark. In the last month we were already three weeks at the front lines and it wasn't too bad. We get milk and bread daily and also geese and ducks. We cooked them and they were good even without salt. The food which we receive is not enough. The bread is often moldy and we had to throw it away. I don't want to tell you everything. We were often so hungry that we didn't think we would survive. I haven't eaten anything yet today. Lunch meal will be given in the evening and we are given water which has the taste of potatoes. How bread tastes, we have almost forgotten. We receive so little. We sleep on the field in the tall grass. As long as I am here, I have not seen a village. We hope that in a few days that we will be relieved and that we can rest a little. I would like to see what a village looks like here and how it would feel to sleep in a bed again. The Russians give us no peace. We have to go in and out to hide and they are always chasing us. I close my letter. It is a little bit peacefuler. I send you stamps, one for a package that weighs 1 KG. the airmail letter can't weigh more than 10 gram. If you have something that you could send me, then please do so and please write immediately as I wait in great impatience. With greetings, Ludwik As I read the letter, the tears came because he waited with homesickness and all the letters came back with addressee unknown on them. We received the following letter from his group and it read as follows: Oberst and Companychef 10 Oct. 1942 Dear Family Ulfik! It is my duty to let you know that the Schutze Ludwik Ulfik since a Russian attack on 4 Oct. 1942 has disappeared. This happened in the vicinity East of Klestaja which lies on the Don. We had still hoped that he would appear. But till today he has not reported to us and we take it that he became a Russian prisoner. If we should find anything else out, we will let you know. Despite the fact that I have only known your son a short time, I know him to be a good soldier and although your son was only under my command a short time, he was always ready and prepared and watched over his fellow soldiers. We have not only lost a good soldier, but also a good friend. You can be assured that we share in your loss. With the best greetings. Heil Hitler 5/1226 Fp. Nr. 29495 B Leutenant and companychief That was the last signs of our son,which was drafted into the German military, although he was not a German. For a long time, we waited for word of him, as the war had ended and was now over for a long time. Many that had been prisoners of war, were returning home. But from our son, nothing was seen or heard. So we turned to the Red Cross of Warsaw. On 30 Jun. 1949 we received news that he made contact with the Red Cross and that we should wait, they would continue to search. In the meantime, I turned to the Red Cross in Hamburg and received from there on 11 Oct. 1955 the news they forwarded our inquiries to the Red Cross of Munich. This buro wrote us that we had to give them exact information as to when he was born, a photo in his uniform, to which company he belonged, where he was reported as missing, and other items and his field post number. When they would receive word, they would contact me. We wrote down everything they wanted and sent it on to Munich, and waited for word. The Polish Red Cross asked for the same information on 7 Sep. 1959. I sent the requested information. Just as the German Red Cross had said, the Polish Red Cross said that they would notify us upon hearing anything. This was on 14 May 1960. On 5 Dec. 1961 I received word from the Polish Red Cross: Polish Red Cross Central Office Information Buro of the search Division Warsaw the 5th of Dec. 1961 Post Box Nr. 47 Mr. Jozef Ulfik Koszecin Dworcowa 2 County Lublin Katowice Regarding your research request, of your missing son Ludwik Ulfik, son of Jozef and Eleonore born on 21 Aug. 1921 in Posen, we have determined that Ludwik Ulfik, son of Jozef born 1921 in Posen, died on 9 Nov. 1942. The Red Cross in Moscow Manager of the Buro of Missing persons A. Weiss Other information of the Red Cross of Russia was not received. This Russian letter, I translated into German and sent it on 21 Dec. 1961 to Munich. On 18. Jan. 1962 I received word from Munich, that they forwarded the information to Berlin and they send a message of sympathy. I received a letter on 7 Jun. 1962 from the Red Cross in Munich and the forwarded the information. I sent him everything and I didn't hear anything for a very long time. So I wrote again and on 24 Feb. 1963 and asked for the papers of my son and I never received them. But I did get an extracted copy. So ended the search for my son Ludwik. Efforts to Receive My Son's Pension Many of our neighbors, who had family that were killed in the war, made efforts to receive their pensions. The train pension that I received was small and it was difficult to survive on. My wife put on pressure to get the pension due my son. It would a least help us a little. I had some worries about it, though, that when I would receive money from Germany ,that I would lose my train pension. But regardless, I still applied for the pension for my wife because of our son's death. I sent this application off on 25 Nov. 1965 to the welfare office in Ravensburg in Weingarten. On 27 Jan. 1966 I received word that they would first need to verify everything and needed to send documents of the marriage of parents, documents of his death, when and where he died, and to which regiment he belonged, whether he had already applied for pension, where he worked before and what he had earned. If he owned a house or property, if he was married and had children, if he had ever paid his parents board and room, and exactly where he had lived prior to the war. All points were to be exactly answered and they would verify everything that was written. I had to sign everything. I gathered all the papers and sent them through registered mail to Ravensburg on 7 Feb. 1966. After the mailing, an entire year passed and I received no word. On 3 Sep. 1967 I sent an airmail letter to the same place with the question as to why I had not heard anything yet. Still I received no answer. Therefore, I wrote again, and this time sent the letter through my brother in Germany on 17 Nov. 1967. On 25 Jan. 1969, I received word from the office that they had written me three times, and that I had not answered. Therefore I needed to send all the information to them again. But I should not send the letter by registered mail or air mail. So I lost all that time, having received no pension in that entire time. So I resent the papers, this time through my brother in Germany. On 6 Aug. 1968, I received from the office a letter that I would receive 80 DM per month. It would be transfered on 1 Apr. but that they could not tell me exactly when I would receive it. On 24 Jan. 1969 I got word from Warsaw that I would be getting a pension from Germany and that the money would be transferred into Zlotys. I would receive for the 80 Dm, 478.72 Zloty. As the German Mark went higher, I still received the amount in the same amount of Zloty. In the year 1970, I received a pension of 1,572 zloty. I wrote a letter of complaint, as half of the pension for my son I was not getting. I received the answer that because my wife was the one that would receive this pension, it would be smaller. And would be only half of what it would have been, had I been the applicant. It was a time, where there was no justice, and you had to accept what was done and say nothing about it. Self-sufficiency of My Children and My Wife's Death In all the years that passed, my children were becoming self-sufficient and started families of their own. In my 50 years of marriage I worked for a house and land. I wrote my house over to my oldest daughter, Eleonora, and a piece of land for my son Bernard, with the stipulation that he build a house on it. This was recorded in my will on 18 Dec. 1963 in Lublin. For myself, I requested that I be given care and have say in the house and property prior to my death. On the land that I gave to Bernard, he built a house. He put much energy into the building and I assisted him. For the construction, he needed to take out a bank loan for 75,000000 zlotys. Monthly he made payments of 800 zloty but was now able to live in his own home. For the other families, everything was divided. They should receive everything that we had worked for our entire married life. So as we were born, and worked hard all our lives and honestly and cared for the future of our descendants, so should they also live and do all for God. My younger years are long gone and all that I have is through the Lord and we worked hard and also in honesty. I divide everything as stated below: My Testament So as our forefathers were born and honestly worked for their daily bread and reached a high age, so have we raised our children in Christ and died in our God. 1. House and Garden will be received by my oldest daughter, Eleonora, with the stipulation, that until my death, I will have say in everything. 