The Laskiewicz family story
Creators: name: Project Team, Their Finest Hour
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 430304
subject: British history
classificationCode: 430308
subject: European history (excl. British, classical Greek and Roman)
classificationCode: 430316
subject: International history

description: Story #1 Paternal grandfatherPaternal grandfather's name was Joseph Laskiewicz - born in 1896 and died 1947 after Russian's 'liberated' Poland - spent war as invalid (in Poland).Although still near (close to) 'excitement' of hangings - Germans used to hang others but left him alone and didn't drag him out to see hangings because he was ill and somewhat bedridden but capable of walking to a certain extent. The Germans hung mainly Jews and the tree [they hung them from a tree near his house] was still standing in 1976 (not sure if it still stands now). Together with my paternal grandmother, he escorted Polish women across town who feared (being raped by the) Russians. Grandfather pretended to be incapable of walking so as not to be made watch the hanging of Jews (but he was still partially bedridden just not totally).Story #2 Great-unclePaternal grandmother's brother was Jan Czerny (born on 2nd January 1908 in Strzemieszyce, east of Katowice, Poland). Jan fought in the RAF (Fighter Command) - he served as a Squadron Leader in No. 302 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. <br>[For more info: https://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Czerny.htm]However, the government didn't allow his family to join him in the UK, so he returned to Poland incognito, and died there in 1996. During Cold War, nobody in the family, including the contributor, could tell anyone that great-uncle Jan flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain in case the Soviet Secret Police picked him up (arrested him) for torture and murder.Story #3 FatherFather, Tadeusz Laskiewicz, born in 1920, fought in September 1939 in the Battle of Poland as an officer cadet in the artillery. He escaped capture by fleeing to Hungary - interned in Hungary then escaped - they turned a blind eye.Made it to France - played a minimal part in the Battle of France. Shipped to Scotland and became an instructor - became a Second Lieutenant in the artillery.After the war, he couldn't return to Poland because he was an officer. He moved south to London and became a teacher. He died in 1996, around the same time as the contributor's great-uncle, Jan.Story #4 Maternal grandfatherHenryk Sobkiewicz, 1900-1986, was a reserve officer in the Polish infantry. He took part in the September 1939 Campaign.Captured by Germans - became POW and emerged as a living skeleton. When mother (contributor's mother) saw him prior to the war - dark-haired/stout - after the war - basically a skeleton.In POW camp with Polish top brass. Started learning English in camp (as a result of Polish GH, General Headquarters Analysis, predicting that Germany would be at war and Polish officers wouldn't be able to return). As a result, he started learning English.Came to England (after war) and became a bookkeeper (language training helped him).Story #5 Maternal grandmother (1905-1945)Germans confiscated her home in Poznan and she was expelled with her family. Went to Czestochowa where she joined the A.K. (Polish Home Army). She was captured by the Germans in 1944/45 (possibly early 1945) and died at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.Story #6 MotherAlexandra Laskiewicz, 1928-2017.After grandmother was arrested by the Gestapo, she did forced labour in Austria, then joined General Anders Army in Italy in 1945.Eventually arrived in UK as a refugee in 1946, and became a teacher.