Hall of Testimonies

Matylda Kłębek

I remember that in 1939 / 1940, it was a very frigid winter. Our grandparents from Kielc came to visit us. Mother’s parents came. Also two Aunties. But because winter was so bad, Mother said to them “You have no obligations, so you will go back to you homes when the weather improves.” And then on Feb 10th, came the knock on the door. Two Russians – NKWD – they knocked on the door. Actually, they did not knock, they banged on the door. They placed Father against the wall, and they told Mother to pack our things. Except the one that was speaking with mother – they gave us 20 minutes time – the one that spoke with Mother was very human (the other one was sharp, unapproachable – the one holding a rifle to our father). He whispered to mother “You are going very far away, I cannot say where, but it is very far, and it will be very cold” I remember this, because I heard him say it. “Whatever you have of value, and whatever will keep you warm, you should take” Then they took us to the Sarna train station. All of us together. And there were all the families from all the settlement already there. Crowds and crowds of people were waiting for the train. Then they brought a cattle train. I don’t remember how many people were put in each wagon. But there were two levels of wooden bunks in the wagon, and an iron stove was in the centre, and on one side there was an opening in the floor of the wagon – that was the toilet.

English