2. A part of the land my son Bernard will receive to build a house. 3. For my daughters, Marty, Marji and Anieli, Eleonora divides for each 5,000.00 Zloty. And if the money receives a different value, each will then receive 25 Zentner or 1,250 Kilo wheat. 4. My youngest son Jan received his education through us and that has as much value as land or money. So I have now divided all and I hope that each will make the best out of it that he can, as it is all that my wife and I with years of hard labor have collected over the years. May they all live honestly and value everything there entire lives. I would advise my children that they should live honestly and without anger and that in our family will be no unhappiness and inequality. They should take care not to fight over what I have divided. Always take care of your good name. Care for other people and never drink. So as I have raised you, so also raise your children and teach them to be God-fearing. One day, we must all stand uprightly before our maker and account for all that we have done. Always remember this. Health and a clear conscience is the greatest good that we can receive on this earth. We should ask all this of the Lord and pass it on to our children's children. These are our wishes and a request to you here on this earth and remember to live in accordance with God and he will always bless you and your families. In the name of the Father, the Son , and the Holy Ghost. So should it be. Dane-Koszecin the 21. Juli 1963 Signature: father and mother. As it was divided in our testament, so was it made known to our children and observed. As we wrote the testament, we felt that our children would be honest and live according to the commandments. That they would be hard working and thrifty. So that they may have something to show of their lives as we have from our 50 years of married life. Our youngest son, Jan, felt somewhat slighted by our testament and Eleonora wanted to give him some land on which he should build a house. But he did not think about building a house, but would rather travel including over the border. As long as his mother was still alive, he had things good, but after she died, this changed a little. Eleonora was a resolute person and said to him, you are an adult, now, and alone. Start a family and take action to make some achievements. It hit me hard and I could not understand why Eleonora was so concrete. At this time, it was very difficult to find a place to live. Still Jan found an apartment in Tarnowitz in a 10 story apartment house. There he moved in Oct. 1972. It was a luxury apartment he even made more improvements on it. So Jan was happy and at home. There was again peace, but still something remained hanging in the air. A large loss occurred to us and the entire family as in November 1969, my wife drove by train to our daughter Marji to Koszalina, despite the fact that she was ill with high blood pressure at the time. On the way, she also visited a sister in Posen. On her way from there she had a stroke and was paralyzed on the right side and laid in the hospital in Posen over 6 weeks. On the 11th of Jan. 1970, she was transported by airplane to Breslau and from there by an ambulance to Koschentin. Eleonora cared for her at home, despite the fact that each day she worked in Lublin. After 6 weeks of good home care, she died on 28 Feb. 1970. She was buried on 3 Mar. After the death of my wife, I made a visit to the PKP in Katowice and received 2304 zloty and from the medical insurance I received 7500 zloty. Since this time, I am a widower and my daughter Eleonora cares for me. In 1962 as I am now 70 years old, I still felt healthy and strong and at this time was still in the organization of dance and singing. I wrote at this time: 70 years of sunshine and on this day it is ended and for all things I thank God who knows all things. As I got to be 75 years old, I thanked God because I still felt well and could still work. With 80 years, I thank God for my health and I notice that I no longer have the strength I used to have. In the year 1977 I was 85 years old and invited the entire family and relatives. I now felt old and must acknowledge that. The years have their borders. With 86 years, often I feel weak and must deal with this fact and can no longer work as I did. I still work in the garden and also at the workplace. But now, I need to rest quite often. I now spend more time doing things for the Lord, which the youth does not care about and doesn't understand. I not only wrote the family story but also about life in Koschentin. I am very busy doing these things, and I leave them for the next generation. Because the Lord has blessed me so much, I want to devote my last days to him in this way. As I live very close to the church, I went there daily. At the hands of man, I experienced many bad things and record these things. Life As a Widower After the death of my wife, I was notified by the DOKP that as of 11 Apr. 1970, through the death of my wife, I received the entire pension of the train station. And this amounted to 958 zlotys. This was a big difference from the 1572 zloty and a loss of 614 zlotys. At this time a Zentner of wheat cost 220 zlotys and 2 kilo of bread 8 zloty. With these prices, my pension was now too small and difficult to live on. They took away the German pension and on 22 Jul. 1970, I wrote to the welfare office in Ravensburg to ask them to continue the pension. On the 3rd of August 1970 I received from there a letter, that they would send an amount of 70 DM per month. This I received on the 1st of March 1970 and for the month of Jan. and Feb. 40 mark. The social office in Bytom wrote to me that the German Pension of 100 Mark and 40 mark were miscalculated and I also got a letter regarding my pension from the train of Olstyn, that I would get back-pay in the amount of 2864 Zloty for 10 months. The DOKP in Katowice figured the 100 Mark as 973 zloty and the 70 mark as 681.12 zloty. I received a sum of 7199 zloty. Through the letter of the DOKP Katowice, I received notice that the money would be divided in half and they sent me 3599 zloty and was actually only 2864. It was therefore a calculation error of 735 Zloty. Therefore from the new calculation of 1. Jan. 1971 the amount was to be 1075 zlotys that I would get. I again turned to the Allenstein letter and asked for explanation. they wrote me that there was no other money and still didn't explain. On 23 Feb. 1971 I wrote a letter to the DOKP in Katowice with a complaint about the Social office in Bytom but received no word. I wrote another complaint to the Traffic administration in Warsaw, but also received no answer from them. I was naturally very shocked, that no answer came from the highest office in Poland. They must surely have control over their offices and give me an explanation. I turned to the newspaper. Through this pressure, which the paper put on the administration, they wrote me now on 20 May 1971, that they must verify everything. I received no answer, however. I reminded the ministry again with my question: no response. On 11 August, I wrote again to the newspaper and told them that the ministry still had given no reply. Surely it would not take this long to verify. Under the pressure of the newspaper from the DOKP in Katowice, I received a letter that I should