ZDZISŁAW LENTY

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

Cannoneer Zdzisław Lenty, 20 years old, student, bachelor.

2. Date and circumstances of arrest:

On 13 April 1940, my family and I were arrested and deported to southern Siberia, Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, Akmola Oblast. We were arrested at 2:00 a.m. They allowed us to take 100 kg of items per person.

3. Name of the camp (prison, place of forced labor):

Until July 1940, I worked at the Telman collective farm in the Akmola Oblast. From there, at my request, I was transferred to the Makinka station, where I worked in a sawmill.

4. Description of the camp, prison:

I lived with my family in a barrack for three people—it accommodated nine people, including small children under five years old. We took care of our own hygiene.

5. Composition of prisoners-of-war, prisoners and deportees:

Mostly from police and military families, as well as more affluent merchants.

6. Life in the camp, prison:

Work at the collective farm started at dawn, and ended late in the evening, with a one-hour lunch break. At the station, I only worked eight hours. The remuneration in relation to the price of bread and clothes was tiny. We had to take care of our clothes on our own. Friendships were kept to a minimum.

7. Conduct of the NKVD towards the Poles:

Bearable. They did not disseminate communist propaganda. No information was given.

8. Medical assistance, hospitals, mortality rate:

We took care of our own medical assistance. A lot of people and children died, such as Wiesław Pawłowski, Adela Cencel, etc.

9. Was there any communication with homeland and family? If so, how was it?

I received several letters and 8-kilo packages from the homeland.

10. When were you released and how did you join the army?

I joined the army as a volunteer. I traveled to join the army at my own expense.