News
New 'war mother' correspondence in the CMJW’s collection
Even more interesting artefacts have been donated to the Museum's collections. This time it is a collection of correspondence of one of the so-called "war mothers" with Polish prisoners-of-war held in various types of camps.
The new Museum collection consists of 25 cards and two letter sheets sent between 1942 and 1944. Their addressee was Zofia Zaręba, who was better known in the correspondence as Zarębianka. She was definitely an unusual and very courageous woman. Besides supporting prisoners-of-war, she was involved in the Home Army’s activities. In her flat in Żelechów Zofia organised a training and briefing quarter for the resistance movement, as well as provided it as a place to store weapons. She worked as a nurse and cared for children and those who were forcibly removed from the Zamość region.
To help the prisoners-of-war, Zofia Zaremba involved the inhabitants of the villages neighbouring her home villages in the process. She organised collections there, which later financed parcels sent to oflags, stalags and POW working parties. The donated collection consists of requests to send food and clothing, as well as thanks and expressions of gratitude, also from the prisoners of Stalag VIII B Lamsdorf. Basil Chomenko and Marian Pora were among 19 men who were supported by Zofia Zaręba during their captivity in Lamsdorf.
The collection was donated by her daughter. Thank you very much!