again state my complaints. So I therefore went personally to Katowice and asked for explanation. After about 2 weeks, I received a letter which stated that in November 1969 I received so much pension and that I had no reason to complain. I had also received 70 Mark from Germany, monthly since 1 Mar. 1970. This was the statement and had nothing to do with the pension from PKS. The management of the newspaper sent all my letters and accountings to the traffic ministry and again no answer came from there. The train pension buro told me that they would only give me what the DOKP allowed. Through my personal inquiry, in Olstyn, which I had in Jan. 1971, they had no knowledge that 340 zlotys would be taken away from me. There they said that the 340 zlotys had been received by me and in the amount of 2864 zloty. I can not explain how the 340 z. is there, when I am short 735 z. I turned to the newspaper, again. Nothing was correct anymore. I now went to an attorney and explained everything to him. He asked me if I had received anything from the welfare for the months of March and April of 1970, after the death of my wife. This I had not and I went to the welfare office and they told me this money from Germany had been returned. If they had not recorded this, then the money would have to be returned to me. So the welfare office, with a few words, explained the whole situation to me. The local office found all this unnecessary. So I had a lot of upset which was totally unnecessary, when this bureaucracy had not been there. On 31. May 1972, I received from the DOKP office in Katowice the news that the value of the German Mark had dropped. The rate was 100 DM to 1046.40 zl. So the calculation for 70 mark was 732 zloty. So for my pension from 1 Jun 1971 was 958 zloty, for train pension, and 681 from the German pension. Because of the German pension, 340 zl. was taken from my train pension. Therefore I received 1299 zl. But I only received 1298. Therefore from 1 Jun 1971 to 30 Jun 1972 there were errors of 364 zloty shorted to me. With my small pension, gains my age. As I get older, I notice my strength wane. But despite all, I still manage to earn a little. With my almost 82 years, I can hardly do much. I have always worked and also paid my insurance and social security and this already since WW I. But this time does not count towards my pension. This was for the amount of 33 years, 1 month and 18 days. Our pension was received for the lowest amount and nothing was ever added to it. The management of the DOKP according to a conference said there would be a program for cost of living raises. Until then we can do nothing about it. Regarding my question as to if I should turn to the Germans, I received no answer. I wrote again on 22 May 1974 but there were too many years I didn't work, during my military time and in the war. My entire life I worked honestly and hard and got no where. I also have used no doctor and no hospital insurance. Always I tried to earn extra on the side, so that in old age I would have no worries and with 958 zlotys, it is just not possible. From this letter, I received no answer, but as of 1 August 1974, instead of 958 zl. I got 1100 zl. I received a letter that the pension from Germany would be raised to 1532 zl. I also got a letter from the traffic ministry: With the raise in pension according to point 5-8, I would receive as of 31 Aug. 1974 a new sum as per points 1-5. No other information was received. It left me with many questions and I asked myself again if I should turn to the Germans. Despite the raise, according to the constitution, I would not receive more money. I asked myself again if everything was firmly fixed. My pension should be in the amount of 2500 zl, but I never received even 1000 zl. I think that I was born too early and therefore had to serve in the German army and was counted to the lowest office, where one needn't be answered by letter or other method. I wrote as to explanation of point 7 and never received an answer. At the end of 5 Aug. 1974, the pension from the train in Olstyn was raised to 668 zl. The pension was not received. The 3 questions were answered and the calculation from 1911-23 was given. It was explained to me that the military time and the wartime were not counted toward my pension. In regards to my question as to why they did not explain this to me earlier, I received no real answer. I was told, "Perhaps this..." or Perhaps that..." They also told me that I could make a protest against this decree. I did not do this as I would only get all upset unneccessarily and still would not be able to find out anything. I was always being upset and never received from the various offices a concrete answer or clear answer. After the judgement of the hospital, I said that I would now turn to Germany in regards to retirement. The Mark value had changed and now I received rather than 864 zl., now 960 zl. und after ex¬penses, I received now 620 zl. per month. Efforts Concerning Retirement in Germany As was explained to me by the hospital accountants, the retirement would not be calculated from the time of work in the wars and so I determined that I would turn to the Germans. On 12 March 1975 I wrote to the Social Security office in Ravensburg in West Germany and told them the situation. I told them that for the time I worked for the Germans and also during the military time that I received no pension. It was very opportune for me and I was sent to a Doctor who examined me and at the cost of the Doctor. After the time of the passing of one year on 31 Mar. 1976, I re¬ceived an answer that the service during the war and my health status was explained as being 25% invalid and that this was a big influence concerning work and that I should receive invalid pay, not because of my old age, but because of my actual invalid situa¬tion. I made a protest regarding this because I not only came here because of my war invalid status but because of my work from 1912-18. On 11 May 1976 I received this letter: Dear Mr. Ulfik! The pension that you receive from us is not for your military ser¬vice rather a supplement for soldiers killed in action which served in the German army. Aside from this pension are permitted for Soldiers which were invalids of 25% through the war and therefore are no longer completely able to work. You receive already for your son Ludwik who died in Russian captiv¬ity and that is a pension. As we said in our letter of 31. Mar. 1976, your application was denied, as this was the time of the first World War and as you served for the Germans, you were also paid for that time of ser¬vice. No German soldier receives a pension for his service in the military. There is no office here which could explain or handle this further. We have your documents here from the First World War and also the examination papers from the Doctor. When you are not in agreement with our writing from 31. Mar. 76, then you can make a grievance within one year. With friendly greetings. I.A. Scheffeld After this letter, I sent a letter to Warsaw and it was forwarded from there. I sent another letter once over England and here quic¬kly are my writings: I take as explanation and wish to comment that I am a victim of having been born too early. I have just one request for you: could you please not send the 70 Marks that you do send me through the bank Opieke in Warsaw at Street Traugutta 7, but rather send it to the PKO, so that I could receive it in German currency. Therewith, I would be satisfied with what I get. For the 70 Mark I only receive 960 zl. this is a loss of 1 Mark and 12 zl. and from this they pull away half of this. For one Mark I must pay 32 zl. As this is my money and I cannot get most of it. Every letter which goes from here to foreign countries was censured in Warsaw as was this letter and I received no answer from Germany. By coincidence, a guest from England came for the burial of his mother and I gave him the same letter and asked him to mail it to Germany for me. On 19 Aug. 1976, I received from them an answer: Dear Mr. Ulfik! Concerning your letter of 15 Jul. 1976, we can tell you the follow¬ing: We have no rights here to increase your money even with your