Dear Group:

?

Below is an email I sent to Andrew Sullivan, a normally right-wing blogger who was a guest on the HBO show "Real Time With Bill Maher" yesterday.? Try to watch this week's Bill Maher if you can.

?

Pozdrawiam,

Eve Jankowicz

USA

-----

Andrew:

?

I wanted to let you know that you were incorrect and?entirely out of line regarding the United States coming to the aid of?Eastern Europe.? As you know?Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland began World War II in 1939.? Simultaneously Poland was invaded by the USSR on her long Eastern borders.??Not one single country came to Poland's aid to?help its citizens fight off this dual slaughter, and Poland was almost annihilated.??Then began the long war years of oppression, deportation to Siberia of millions of its Eastern citizens, incarceration, starvation, enslavement, and wholesale murder of Poland by both the USSR and Germany.? When the entire city of?Warsaw rose against the Nazis, the Russian army?(at that time our allies) watched as the city was destroyed, starved, and?murdered.? Again the world watched and did nothing, giving the?Russian army a free pass to do what it would, which in this case was nothing.

?

During the war Poland served and gave valiantly to the war effort as both an ally and for its own freedom.? This?service was without parallel.??Men and women served bravely on many fronts:? in Poland's own Underground Army, with the Polish Forces Under British Command in Europe and elsewhere, and with the Soviet Army fighting the Nazis from the East.??This is just the tip of the iceberg regarding what Polish citizens did for the war effort and how they suffered.?

?

And what was Poland's?reward?? 1).??Its?soldiers were prevented from participating in the Victory Parade in London because Stalin would?not allow this.? Roosevelt and Churchill capitulated to his demands, and?this was just one of the many times that this occurred.? 2).? Its Eastern?borderlands were given to and made part of?the USSR, and,?3).? Poland, with the rest of Eastern Europe, was promptly HANDED OVER in its entirety to the USSR.? Poland just emerged from the USSR's yoke?in?1989.

?

This was a total betrayal by the allies, of which this country was a leading member.? I suggest before you shoot your mouth off,?know your subject matter.? The United States was complicit in allowing these events?to occur.? Our "helping Eastern Europe" would be laughable if it wasn't so disgusting an opposite reality.??

?

Eve Jankowicz

?

Here is a poem I wrote last year for Rememberence Day.? After all my education from the Kresy site, I finally understood our families plight, and had my father lived... these were words I would have liked to have finally told him. Perhaps for new members just starting,??this will be helpful.? This is also listed in the Kresy-Siberia site under Files and has the Polish Eagle emblem for those who wish to print with the emblem.?

?

hania

?

?

Polscy Chlopcy

?

?

Lest We Forget was boldly printed on the card

To honour those who died for their countries while standing guard.

They were men and boys, young and old, weak and strong,

And each one was to be remembered with patriotic song.

?

As long as I can remember, Nov. 11th was your special day.

You shined up your war medals and donned your beret.

As veterans paid tribute with wreaths of poppies upon the square,

You proudly saluted the heavens to all the soldiers there.

?

With old trembling hands you held your card and thought to years gone by.

And every time the trumpets roared, I saw the tears that filled your eyes.

What were you thinking that brought you such pain?

Were you remembering Polscy Chlopcy that died in vain?

?

Or were you thinking of your own sorrow and how this all began

Because of greed and hatred, best expressed by man.

Were your tears for your little village and all that was once yours?

Or were your tears for the broken dreams snatched away by war.

?

Germany was creating havoc and Poland knew there might be trouble in sight

But she was assured there would be help, if she needed to fight.

Great America and England promised if needed theyd rise to the plate

But instead sat silent while Polands defeat became your fate.

?

Were your tears for the broken promises made man to man?

Or for how meaningless had become the shake of ones hand?

Germans abounded from the west and the army was ready for almighty war

But as they were pushed back, from the east came something more.

?

On Sept 17, 1939, the Rusks like hungry vultures awaiting their prey

Swarmed all around you with bayonets and for being Polish, youd pay.

They occupied quickly and took Lwow, Wilno and Luck

What did a young peasant boy know of promises the Nazis had made to the Rusks?

?

In the cold of winter, they knocked on Kresyland doors ripping people from their sleep

And yelled you have an hour to pack, dont waste the time to weep!

