MICHAŁ CHACUK

1. Personal data (name, surname, rank, age, occupation, marital status):

Gunner Michał Chacuk, 32 years old, farmer, married, army postal service no. 163.

2. Date and circumstances of arrest:

On 22 September 1939 I was taken prisoner by the Soviets.

3. The name of the camp, prison, or forced labor site:

From 15 October 1939 I was in the POW camp in Pauliszerbo [?] [...], from 28 November 1939 to 24 May 1940 in Kryvyi Rih (forced labor camp), from 15 July to 30 November 1940 in the vicinity of Trzebin [?] (forced labor camp), from 2 January to 30 March 1941 in the Ivanov camps, and from 18 April to 15 July 1941 in Totskoye.

4. Description of the camp or prison (grounds, buildings, housing conditions, hygiene):

Barracks located in the woods, plank beds without bedding, no soap, everything infested with lice.

5. POWs, prisoners, deportees (nationality, category of crimes, intellectual and moral standing, mutual relations etc.):

There were only Poles in the camp, all POWs. Both the intellectual and moral standing were very high. Mutual relations were also good.

6. Life in the camp or prison (daily routine, working conditions, prescribed amount of work, remuneration, food, clothing, cultural and other activities etc.):

Work in the ore mine was between 7.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. Pushing wagons with ore, 35 wagons in eight hours. Food was in exchange for money earned (450 rubles per month). Clothing: wadded jackets, wadded trousers, and gaiters.

7. The attitude of the NKVD authorities towards Poles (interrogation methods, torture and other forms of punishment, Communist propaganda, information about Poland, etc.):

I did not come into any contact with the NKVD.

8. Medical assistance, hospitals, and mortality rate (surnames of deceased persons):

A Polish doctor took care of the Polish prisoners under Russian supervision.

9. Was there any possibility to get in contact with one’s country and family?

Yes, but only in Russian. I received answers to all the letters that I wrote.

10. When was the prisoner released and how did he join the army?

I was released on 20 July 1941. I was drafted into service by a Polish board in the camp.

L.S., 15 March 1943