protest. These are laws and are the laws of the land in which you live. We have to send your pension to the office for pensions in your country and this is according to the Social Offices in Warsaw and they have to handle it further. With friendly greetings, Scheffeld So now I have come to the end with the news that will receive no further help. One thing is certain, that I always receive an an¬swer from Germany when they receive my letters. Power of the Army In February 1976, there was a call for a change in the Constitution. This was the 3rd in the period of one year but no one knew what the changes were or could explain it. In the firms and the schools one had to learn these new each time. There was much written in the papers, and said that much was being done for old people and veter¬ans of wars. Therefore, I wrote a letter to the newspaper office and asked for an explanation of what was in the new constitution and what changes were made for all the people. Koschentin Feb. 1976 Dear Newspaper office in Warsaw! Regarding your number 27 of 3. Feb. 1976, there was a notice under the title Our Comments to the new Constitution and that some things would change for the old and for the veterans of Poland. In the already standing constition was noted that as citizens, which are born here, and worked here, and no longer were in the mili¬tary, all rights were denied. When someone requested a pension from Germany and received one you would only receive about 1/4. One drew then from the person in charge of the labor force ministry from the year 1968. Despite the fact that it was known in the constitution that this money was intended for this purpose. So you can see that things were done as man chose to do them. So that was all for the constitution. According to my question, as to why this law was not acted upon correctly, I received no answer. They only told me that I was born too early so that I could not enjoy all the rights of citizenship. I was counted out 1 Mark 12 Zloty and from this, they took away half. When one wanted to buy Marks, it cost you 32 zloty. When you worked from youth on and contracted for insurance and must tolerate need and poverty, there was no one to whom to turn for help and no one that cared. Man is therefore without rights when you are no longer able to be a working contributor. As of August 1974, the retirement amounts were raised, if fact from 958 zloty to 1100. As I also received retirement from Germany in the amount of 10 Mark, my retirement for that time was raised from 528 zloty to 620. Thereupon, I made a complaint to the ministry and presented them with three questions. Is the old age pension set or can you pay as one desires to pay it out? Can the minister give out for work and loans, as he chooses, regardless of the constitution? Why does the work time and military service prior to the first World War not count towards one's retirement? Must I therefore turn to the Germans? I then received a letter, but they didn't answer the questions which I presented to them. They only gave me a time chart evaluation from a letter from 16 Oct. 1953 in the which was told to me that they had figured from 1911 till 1923 = 3 years, 6 months and 8 days. This is not correct, however. Therefore I made an entry to the county court in Kattowitz. By the handling of it, it was declared to me, that the work time, and the military time, and also the time from the 2nd World War did not belong to the pension time. I asked why till this time, I was never given any information about it. I received no answer. So I turned to the German place and this was an important opportunity as I had the chance to be checked by a Doctor. It was however, unfair that I had all those years of time put in, but even then if they would give me the correct amount for the time that they say that counted. I had definitely earned it. They treated me as they wanted to. As I dealt with the Germans, it was an inheritance of sorts and had nothing to do with pension nor with my pension from the PKP. Poland took the land over and all the people therein must be treated as equals, even though they were born at a time when it belonged to another country. They must hold up the laws as they were presented. I took part from December 1918 in the army from Dowboro Musnieckkiego, worked faithfully, and was rarely sick or in the hospital. I worked until because of old age reasons, I could not any more. So why don't I deserve the same rights as others. I asked also the editor to send my letter to the correct place, so that the constitution could be fulfilled. The editor did not print my letter, but I did receive an answer. Warsaw, the 10th of March 1976 Dear Mr. Ulfik, We inform you that you are not the only pensioner which has turned to us for help. Unfortunately we cannot undertake any of this as it has to do with the "Ausland" foreign lands. One can not bring this into the constitution and it is not anchored with the constitution. As it is known to us, we advise you to contact the PKO bank and not directly to us. With respect Hanna Frydrychowicz Manager of the department of information The editor Slowa Powchechnego gives to such questions, no answer. This is understandable as we should not work against the ministry. Article 10 of the constitution says that the inheritance from property, businesses, and factories was not to be handled and must be respected. This is not so and the constitution is handled as one so chooses to do. The constitution was used for the party, so that it is for their benefit and not for the benefit of the people. It is so that a man who has worked his entire life has no value when he no longer is working. A man who has worked and been in the military and has no value to society and therefore no rights to a pension. A Change Which Occurred After the end of the 2nd World War occured a big change for the pensioner and invalids. The State wanted to take them under their wing. The people, which were born before the war and worked and served in the military should all receive a pension. This was said and then later was changed and no longer acknowledged. I explain now how the beginning of my pension time began in Poland. One kilo of bread cost then 2 zloty and a double zentner cost 160 zL. After the calculation of my pension from 1 Sep. 1951, I received monthly 113.36 zl. The amount for my wife was 15 zloty and for 3 children 175.50 zlotys, together then 303.86 zloty. As of 1 Jun 1953, the pension was increased and I received 199.00 for myself 15 zl. for my wife, and 145 zl. for my children, therefore 359.00 Zl. As of 1 July 1956, it was raised to 257 and on 1. 1. 1957 I received 787.22 zl. and as of 4.Jan. 1968, I received from Germany a pension for my son who was lost in the war in the amount of 80 Marks monthly. It was a total of 718 zl. Half was taken away and I received 359 zl. This brought my pension to 1221.00 zl. As of 1 Jan. 1969 my pension of 952 zl. and the pension from Germany in the rate of 359 for a total of 1311.00 zl. As of 1 Jan. 1970 my pension raised to 958 and from Germany I received 100 Mark monthly and the exchange at the time was 681 zl. I received only about 341. So now I received a sum of 1329 monthly, as we received 30 zl. for my wife. As of 1 Jul. 1973 the exchange changed and I received 1390 zl. The pension was raised again on 1 Jan. 1975 to 1100 zl. and the exchange rate of the Mark changed again and I received then 480 zl. and in total 1580 zl. As of 1 May 1977 on the Polish Holiday and because many pensioners had already passed away, the pension was again raised to 2000 zl. For the total of 2980 zl. monthly. As of 1 Feb. 1978, the exchange went up so that even with the amount taken out, I received 543 zl. From this time on my pension from the PKP was 2000 zl. And I therefore received a total of 3043 zl. a month. This was the change, where one cared more for all the people. Since 1977 came also the ruling that all over the age of 80, received the costs for radio and TV. This was a big relief for many people. As of 1976 there was in Koschentin, every year a big Christmas celebration and we received Christmas gifts. This was a big change after 30 years. My German Trip Despite my