Old people and children were herded like cattle into the snow

And guns blasted loudly at those who said I wont go!

?

Sleds and wagons carried you to the nearest railway stations

Thus beginning for Kresowiacy, heartless and cruel deportations.

Crammed into frozen boxcars with little food and hardly room to lay

They prayed Swiety Boze i Matko Boska, please show us the way!

?

After shuffling you into prison, black raven trucks and a windowless train

They said Comrades dont cry, save your tears for future pain!

We will send you Polscy Chlopcy to Archangel and Siberia

If hunger doesnt kill you, therell be scurvy, typhoid and diptheria

?

Oh God they were right when they said

that God created heaven

and the devil created Archangel.

?

Temperatures so cold, you couldnt bear your skin,

And if you dared spit, it froze in the wind.

Newspapers and rags gently wrapped around your feet

But be damned if youd let your spirit be beat.

?

With backbreaking labour you crushed rocks for their roads

Swinging axes and shovels load after load.

For a grueling days work they fed you 700 grams of bread

Anything less and youda soon been dead.

?

At night, with barely enough clothing to warm your bones

You fell fast asleep only to dream of more stones.

And whoda thought in this land of Godforsaken ice

Millions of bedbugs? and those bastardly lice.

?

On barges and boats they shuffled you around

Then rumours of freedom started to abound.

Dirty ol Stalin had found himself in a fix,

As his good buddy Hitler pulled out a few more tricks.

?

Stalin said Polscy Chlopcy, try to understand,

This wasnt about you, I just wanted your land.

Well toast to freedom, and with a new Polish Army well work side by side.

Forget about all those men who died!

?

So with release cards and empty stomachs he set you free

You headed south where the army was supposed to be.

Sikorski and Anders waited for the Polish Army to regroup

As thousands of you half starved and sick arrived for bread and soup.

?

Were your tears for all the women and children you passed on the road

Each one beyond their years, showing scars of their merciless load?

Did you cry for the corpses they callously threw into the wind?

Or ask if this was punishment for man who had sinned?

?

The Brits gave you uniforms and a white Polish eagle to wear on your shoulder

General Anders restored your faith and put things in order.

Stalin held back your bread and insisted that Polscy Chlopcy be sent to the front.

Anders refused because he knew on Stalin he could no longer count.

?

Anders moved his army to Persia in order for Polscy Chlopcy to survive.

The Caspian Sea carried you to Pahlevi, some barely alive.

With wounded souls and bodies frail

Thousands were left behind and missed the last sail.

?

Were you thinking of this when you choked back the tears?

Knowing how much they continued to suffer for many more years.

You became a proud soldier in Polish 2nd Corps

And fought in Monte Cassino with much determined force.

?

Pulled from rags in Russia, Polscy Chlopcy passed the test

They became a great army and certainly one of the best.

Polish blood soaked the soil from your countrymen that laid dead

Amongst the shattered poppies that were already red.

?

Polscy Chlopcy stood proud and still

As they placed their countrys flag upon the captured hill.

The white eagle soared with victorious delight

For all the exiled soldiers who had won their fight.

?

The world celebrated with victory parades and promised fences to mend

But Polscy Chlopcy? were not invited to attend.

Great America and England let Stalin take your land

So what exactly you had fought for, was hard to understand.

?

To appease the Communists you were again deported and pushed aside

With spirits crushed and broken hearts, valiant soldiers cried.

Instead of paying you tribute they made you search for home in a new place

While they demobilized your army just to save face.

?

Did you weep for your family for whom you would never again see?

Or the loss of their freedoms, while you were in a new land and free?

Were your tears for Polscy Chlopcy as they were being called D.P.s

Or for the suggestions that you change your Polish name and drop the ski?

?

You remained proud to your heritage and kept your name.

This was all you had left and it bore you no shame.

On Remembrance Day, you stood alone as you remembered those who died

Because there were no Polscy Chlopsy to share your memories, at your side.

?

There was no one here that had shared your footsteps from the past.

And many of the young never cared to ask.

They had never been to war, and they didnt understand

What it really meant to lose ones land.

?

Today I stand alone, holding your polished medals at your grave,

And I thank you with all my heart for being so brave.

I thank you for the Polish heritage that you passed on to me

And for raising me in a country, where I am blessed to be free.

?

For Polscy Chlopcy, I will scatter red poppies in the wind, just for you

And I will do my best to my heritage be true.

