Testimonies – Polish 2nd Corps

A typed/condensed version of my Grandfather's original handwritten Memoir

Jozef contacts the Ministry of Defence in the UK and learns that they have his father’s possessions and that they will send them to him via Diplomatic post. Jozef is …

Jozef lists the items that were among his father’s possessions, including a letter that his father had written to him but never got the chance to send.

Andrzej describes how and when he received the medal, in May 1946

Andrzej tells of the sadness among the Polish soldiers in Italy, when they had to surrender their arms to the British.

Aleksander describes how a bomb from a German plane fell only a few feet from him, during the fighting at Loretto Italy.

Tadeusz describes how they liquidated arms and vehicles in Italy, and then made their way to England.

Ewa describes how she and her parents lived in Teheran, including the apartment that her father rented for them.

Bernarda describes how she met her husband at the hospital, where he was sent after being injured at Monte Cassino, and they married. She spent some time in Palestine where …

This is the life story of Ludwik Cytera as discovered and written up by his grandson Christopher Cytera.

Describing how his Uncle was promoted in the Polish 2nd Corps, and eventually replaced General Maczek and served in the iPAD in Meppen.

Describing the set up of the hospital and dealing with the massive number of wounded from the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Describing the condition of the hospital – all the windows were blown out by the bombing. Wounded were arriving from all the battles after Cassino.

Describing how she met her husband and he asked her to marry him the next day. They were married after only 5 meetings.

Describing how he attended school during the Italian campaign, with a view to becoming an officer.

Explains the reasons why Poles continued to fight in the war

Describing how he took a German POW back to base, on his motorcycle.

Describes receiving the medals during the Italian campaign.

Describing the hospitals in the area, and the huge number of injured and dead at Monte Cassino.

Describing his participation at the battle of Monte Cassino

Describing how she and the other Women’s Auxiliary members would hide under their beds during the bombing, and would later joke about it.

Describing an incident involving a bridge that she had to cross at night, in the rain.

Describes how a Polish soldier with an American companion approached her while she was standing guard over the vehicles one evening, threatening damage, and having to fire a warning shot.

Describing the ammunition and goods they delivered, and the parts of Italy she went through.

This video clip is from the documentary “Moja młodość, moje szczęście, mój świat…“ (My youth, my good luck, my world). Scenario & realization: Joanna and Piotr Perczyński, Photos & mounting: …