great age and all that I had seen in Germany (at the time of Wilhelm the 2nd), I wanted again to visit Germany, as I had a brother living in Germany. For a permission for a trip, one must receive an invitation from German relatives. Then send this, along with two photographs to the appropriate office in Germany. I had already done this as of April 1979 and made notification here at the Pass office at Lublin and at the police station on 17 July 1979. I had to obtain a form and get stamps for the all the costs about 100 zl. Then I had to wait with great patience for the summons. Then I had to buy stamps in the value of 1000 zl. As the travel agent, came Jan Czaja. Many people at this time were making arrangments for passes for a visit to Germany. As I received my pass, I had to then drive to Kattowitz and there had to continue to make arrangements for the trip. There were about 150 people waiting for passes from this office. This was the end of July and I had to wait in line. It took the entire day. As I was now in position, the first question was concerning the money for the trip. And I had this in German Marks which my brother had forwarded to me through the bank in Aachen, 150 German Mark. Also the money for the trip as far as Aachen in the amount of 112 Mark. The bank in Kattowitz, therefore gave me 38 Mark back. This was the most important of the arrangements. I still had to go one more time to the office to get all my papers. The travel agent, Jan Czaja brought me the completed papers. From Kattowitz we drove to Posen and from there with the inter-train on 30 Jul. 1979 at about 20 hours in the day. This was a train which traveled the stretch from Moskau, Warsaw, Posen, Frankfurt, Berlin, Hannover, Köln, Aachen and then on through to Paris. From Posen we had a one hour delay. It was a very long train and left finally at about 21.30. hours. It was a comfortable and nice trainride and everyone had an assigned place. Most of the travelors went to West Germany. We drove the entire night and got into Berlin in the dark. So we couldn't see much of the "wall". At the German-Polish border there was the Polish border patrol and in Frankfurt came the German Patrol. After we were through East Germany, there came still the West German Border partrol. Everything went peacefully. In Germany, at the individual stops, many passengers disembarked. Then the overfilled train began to empty out. In Agwisgrann the last people disembarked and the train went on to Paris. About 9:30 we were finally in Agwisgrann and my brother Richard with his grandchildren, Rebekka and Ruben were there, whom I hadn't seen for many years. After a warm welcome, we went first to the bank where I received guest money in the amount of 70 Mark. I also received an invitation for visitors. At this time, there were about 4,000 visitors from the East. We were almost all over 70 years and the city of Aachen had worked out a big program. It was very nice and I had written an entire article about it, but unfortunately I had lost it. At that time, Aachen had a population of 240,000. On advice of my brother, I made a request at the welfare office for one time help and money for clothing. After a few days, I received notice that I must report at the police station and inform them as to how long I would be in Aachen. I wrote them that I would be there for 2 months and sent everything back to them. I immediately received the notice that I would receive 538 Mark at the end of August and 400 Mark for clothing. I actually wanted to leave already at the beginning of September, because this was the length of my invitation. They asked me to stay longer and so I stayed till the end of September. The life there and my life in Poland were so different. One had enough money for everything and could drive with your own car to the border. You can buy inexpensive cars and almost everyone owns one. As there are so many cars, the streets are overcrowded. Many cars are parked on the sides of the streets. You see very few policemen on the streets. The traffic is regulated with street signs, also for the pedestrians. The school children had a specific way to go. Over the street, are people who regulate the traffic. Many children are also brought to school by car. The people work 5 days a week and many go there with their own cars. The German families have very few children. Most of them have dogs, cats and birds and other animals. One can say they are a people for dogs. According to an article in a newspaper of 17 Aug. 1979, a dog will cost in about 12-14 years as much as a car. The daily expenses for a dog are about 2 Mark. Along with that comes costs for care and veterenarians. All together about 1000 Mark a year. The daily paper brings daily news about the life in Germany and through these you can see the morals of the people. Men and women live immoraly together and have no thoughts about it. The people have no beliefs anymore and act accordingly. To them nothing is sacred. Also in the Sunday services is a difference there than by us. The confession and also and the passing of the sacrament and above all the way the people prepare for them the night before. Agwisgrann had 38 parishes. I found myself in the parish of the Holy Bonifatius to which belongs 6200 believers. The church was built in 1944 in the cost of 996,000 Mark. It has no bell and is built in a new style. For a wedding, one comes in a carriage with horses or with a car. The guests all come in cars. The bridal pair doesn't go immediately into the church, rather the Priest leads them in. I drove alot in the area and spoke with many people especially to the men. I also spoke to the priest and asked about many things and was given explainations that much which I noticed that was different here as in Poland, and yet that many people still go to confession, but don't take communion. In the time that I was there, there was a great festival of the Catholics and one had to drive to the Cathedral. The Priest invited me and gave me 90 Mark for the trip and for lodging. Also he gave us entry cards and another 100 Mark. In the afternoon, the great celebration and presentation was held in front of the Cathedral and many people were there. They were from Germany, Holland, Belgium, USA and France. (This probably took place in Köln, but Jozef Ulfik does not mention where this took place) There were many believers and 2 Bishops from Gnesen. On 14 August there was a remembrance day for Maximilian Kolbig who died at Auschwitz. We also saw the old Cathedral from the VIII century, the dress of the Mother of God, cloth from Jan Chrzciciela, a consecrated wafer, and many other remembrance articles which were brought here by the German Kaiser. Many people were there. Also there were many hot spas here. They were so hot that you could actually burn yourself. It was my biggest experience of the entire trip. As the weather allowed, we visited the city and every crook and cranny of the suburbs. We also had the possibility to speak with many Germans. They did not want to be reminded of the war and each warned that we must prepare against Communism. Poland and Germany can in no way be compared. After the vote in Poland, one could see that Poland had a very God-fearing people. One saw a completely different picture of this country. In the entire time of our stay we went to church daily and therefore we got to know many of the people. I received many gifts, among them 2 suits and underwear. In the last days of our vacation we received from the Priest several remembrances, as an olive branch from Rome which the Pope blessed. I gave this to our church. On the last Sunday at church service, the Priest spoke to the entire group about us: This was on the 23rd of September 1979. Since two months there were 2 citizens of Poland and from Koschentin by Opole in Oberschlesien. They visited here their family and are returning on Tuesday to their home. The one is 71 years old and the other 87 years old. They came daily every morning to devotions. They have suffered much and only have a very small pension on which to live. They inform me that they will always remember this time, and especially above all the Holy Bonifatius day. Despite the