And when the trumpets roar, I too, will salute the skies

For now I finally understand the tears in your eyes.

?

?

Written in memory of my father

Kazimierz Kaczanowski

?

?

Hania Kaczanowska 2003

?

Hania -

?

Thank you so much.? A real tearjerker, again,?and excellent as usual.? Please tell the group about your poem from last year too.? Give them the post number of the English translation please?? Some of our newer members may not have read it.

?

With my very best regards,

Eve Jesionka Jankowicz

USA

Thank you for your very kind permission.

I like to share with you the fact that many of the seniors are Polish, Russian, German, Jewish, English ?and Canadian WWII survivors. Women who worked in munition factories while their men fought in the war.

?

?Some?are war brides who joined their? husbands to start families. in Canada.

?

We do have interesting "Reminiscing Programs". I have also started a Men's Club. I hear stories about their work on ?Avro Arrow and?the Mark?2.??and the first flight of the prototype flown by Chief Test Pilot, Jan Zurakowski, on March 25, 1958.

?

I am a Recreation Therapist and have many friends who also followed their calling to work in therapy. If I have your permission I would also like to forward you heart wrenching poem to other Long Term Care Facilities (Nursing Homes) such as as part of?personal healing process for our beloved seniors.?

Blessings

Krystyna Styrna-Ejnesman


Anne Kaczanowski wrote:

Blessings

Krystyna

?

?

?

?

Please do share my poem and kindly let me know of the response to these words.?Bet you get one good story out of someone.?It is amazing how a few words can sometimes touch a person and bring out of?them a precious story that over time has become insignificant and unimportant to anyone. ?I am sure most of this group can relate to my poem, as at one time or another they ?were? that little child.?Perhaps it will trigger a memory someone has forgotten.

Krystyna wrote:

Haniu;

Thank you for sharing this lovely poem with us. It brought so many memories to me about my childhood and my relatives who had fought in the war.

?

Now I work in Long Term Care and spend my days with over 100 seniors.Many of them are veterans. I like to ask you if I could share with them your poem on Rememberance day, November 11th?

?

Blessings

Krystyna Styrna-Ejnesman

?

Helena Danielczuk wrote:

Hania what a beautiful poem and so so true. Thank you.

You should try to get it published as it is so pertinent and needs to be
available to a larger audience.

hela



Bye 4 now Hela.




>From: Anne Kaczanowski
>Reply-To: Kresy-Siberia@...
>To: Kresy-Siberia@...
>Subject: [Kresy-Siberia] Dziadek did you have a gun?
>Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2004 00:33:34 -0800 (PST)
>
>Many times when my son was small he used to ask my Dad about what it was
>like being a soldier. Dziadek did you have a gun? Did you ever kill
>anyone? My Dad would be silent not knowing how to answer....and in his
>mind, momentarily, he went into a dark and private place. Two weeks ago
>I went to visit an old army veteran and his small grandson listened to us
>talk, and the same question was asked " Dziadek did you have a gun? Did you
>ever kill anyone? And I recognized that same look come over the old mans
>face and I understood it better. I think many in this situation had
>difficulty in telling their children and granchildren what being a soldier
>really meant.
>
> I wrote this poem for Rememberence Day. 2004, for Kresy members ...
>perhaps someone experienced the same memory and might like to share this
>with their family.
>
> Enjoy and Remember!
>
>hania
>
>
>
>
>
>Dziadek, did you have a gun?
>
>
>
>
>
>The old man sat in his rocker with his grandson at his feet
>
>As he told stories from his youth, many left incomplete.
>
>The young boy played with the medals, tokens from the war.
>
>And with childhood innocence kept wanting to hear more.
>
>
>
>Dziadek were you a soldier? Dziadek did you have a gun?
>
>Dziadek, dziadek did you ever have to kill anyone?
>
>
>
>The old man nodded and let his thoughts drift back
>
>To a time when his country was heavily under attack
>
>Instead of enjoying autumn leaves and warm September nights
>
>He was handed a gun and volunteered to fight.
>
>
>
>Gone were his dreams of a future, love and romance
>
>Everyday now could be the last dance.
>
>He stared into the face of death and searched deep within his soul
>
>And asked God for answers of why this senseless toll?
>
>
>
>He had quickly become a man inside a boy
>
>And his youth was robbed of love and joy
>
>He could still hear the roar of canons that filled the air
>
>As naked evil spirits brought on misery and despair
>
>
>
>Broken dreams and shattered lives kaliedscoped the earthly floor
>
>As spirits soared amidst the smoke leaving behind the bloody war.
>
>He tried not to relive the sadness and the pain
>
>But to forget this all would mean his comrades died in vain.
>
>
>
>He felt a hand on his shoulder and heard a whisper of a long lost friend
>
>I would tell the story, if your grandson to me you would lend.
>
>I had dreams of a family, a home, remember the stories we shared?
>
>But my life was taken away from me and yours was spared.
>
>
>
>Dziadek, dziadek did you have a gun?
>
>Dziadek, dziadek did you have to kill anyone?
>
>
>
>Looking down into the eyes of his grandson it all became very clear,
>
>As he again had to become a proud soldier and wiped away a tear.
>
>His gnarled old hand brushed back the hair of the tiny little face
>
>It was his duty to teach this boy and to hide the truth would be a
>disgrace.
>
>
>
>Yes my child, your dziadek was a soldier and yes I had a gun
>
>But my war was not a game and I never shot for fun.
>
>When you are older you will understand the job I had to do.
>
>And now I understand what I gave up, I did for you.
>
>
>
>hania kaczanowska 2004
>
>
>
>
>
>---------------------------------
>Do you Yahoo!?
> Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page. www.yahoo.com/a

