Diary Notes

         Part 1 - the W.U. 1944.

         1. Excerpt from the diary without corrections
         2. ..................... illegible text
         3. [Supplements and explanations related to the text that were added during the Uprising]
         4. ---------------- no information

         1.08. - Tuesday
         On my way to the church I met a captain who ordered me to go back home. [I was supposed to wait there for the liaison officer with the news of another concentration.]. At 14.00 I arrived at the place [of concentration that was located in the Old Town at 5 Długa Street].
         I saw PMs and reckoned they were well-armed. We stayed for the night at 5 Długa Street.

         2.08. - Wednesday
         There was a wake-up call at 4 o'clock in the morning, and then we marched out. Only few had weapons, the rest had to do without it. We went through Stawki and Powązki districts, straight to the Evangelical Cemetery [on Okopowa Street], they said we would get more arms there; [I was one of the youngest in the company that was why I had to wait a bit longer before I was allowed to carry a gun].
         We spent the night [in the cemetery chapel] sleeping on the black shrouds taken down from the walls and laid on the ground. We were supposed to force our way through to the Kampinos Forest, but we turned back on the way
         Before that we had sent patrols, out of sixteen only seven came back alive, nine were dead. They fell into a trap, it was a crossfire from CKMs [heavy machine guns]. It looked depressing. Almost all were officer cadets. The rain was pouring down.

         3.08. - czwartek.
         Nic nowego. