News

The Museum has received memorabilia of the Lance Corporal Rifles of the 45th Infantry Regiment Zygmunt Krysztafkiewicz (1908-1942), a prisoner-of-war in stalags IV A Elsterhorst and IV B Mühlberg. They were donated by Michał Kubak, for whom this was not his first contact with our Museum. Earlier, the donor had obtained from our institution information about the fate of his uncle, Zygmunt Krysztafkiewicz (no. 11241), who was taken to captivity in Łuck on 19 September, 1939. After his release from the stalag, in circumstances that remain unexplained, Z. Krysztafkiewicz was taken to KL Auschwitz (1941), where he died on 20 June, 1942.

Among memorabilia, as far as quantity is concerned, dominates correspondence in the form of postcards, Kriegsgefangenenpost prisoner-of-war letter sheets, and traditional letters - altogether 74 objects. The collection is supplemented by seven photographs, probably taken in Stalag IV A Elsterhorst, presenting Polish prisoners of war.

Zygmunt Kryształkiewicz was not the only victim of World War II in his family. A  post cart dated August 4, 1940, sent to him to Stalag IV Elsterhorst, has the following poignant content: "We tearfully tell to you that we have news about Henry, unfortunately, a bad one! Bogdan cycled to Palmiry, where Henry had last been seen, and after some research he found with the head of the village, Henry's metal plate, marked with his own engraving, among other ones kept in a chest! Could we have any hope left now? It plunged us into heavy pain. Remember him in your heartfelt prayers, also pray for solace for us. The bereaved - Mom and sisters”.

The Collections and Conservation Department has begun a scholar description of the gift.