Jan Kwiecień
Class 4
Elementary School in Prendocin
Błaziny commune, Iłża district
[illegible] December 1946
My most memorable moment from the occupation
During the occupation of our country, the Germans teased us in various ways. For the slightest mistake, they punished us with imprisonment and even death. This is why many men, and even [many] women, fled to the woods to save themselves from prison. The forest held and protected them. [Poles with reciprocity] teased the Germans. They broke telephone wires and chopped poles, attacked cars carrying the contingent, and stole [cars]. I remember well the fight between the partisans and the Germans. When the Germans found out from their spies that there were partisans in the nearby forest, they came by cars, surrounded the forest, and started a round-up.
On Sunday evening, the combat began. At night and Monday until noon we could hear bangs and shots. Our heroes defended themselves bravely to the last drop of blood. But they could not withstand the Germans and were defeated. Many Polish heroes died, but so did many Germans. The partisans left the forests and came to the villages, hid in barns, dressed their wounds, and, having rested, went to other forests. In 1944, the Germans had to leave [our] country and flee. Now Poland is free from German shackles. So much Polish blood was not spilled for nothing.