high standard of living, here, there are still many burglaries. This is made known publicly in the newspapers, that also many people at the cost of others want to have a good life, this without working. During our visit in Germany we had long discussions with various priests and in a TV broadcast with Cardinal Höfner, much of our discussion was telecast and we spoke of the time of Communism and about many murders, which at that time seemed to be connected. Cardinal Höfner was brought on TV because of his outspokenness on this subject. As far as I know, he came into a situation with the government and left this topic alone without explanation. On the last Sunday in September there were elections here, but we already left on Tuesday and we had no further news of this. We could only see the preparations for the vote, on TV, billboards, and through the newspapers. The biggest parties in Germany were the SPD, CSU, and CDU and FDP. From the other parties, you did not hear much. The biggest party in Agwisgrann was the CDU and CSU as most people here were Catholic. Many inhabitants here are foreigners and feel happy here and none wish to return to their homelands. Most of them speak German very well already. Their children go to German schools. In the papers it stated that the guest workers could get German citizenship and would receive permission to vote. Many Poles always try to go to Germany to live and get a better life and a freer life. Many of them, lost their religious beliefs and their moral values. The advertisements for clothing, furniture, food, and comfort items, are simply thrown into the garbage. The homes are heated electrically, and they cook with gas. As for clothing that no one wants anymore, you simply put it out in a sack at the front door and it is picked up by a governmental car. There are many good things there, which people no longer want to wear. At the stores there are no long lines. Only at the beauty shops, was it so. Early in the morning it would always be full. You can see many people walking their dogs which dirtied the sidewalks and the streets very much. The streets were daily cleaned by the cars that went through. From our German trip, I had several requests from friends of things to be given up at the monastery at Agwisgrann. We didn't know where to go and my brother, myself, and my tour guide went to the monastery by taxi. The monastery was on a hill and hidden by many trees. It was a wonderful place. It was such a sight for the eyes to behold, that it is still a vision in my mind to this day. The person for whom we had a letter was not their and after a short visit we left. Beginning in September, we were visited by Viktor Smuda with his wife and his son in their own car. You can see that he has a good life as he weighs 118 Kg. He eats very well and alot and drinks good wine and later doesn't worry at all about it. He has a pension of 1900 Mark a month and so with this much money, he has an excellent lifestyle. He left Poland in poverty and from all his experiences, he is very ill and his hands shake so much that he can do no more work. He has great homesickness for Poland and I write him from here, that he should be happy and enjoy his life in Germany. If it helps, I don't know. Another acquaintance Stasi Ochojca came with his wife to visit us. He did not stay long. We went into the town to shop and he gave us a package to take along. 25 September was the day of our departure. We both had two large suitcases, packages, and packets. We drove off promptly to the train station and bought our tickets. The train left at 13.30, and as we still had some time, we drove first to Köln to the grave of my brother Hieromina, which was badly injured in the 1st World War and died in January 1918 in the hospital at Köln-Lindenthal. We found his grave and even a plaque with his name on it. After a short prayer, we drove on back. We drove on the freeway and the ride was comfortable and without bother. After a time, we came back to the train station. As we approached, the train stood waiting and after we stowed all the baggage, it drove off promptly. The train was almost empty, as few people drove from here to Poland. First at the next stop, did it get fuller. The pass controls were all in the train and over the Polish border and we had a comfortable trip without any excitement. We had a delay in Posen, as our train to Kattowitz had already left. At 8 o'clock a train was leaving to Kluczborg and from there to my home. The transfer was very hard for us because of much heavy baggage, which we had with us. We had to carry everything ourselves.At 14.30 we finally arrived at Koschentin and everyone asked us how things were in Germany, as because of our baggage we were noticed by everyone. After much thought which I had about my trip, the most noteworthy was all the comforts of life, which they had and the new technology and the friendliness overall. The people have money and with this they can buy everything they want. There is everything you want to eat and at many celebrations there is wine to drink and other alcholic beverages. Much of the food comes from Holland, Belgium, and Italy and even other countries. The money is enough for everything. After examining everything, I conclude that everything is for the dogs. Despite all the good that they had, I am at peace with my homeland and my house, where I passed my youth, much good and also much bad with occurred through Poland or Germany. I want no silver, also no gold. For this you can't buy health or eternal life. What do the German papers write about the 2nd World War? At the time of my stay in Germany, the war was already 40 years past. On 1 Sep. 1979 I wrote the Aachener Volkszeitung Nr. 202 as follows: Today, 40 years ago the war broke out at 5.45. Germans were chased in Poland till they were bloody and dead and as this doesn't come to an end, we must take part and this we do with power. There followed still three articles. To me this information is new and don't know if it is true or not. It also doesn't matter if it is true or not. It is in concern only if you survived. This said Hitler at a speech on 22 Aug. 1939. He said that the German army and also the weapons are in readiness for a war with Poland. Hitler said on 23 May that not only Danzig was a thorn in his eye, but that he needs all to make his country unified. Hitler already said on 22 Aug. on the day of the pact between Germany and Russian not to attack each other. And also at a meeting of the ministry of Rippentrop and Molotow they were one, that if Poland is destroyed and the borders would be set. After all the preparations, the date of attack on Poland stood firm and it was on 31 Aug. 1939 at 12.40 or 1.9. at 4.40. England and France had promised to help the Poles. Hitler now had to carry the war through its end. There was no other way. He found his end in Berlin in a Bunker after 5 1/2 years. And now the place for him was his grave. On 22 Sep. 1939, Hitler also said that the Germans had nothing to lose, only much to win. We are so closely populated that we must be able to spread ourselves out. There is no other way. On 1 Sep. 1939, the German army stepped over the Polish border, to this Danzig came under German occupation and with the fight over the Western regions, everything came under German hands because the Polish army was not prepared for the attack. Warsaw was also attacked. Hitler said at a speech on 1 Sep. that Poland shot the first shots and that they were the ones to cross over the border. This they stopped and returned fire. This was also made known when Gleiwitz was taken. The Gestapo Chief in Opole said that many Germans dressed in Polish uniform began of the war and this was made public, as a SS doctor and also a commandant of the SS witnessed it. Everything spread, so that the world would know how it began. He attacked Poland, but Hitler always said that his greatest enemy was England. At a speech at his office, Hitler said England can see that we are becoming a big land and strong and they would experience it. England is our enemy and works against us like a magnet. Through a pact between England, France and Russia, he thinks that he can guarantee