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From 22 to 26 August, Dr. Piotr Stanek, head of the Museum’s Research Department, searched London archives for new information about prisoners-of-war, especially Captain Witold Pilecki and other Warsaw insurgents in German captivity.

Our colleague began his research at Ealin Common, where, right next to the underground station, is an inconspicuous building, housing an institution which is known to every historian who deals with the subject of the Second World War - The Polish Underground Movement Study Trust.  In the atmospheric study, he was helped by the staff, including Ms. Krystyna Zatylna, to whom we would like to extend our thanks for her kindness to Piotr Stanek.

The next place of research was The National Archives, wherein previously ordered documents had awaited for the historian, and King's College Archives, located near the station Temple Underground Station, made famous by one of the James Bond films, and right next to the medieval Templar temple popularised in Dan Brown's novel.

At King's College Archives, our colleague came across, among other things, interesting materials on the chief British camp doctor in Stalag 344 Lamsdorf, Colonel T.J. Wilson. There is among them a pledge not to escape owing to it he could move freely around the camp and provide help to others. Also, the documents contained of pictures from the funeral of a British prisoner-of-war, E.J. Granger, and a photo of a Wehrmacht wreath. Dr. Piotr Stanek completed his researches at The Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum.

The archival researches carried out in the past week were financed from funds of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage within the framework of the 2017-2022 INDEPENDENCE Multiannual Programme. The results of the searches will be presented later this year, primarily in the biography of Captain Witold Pilecki. You will be informed by us about its publication.