Gallery – Interwar Borderlands

Young men, boys really, were recruited into the Polish army to counter Russian aggression

personal collection

Before WWII

Poland

Albin Matylonek entered the Polish Army in 1938

The families Góral and Radomski, linked by sister Kazia and brother Walery who all lived in the Kresy, in the eastern borderlands of Poland.

Alec Dyki

Poland

Photo of Roman's mother, Catherina

Private

Early family portrait, 1916, Stryj, Poland

Private

My father in his younger days.

Private

Before WWII

Poland

Rowne

What was once Roman's parents' home in the town of Stryj, Galicia, photo taken in the 1960s. Only one house, but it has been occupied variously by (so far) five countries: Austro-Hungary, Poland, Germany, the Soviet Union and the Ukraine.

After WWII

Ukraine

Stryj

Roman, age 16, with one of his six sisters (Olga), in downtown Stryj, circa 1937

Before WWII

Poland

Stryj

Family orchard photo, 1936. l to r: Irka, Basil Skulski, Roman (holding Cygan), Stefa and Ziuta

Before WWII

Poland

Stryj

School ID card, Roman V. Skulski, Stryj, Galicia (formerly eastern Poland)

Before WWII

Poland

Stryj

Ipn File - Adam Zak 1919-1941
(Son of Jan Zak) perished in Siberia

Adam Zak 1919-1941
(son of Jan Zak) Perished in Siberia

Marshal J. Pilsudski State Humanistic Lyceum in Stryj. The building was blown up by the retreating Hungarian Army in 1944.

Before WWII

Poland

Stryj

Adam Zak 1885-1936 (brother of Jan Zak), was spared the exile to Siberia having died in 1936, although his wife Aniela (nee Chmiel) was not so fortunate.

Adam Zak 1885-1936 (brother of Jan Zak), was spared the exile to Siberia having died in 1936, although his wife Aniela (nee Chmiel) was not so fortunate.

Russian Amnesty Database Records (31/08/41) of what they called ‘Special Settlement’ areas basically their Gulag Labour Camps.

Jan Zak 1882-1942 & Aniela Zak 1899-1942 (Arrived in the region 23/02/40)

Jan Zak born 1882/3 the eldest and one of 3 Sons (Adam & Teofil) of Marcin Zak & Katarzyna Zak (nee Dobrzanska) he was a Blacksmith and had a farm in Leszinów Poland now part of the Ukraine. He was exiled to Siberia along with 14 other family members in 1940. He survived the 2 years in Siberia only to die on the train to freedom near a Railway Station called Aktyubinsk (now called the City of Aktobe in Kazakhstan in Feb1942.

Before WWII

Poland

Leszinów

Catholic Church in Leszinów (colourised) now just a Ruin.

Poland

Leszinów

Jan & Aniela Zak (Colourised)

Poland

Leszinów

Czeslaw Dawid with wife. Note barbed wire in the background.

Private

Before WWII

Poland

Traditional Polish Marriage of Czeslaw Dawid and Maryla.

odpis KA . zgonów wojsowych w Rosji, poz. 475

Information regarding the death details of Stanisław Łojewski in Guzar, Russia. Letter from the local authority of Grajowa in Poland taken from army records.

Private

After WWII

Poland

Grajewo

September 1939 Campaign

(Polski) Ppor. Mieczysław Dudaniec z kolegą Jankiem - foto z 1938 r - udostępnił Wiktor Dudaniec - syn

Wiktor Dudaniec

Poland

(Polski)

Ppor. Mieczysław Dudaniec z kolegą Jankiem - foto z 1938 r - udostępnił Wiktor
Dudaniec - syn

Wiktor Dudaniec

Poland

Genowefa at First Communion

Genowefa Matkowski

Before WWII

Poland

Wolyn

In Poland, before WWII

Genowefa Matkowski

Before WWII

Poland

Wolyn

Postcard from Wojciech to his wife, 10 XI 1918

Genowefa Matkowski

Before WWII

Poland

Postcard from Wojciech to his wife, 29 X 1918

Genowefa Matkowski

Before WWII

Poland

Front of card

Genowefa Matkowski

Before WWII

Poland

Franciszek Karol Matkowski - Kapitan 45-ty Pulk Piechoty, Rowne, Wolyn

Genowefa Matkowski

Before WWII

Poland