Ciechocinek, 6 June 1989
Karol Palczyński
Born in October 1915 or 1916 (I do not remember the date of birth). Having completed primary school, he [went] to the secondary school run by the Salesians of Don Bosco in Aleksandrów Kujawski, took his school leaving exam and enrolled at the Air Force Officer Cadet School (Puławska Street, Warsaw). He completed a glider course in Ustjanowa and the Air Force Officer Cadet School, and was promoted to [the rank of] Second Lieutenant in 1939, leaving the School directly for front line service.
Parents’ names: father Władysław Palczyński, mother Marianna née Okońska. Last resident in Piotrków Kujawski.
We received only two letters written by my brother while he was interned in Kozelsk – one [dated] 25 November 1939 and the second [dated] 7 March 1940; there was no trace of him from that time on. But my parents and I wrote him quite often, thinking that he would receive at least some of our letters, however he did not confirm anything.
I looked through the list of officers [published] in the “Zorza” weekly. [He is mentioned under no.] 3310: “Second Lieutenant of the Infantry, Karol Palczyński, 49. Infantry Regiment, no. 3215”. A small correction: my brother was a Second Lieutenant of the Air Force, not the Infantry.
All these data concerning my brother, Karol Palczyński, are being submitted by me, his own sister.
PS I have attached some extant photographs.
Ciechocinek, 16 June 1989 [?]
“Zorza” Catholic Family Weekly
00-551 Warsaw
Mokotowska Street 43
On 22 September 1989, an article entitled “Katyńskie nazwiska” [was published in] “Gazeta Kujawska”; Jan Raszeja conducted the interview. PS Mr. Jędrzej Tucholski asks all those who would like to supplement the [Katyn] list to send in data concerning the missing persons.
Karol Palczyński. Born in October 1916 in Aleksandrów Kujawski. Having completed primary school, he [went] to the secondary school run by the Salesians of Don Bosco, took his school leaving exam and enrolled at the Air Force Officer Cadet School (Puławska Street, Warsaw). He completed a glider course in Ustjanowa and the Air Force Officer Cadet School, and was promoted to [the rank of] Second Lieutenant immediately before the War. They were probably trying to escape to Romania and were surrounded by the Russians – that is what I heard, but it is difficult to confirm whether this was actually the case. These data are being submitted by his own sister.
Parents’ names: father Władysław Palczyński, born on the estate of Kruszynek in 1881, [worked] at the State [Spirit] Monopoly in Warsaw, which company opened a branch of its salt warehouse in Piotrków Kujawski – my father was the manager of this branch and lived there, in Piotrków Kujawski, with his family; my mother, née Okońska, born in Aleksandrów Kujawski in 1885, resident in Piotrków Kujawski, cared for the family home.
Only two of my brother’s letters from Kozelsk reached us – one [dated] 25 November 1939 and the other [dated] 7 March 1940; he simply vanished into the blue. We wrote many letters, but my brother did not confirm receiving any. I saw my brother’s name, Karol Palczyński, in the “Zorza” weekly: “no. 3310, 49. Infantry Regiment, no. 3215”. A small correction: my brother, Karol Palczyński, was a Second Lieutenant of the Air Force, not the Infantry. All these data are being submitted by his own sister.
PS I would like to note that in July 1989 I sent a registered letter to the “Zorza” weekly, to engineer Jędrzej Tucholski, together with copies of the two letters which my brother Karol had written, and two of his photographs. Nothing has been confirmed. I understand that there are loads of letters, however I would think that the registered letter got through. But in “Gazeta Kujawska” I read [an article entitled] “Listy katyńskie” and also engineer Jędrzej Tucholski’s request, and thus I am resubmitting data about my brother, Karol Palczyński.
[A handwritten copy of Karol Palczyński’s first letter from the camp in Kozelsk:]
Kozelsk, 25 November 1939
Dear Parents, Sisters and Brother!
It will be Christmas in a month – the day when we would all gather together for Christmas Eve supper, exchanging wafers and mutual greetings. Today I do not know whether I will sup with you this Christmas, for I am far from my homeland, and so please accept my heartfelt, earnest Christmas wishes now. To them I add my sincere name’s day greetings for Mother. May Mother not trouble herself or worry, for God is watching over everything.
Write me whether you are alright and in good health. Has Stach returned? Has your house survived? What are your present living conditions? I am in the USSR. I am alive, and I was not wounded during wartime. I cannot stop thinking about you and my friends, I miss you so.
I met up with Stefan Przekwas in the beginning of September. He had been wounded and he was in the Ujazdowski Hospital in the capital. Write to Warsaw and ask Wacek to write me immediately after getting my address. Ask him or Stefan to find out whether Danusia Ślęzak is in Warsaw. She lives in Praga, at Ratuszowa Street 19, flat 26 or 26, flat 19 (I do not remember exactly). I also ask you to send my address to Irka Gumińska or Krysia Kisielewska and ask them to write me immediately after getting my address (please send it to them as quickly as you can). Zenek is probably abroad, in Romania or Hungary. When writing to Uncle, please make it clear to Stefan that I only passed through Brody, and thus I did not get to see Ms. Irka, and also that Brody had not been destroyed, and thus he need not worry himself.
I do not know how long I will be here. I will write you next month as well. This will be all for now – I send my kisses to all of you.
Your son and brother – Karol
PS My address:
СССР Козельск
Область Смоленская
Почтовый Ящик № 12
Палчински Карол Владиславович
[A drawn stamp: Oberkommando der Wehrmacht – geprüft]
[A handwritten copy of Karol Palczyński’s second letter from the camp in Kozelsk:]
Kozelsk, 7 March 1940
My Dearest!
I have already written a few letters to you – both directly to your address and indirectly, to the address of the Polish Red Cross: Warsaw, Jerozolimska Street 49 [and] to Irka Gumińska and Uncle at Bednarska Street, but I have not received any news from you to date.
I am in the USSR and only the thought of you keeps me alive; I am longing for you and home. The days here are monotonous and move slowly, gradually intertwining into long rosaries of weeks – I think you understand how I am forced to spend my time. I am strong and I shall survive, while the patience that I am building up here will allow me to get through this time in good health and in the belief that I will return, so that we shall be together again.
While I write this letter I do not know whether it will reach you at the intended address, or if it will find you all in good health, once again gathered around the family hearth. If, and may God forbid, it will not find you all together, I ask you to write me what is going on with each of you; indeed, it would be best if Stach, Dziunia and Mery wrote me separately, for then I will be certain that everyone is alive.
Neither do I know how you are getting by, for you must be experiencing considerable hardship – this much I know, for war is a great tragedy for mankind. But do not despair, and let yourselves be guided by conviction and faith. Neither do I know whether you have a roof over your heads, or even a place to sleep. Write me often, so that I have even an ounce of information about you.
Is Józek Stężewski alive? Is he employed, and if yes, then where? What is going on with my friends: Irka, Tola R., Irka G., Krysia K., Józek G., Franek B., Mietek Rybiński and Zenek Raciborski (has he sent any news?)? Ask them to write me. Write also whether the prices of foodstuffs have gone up, are the bills expensive, are the schools open, is the zloty still in circulation – tell me about everything, so that I have a clear picture of what your lives looks like. I think about you incessantly and wait for the day when we will fall into each other’s arms, when my aching heart will hear the beating of yours, equally full of longing and pain. I send my regards to all my friends, and to you my kisses.
Your son and brother, Karol