his land. Italy and Japan must all suffer under the pressure of England and France. In this speech he also gave the plan for Holland and Belgium. Through the intense fight in Russia he wanted through his land robbery in the West to have a big hold. England had an entrance at the Mediteranean and therefore Holland, Belgium and France could be overcome by Germany and then they would have a strong blockade. In the year 1938 and the beginning of 1939 Hitler tried to bring Poland to his side. He said that Danzig and the corridor would come to Germany and all areas that through the pact at Versailles would be returned to Germany. It should also be allowed that Germany could build a highway through Poland. Even then he tried to convince Poland. The Polish minister, General Beck, did not go along as he thought that Germany was only using Poland for their plans. Hitler said that he wanted to spread over the Ukraine to the Black Sea. Poland wanted to be free and neither belong to Germany or to Russia. On 31 March, it was made known by Chamberlain, that he, if it was necessary, would help Poland fight against Germany. Already since 1925, England wanted to be certain that the Polish borders were safe. The London government also had to be certain that the Polish borders were secure from an attack by Hitler. At a conference in London and Paris it became known that the unification of Rumania, Greece and Turkey against the possible attack of Hitler needed to be maintained. Through Hitler and Stalin, the 2nd World War began. On 15 Apr. 1939, England approached Russia with the request for a pact to protect the borders of Poland. Russia told the English that they prefered to stay out of a war between Poland and Germany. At a conference of the great powers, Finland was also abstaining. Poland saw how it was all going and that Russia wanted to come to their aid. But they did not want any red hats in their land. Germans and Russians again had a conference and wanted to turn London and Paris aside. In the end, London could do no more and had to see how everything would go. Hitler was very unified with Stalin and Stalin stood on the side of Hitler. Hitler paid Stalin for his work. Instead that Stalin would start a war with the capitalistic lands, instead he tried to bring all to Communism. He hoped that after a war, it would be so. After a war, the capitalistic lands would be weakened and he called for a Communistic revolt. And so this was he could cash in his money. According to his plan, he would turn all the lands to Communism. Hitler paid Stalin for the contract which he closed with him on 24 Aug. 1939, with no public knowledge. Secret documents disclosed how he planned to divide the lands. Poland, Lithuania, Finland, and Bessarabia should go to Russia. The borders in Poland should be the rivers Piza, Narew, and Vistula to the Russians. Everything to the west should belong to Germany. The Russians wanted to stay out of the war till the people were weak and bloodied so that it would be easy to take them over. The Czechs were to remain neutral till the end of the capitalist might. After this should they become Communistic. At the end of the pact on 25 August at 15 hours and at 26 Aug. at 4.45 hours were two attacks. Hitler didn't take the English seriously and thought that Chamberlain would hold England back. He would not help Poland. At a pact of Poland with England it was guaranteed that France would give its support. Hitler tried to isolate Poland. Göring had a good friend in Sweden by the name of Berger Dahlerius and he wanted to go to England for the Germans. He did not make it. Also not in France. Hitler and Köder did their games with Alsace-Loraine. Hitler overthrough Poland. Mussolini tried again against Hitler. and by 3 Sep. 1939 at 11 hours England and France announced war against Germany. In one point, Hitler was correct. He said in a speech that when he sees the first German soldier take off the black uniform, this was the end, but this will never happen and no one would survive. The Aachener newspaper wrote this 40 years after the beginning of the war. As the 2nd World War broke out, it was made known by the General, that this war would destroy Poland. Today's news of the army on 1 Sep. 1939 to the army soldiers, the hour has broken, we had much patience and all our efforts for a peaceful solution were of no success, we must now fight. We do this only because we want to have our lives and our rights as Germans. Our young German army will show what we have to risk. We want to show our leader how we can fight and win. We build for a unification of all Germans and help with this. We know that we are strong and we fight for the leader (Hitler) and for God and for Germany. This was the news and thus the war began. The beginning of my 90th year of life: I had once imagined the days of my old age very differently. It was very hard to get used to the old age, but I had to finally realize that I am old. And I felt it also. As I was 80 years old, I didn't want to admit that I was old. Wanted to still be in my youth. Many of my acquaintances had already died, and those that still live were trying to prepare for an eternal life. I am still feeling well and take it as a gift from God. But still with every passing year, we get older. In comparison to many, I have lived a healthy life and have tried to keep good health. I led a normal life and drank no alchohol, have never smoked and never any dance entertainment. I never did anything bad in my youth. My young years were filled by the army and the first World War. I was often in danger and in many battles in Germany and in France in the German uniform. In my time of work from 1912-14 and in the wartime from 1914 till 1920 there were the best days of my youth. There were many bad times in between but with God's help, I was able to survive everything and returned to a normal life. The entire wartime I heard no church bells, no children's noises, and no girl's voices. As I again heard these sounds, there was great joy in my heart. Now, as I don't want to admit my great age, I have convinced myself that age has its own set of rules, and that we must all leave the earth and find our eternity. When I compare my life to others, I find that I now have it easier, and don't have to worry about my past and therefore find myself sick. Many are no longer alive. Young people have asked me, how I feel about my age. I said to them, the most important is our health and we must turn our lives in that direction. The first stroke in my life was at 89 years, as I suddenly became ill. I would not have even noticed it at first, and went to the doctor, because I didn't feel well. Wanted to know what this meant. After an examination, he determined that I had hepatitis and had to go immediately into the hospital at Lublin. This was the first time that I had to go to the hospital. On 12 Mar. 1981 my daughter took me to the hospital in Lublin. There was a doctor from our community and I was very glad about that, as I had no idea that he worked there. I still couldn't believe this and so I asked a nurse about this. Right after my admittance into the hospital, I was brought to my room. From now on I had no contact with the outside world. I was isolated. The room had a sun stool, a chair, a night stand and a bed. There was also a mattress, bedding, pillow and a quilted cover, all in white in this room. The bed was 60 cm high. I could sleep well on it. The room had a central heating system. But it wasn't very well heated. Twice daily visitors could come. In the morning and at night the doctors came and sometimes an entire staff of nurses. Sometimes they examined me and sometimes they only questioned me as to how I felt. All was cared for and the caretakers were polite. As I was weighed, I was 58 Kg. Often they made blood tests and urine tests. Radio was not in the hospital. The religious trust was given to Father Oblat who came on Saturday and Sunday. The sacrament was passed and a small picture. At Easter many went home and we were only 5 men and a couple of women. Easter was very quiet and in the spirit of the Holy ghost. On 24 April, 1981 I was released and I was taken by ambulance to