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*
KRESY-SIBERIA GROUP = RESEARCH REMEMBRANCE RECOGNITION
"Dedicated to researching, remembering and recognising the Polish citizens
deported, enslaved and killed by the Soviet Union during World War Two."
*
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Do you Yahoo!?
Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page.
*
KRESY-SIBERIA GROUP = RESEARCH REMEMBRANCE RECOGNITION
"Dedicated to researching, remembering and recognising the Polish citizens
deported, enslaved and killed by the Soviet Union during World War Two."
*
Discussion site :
Gallery (photos, documents) :
Film and info :
*
To SUBSCRIBE to the discussion group, send an e-mail
saying who you are and describing your interest in the group to:
Kresy-Siberia-owner@...
*

Haniu;

Thank you for sharing this lovely poem with us. It brought so many memories to me about my childhood and my relatives who had fought in the war.

?

Now I work in Long Term Care and spend my days with over 100 seniors.Many of them are veterans. I like to ask you if I could share with them your poem on Rememberance day, November 11th?

?

Blessings

Krystyna Styrna-Ejnesman

?

Helena Danielczuk wrote:

?

Many times when my son was small he used to ask my Dad about what it was like being a soldier.? Dziadek did you have a gun? Did you ever kill anyone? My Dad would be silent not knowing how to answer....and in his mind, momentarily, ?he went into a dark and private place.? ? Two weeks ago I went to visit an old army veteran and his small grandson listened to us talk, and the same question was asked " Dziadek did you have a gun? Did you ever kill anyone?? And I recognized that same look come over the old mans face and I understood it better.? I think many in?this?situation had difficulty in telling their children and granchildren what being a soldier really meant.

?

? I wrote this poem for Rememberence Day. 2004, ?for Kresy members ...

perhaps someone experienced the same memory and might like to share this with their family.?

?

?Enjoy and Remember!

?

hania?

?

?

?

?

Dziadek, did you have a gun?

?

?

The old man sat in his rocker with his grandson at his feet

As he told stories from his youth, many left incomplete.

The young boy played with the medals, tokens from the war.

And with childhood innocence kept wanting to hear more.

?

Dziadek were you a soldier? Dziadek did you have a gun?

Dziadek, dziadek? did you ever have to kill anyone?

?

The old man nodded and let his thoughts drift back

To a time when his country was heavily under attack

Instead of enjoying autumn leaves and warm September nights

He was handed a gun and volunteered to fight.

?

Gone were his dreams of a future, love and romance

Everyday now could be the last dance.

He stared into the face of death and searched deep within his soul

And asked God for answers of why this senseless toll?

?

He had quickly become a man inside a boy

And his youth was robbed of love and joy

He could still hear the roar of canons that filled the air

As naked evil spirits brought on misery and despair

?

Broken dreams and shattered lives kaliedscoped the earthly floor

As spirits soared amidst the smoke leaving behind the bloody war.

