Piotr Rosołowski
Class 6
Elementary School in Tarłów
Starachowice, 11 November 1946
My most memorable moment from the occupation
The most memorable moment for me during the occupation was when the German-Soviet front reached the Vistula River. Then I saw with my own eyes what war means. Tanks passed by our house again and again, with a dull rumble, and planes circled almost constantly in the air. When evening came, I saw lines of caravans stretching to the front lines, and soldiers hastily setting up the cannons. Out of nowhere, missiles began to rain down around us and explode with a terrible bang. Among the roar of cattle and the howling of dogs, the orders of a German officer were heard. There was smoke in the air. Some women prayed out loud. Buried in shelters, we trembled. Fear and dread showed on all the faces. Hugged near the wall of the shelter, I was also trembling and my thoughts were then very sad and gloomy. Time passed slowly and the minutes seemed to be hours. At one point I looked out of the shelter and saw a wagon coming from the direction of the front. A few groaning wounded soldiers were laying on it. They were wrapped in bandages and their clothes were covered with blood. The bullets fell more and more densely, and the number of troops was growing. One day the Germans came and told us to get out of here immediately, so we gathered quickly and left, not knowing that we were going on a six-month tromp.