my home. As I was at home, I had no pain, but felt very weak. But I still went daily to the church. On 30 April, I fell at the cemetary and injured my forehead and my backside. They took me into the church and they bound me and then I had to stay there for a while. The Priest brought me the sacrament. The ambulance picked me up and took me home. And they rewrapped me and then they left and this was now past. I had a swollen eye and could not leave the house. On 16 May I could finally go to church. One year after another passed and who knows what still awaits us. I take all that the Lord gives to me. The young years are passed and the old age comes unwanted death stands at the door So I live my last years for the Lord. I find myself watching the people and having thoughts about the world and eternity. As the old age nears, I had thoughts of my youth, which I spent with different people, in different lands. This I can say about life, it is a fight which we ourselves must live through. We must always be prepared to fight and must watch carefully. How wonderful is peace and freedom, which we will sometime have, where love and freedom and concern of people is. The world would be wonderful and the people wouldn't suffer so if they would live in peace and love. Since my youth, after I left the home of my parents, I met people that had other beliefs or completely different religion. They felt themselves so free and well as long as they weren't sick and as long as they were young. The Gospel teachings which are held in the church by scripture, say they when one lives as such, they will not reach Heaven. In the wartime I met many people and one among them was Lutheran and he expressed his beliefs as he had been taught. I always wanted to discuss religion with many people. I always came back to the belief that the Catholic church was built upon the wounds of Christ and upon the apostles in which we should believe. The Lutheran man could not believe this and I instructed him about this. I spoke about all the things that we learned in the Catholic faith. I explained to him about the sin against the Holy Ghost, and told him that we should always listen to and obey the Lord, as he required this. In the Lutheran religion is only taught that man should not sin and that even confession is not the practice. Our next conversation was in regards to the Vatican and the pope. In the middle years of the church and as Luther stood out against it, many followed him. In this time we had 2, and even 3 popes. I said this to him, that this was due to difference of opinions before the church was unified. Because of the pope, in the time of the kings there were different lands such as Austria, Germany, and France and Spain which wanted to be involved in the inner circles of the church. This included the vote for the pope, they wanted to have rights in this matter and every land wanted to have an apostel in their ranks. As this was not allowed, they voted themselves their own pope, greatly hurting the Catholic church. The vote of the pope Pius VII took from November 1799-March 1800. Austria wanted the seat for the Pope. This was in the time of many wars against the church. These wars took place till the outbreak of the 1st World War. It was the fight of masses against the house of the kings. In Poland there are no kings anymore but after the 2nd World War we had Communism and Socialism. The people and the farmers had it even worse than under the kings. Before the 1st World War we were under the Germans, as I have already expressed. Many, Many years before us our ancestors lived here They lived always happily as there was unity and love amongst them And we wonder what there is today the difference sees Satan himself. A Torn World People speak of the many new electronic inventions which are for the good of the working man. There are also many discoveries which are dangerous for the entire world and that hurt freedoms and the love between fellow men. As I think back upon my youth, in the 19th and 20th centuries, there were so many new inventions in this time. I remember about the first bicycles and later the cars and then the airplanes. These were used in the First World War. Then began the first air war battles. After the war, they invented TV and many machines and industrial machinery. The world was happy about these discoveries and thought we had Heaven on earth. Man discovered so many new things but still no way to peace and freedom between people. It gets worse all the time between people and there is no solution. We survived this war and what were the spoils? A war takes place to conquer all the places and have control over them. In the year 1926 Pilsutzki took over the government of Poland only through power which he had in the army. In 1939 Hitler destroyed this freedom and governed Poland. So on one side we had Hitler and the other we had Stalin. Hitler on the West of Poland and Stalin had Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. It was now these two, who divided up Europe. Later, however, the led a war against each other and Stalin changed the fronts and was connected with the western front. Hitler lost the war, as he lost all to Stalin. The Polish border moved to the Oder and Neisse and the people stood under the control of the Russian Socialism, under the power of Moscow. In Poland, the party that ruled was called the peoples' party of Poland. The people now had nothing to say and could only listen and do the work they were told to do. The party was the power and held everything in their hands. The government and the TV stations were all under their authority. Anyone who disagreed was pointed out as a dissident. The court and everything were under this party influence. We could only belong and when there was an election, we were to put our cross. The government was separate from the party and had to do everything they wanted. Therefore, no one had any rights. At the end of July 1980, the working people worked for a common goal in the various occupations. As this was not allowed there came disagreements and stife. They wanted to set forth their plans. At the beginnings of the strike, they tried to force them down, but they continued for the good of the laborers. There were many speeches and meetings and many points of debate. This was the time of Solidarity (Solidarnosc). They wanted to get rid of the Moscow rule, as solidarity was for a free vote and freedom in many ways. As this came out the party became financial stable and made 24 million dollars. They held themselves to the government and the party. The party secretary, who at that time was Edward Gierek was thrown out of the party and everything continued as previously. In his stead was Stanislaw Kania, but not for long. In the meantime the poverty of the land was continually worsening. The stores were empty and you couldn't buy anything anymore. And the national debt was 27 million dollars. The solidarity party called for a vote and reform. General Jarozelski took the place of Kania. Despite this things continued to worsen. General Jarozelski was called to Moscow and upon his return a war situation was declared on 12 Dec. 1981. Therefore General Jarozelski declared all the land and people in war and he wanted to set his own sons to fight against their own people. The solidarity followers were empowered. They took away their rights and those who fought against them were taken to the courts. The war courts stood under bayonettes of Russia and in Poland the bank collapse stood at the door. The powerful were on the side of the government and they allowed nothing. The government held to the Moscow laws and there was no vote. Moscow had the atom bomb and who cared if the people were starving. The working mass kept quiet, and he who could, emigrated to the west. The western lands sent packages here and helped a small part in the poverty. The mail was censored and so you could not write anything. Jarozelski was the general and he had the governmental power and the "say". He stood under the power of Moscow and all the government was under the military rule. We now had a bigger prisoner camp than before. He liked it this way and thus he handled things.