He tried not to relive the sadness and the pain

But to forget this all would mean his comrades died in vain.

?

He felt a hand on his shoulder and heard a whisper of a long lost friend

I would tell the story, if your grandson to me you would lend.

I had dreams of a family, a home, remember the stories we shared?

But my life was taken away from me and yours was spared.

?

Dziadek, dziadek did you have a gun?

Dziadek, dziadek did you have to kill anyone?

?

Looking down into the eyes of his grandson it all became very clear,

As he again had to become a proud soldier and wiped away a tear.

His gnarled old hand brushed back the hair of the tiny little face

It was his duty to teach this boy and to hide the truth would be a disgrace.

?

Yes my child, your dziadek was a soldier and yes I had? a gun

But my war was not a game and I never shot for fun.

When you are older you will understand the job I had to do.

And now I understand what I gave up,? I did for you.

?

hania kaczanowska 2004

?

how wonderful for you! God bless.

stevesob58 wrote:

--- In Kresy-Siberia@..., Anne Kaczanowski
wrote:
> Congratulations on your new family and new info regarding your
dad.??? I am sure the whole group can feel your excitement in this
pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.? It is worth everything you
put into it isn't it?? And it is like having a breath of life brought
back into someone you've lost in the past.
>?
>?
> hania
>
> Joe Zelwietro wrote:
> Dear Listers:
>
> I would like to share with you a happy story.
>
> I've been looking for my lost Polish family for a few years. My
father as a
> young man was taken during the WW2 by Soviets to Siberia and then
lucky enough
> left this frozen prison with General Anders. I did not know much
about his
> life before the war, and once he died there was no one ask.? I knew
the name
> of his village, but I was not sure it still existed.? Until last
winter.
>
> Jozef Taran, based in Warsaw, Poland, working contemporarily in
Minsk, Belarus
> offered me some help. First he pinpointed for sure the hamlet
Bortkiewicze. He
> offered to go to Bortkiewicz and find any living relatives. This is
the first
> time I considered obtaining help for money over a long distance and
I was
> sceptical. But I decided it was worth the chance so I took him up
on his offer.
>
> Jozef dealt with me professionally and courteously. We took the
time to work
> out what I wanted and how much it would cost. Our relationship was
bumpy at
> times, due in part to the nature of our agreement, the distance and
the fact,
> we didn't know each other. We worked through this respectfully and
I obtained
> more I had expected two trees of my father's family. It appears
that my
> grandmother had the maiden-name Bortkiewicz. I was really
surprised. I
> recieved the genealogical draft with all names and contact info of
relatives I
> never knew. Jozef also sent the report of research.
>
> The nature of this work is difficult as I discovered, but it is
doable. Jozef
> is focussed on achieving the genealogical goals. He is even ready
to take some
> risk and make more in order to satisfy the requestor. Moreover, I
found out,
> that the conditions of work in Belarus are slightly different from
those in
> Canada or Poland.
>
> In the end I received the photographs, a modern map which mentioned
> Bortkiewicze and most importantly a short family history with very
touching
> details, addresses and phone number of 2 relations who grew up with
my father
> (until the deportations).
>
> So I am recommending Jozef Taran's services to others who may
benefit from
> present-day investigation in Belarus and Poland I wish you well in
your
> searches. I will keep fellow listers informed about my further
relations with
> my new-found family.
>
> Good hunting to all,
> Joe Zelwietro
>
>
>
>
>

*
> KRESY-SIBERIA GROUP = RESEARCH REMEMBRANCE RECOGNITION
> "Dedicated to researching, remembering and recognising the Polish
citizens
> deported, enslaved and killed by the Soviet Union during World War
Two."
>

*
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> Gallery (photos, documents) :

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>

*
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> i am over the moon for you and share your excitment,i myself have
spent the last three years trying to locate my lost polish family.
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*
KRESY-SIBERIA GROUP = RESEARCH REMEMBRANCE RECOGNITION
"Dedicated to researching, remembering and recognising the Polish citizens
deported, enslaved and killed by the Soviet Union during World War Two."
*
Discussion site :
Gallery (photos, documents) :
Film and info :
*
To SUBSCRIBE to the discussion group, send an e-mail
saying who you are and describing your interest in the group to:
Kresy-Siberia-owner@...
*

?