1. Personal data (name, surname, rank, age, occupation, and marital status):
Gunner Józef Gołębiowski, 24 years old, student, bachelor.
2. Date and circumstances of the arrest:
Arrested on 18 May 1940 for an attempt to cross the USSR-German border for the following reason: I was escaping from the NKVD who wanted to arrest me because I was Polish.
3. Name of the camp, prison, place of forced labor:
I was imprisoned in Grodno until 1 April 1941, then I was sent to Russia, to Komi ASSR (Vorkuta camp).
4. Description of the camp, prison:
The prison cells were overcrowded, the hygienic conditions were deplorable – vermin (parasites).
5. Social composition of prisoners, deportees:
The prisoners were of various nationalities, mostly political prisoners, Poles. The relations were good. The intellectual and moral standing was high, people were intelligent, from a variety of social classes.
6. Life in the camp, prison:
Daily routine: we were woken up at 4.00 a.m., went to work at 6.00 a.m., and returned from work at 6.00 p.m. On average, we earned four rubles per month. The food was very bad; no fats or vitamins. Cultural life: a common room, stolovaya, radio.
7. Attitude of the NKVD towards Poles:
The NKVD were brutal towards people of Polish nationality: hitting them in the face, various offensive remarks. They simply humiliated us.
8. Medical assistance, hospitals, mortality:
Almost no medical assistance was provided. Mortality was high due to exhaustion and lack of food.
9. Was it possible to keep in touch with the home country and your family?
I had no contact with my family or the home country.
10. When were you released and how did you join the army?
I was released on 17 September 1941, I was registered and enlisted into the army.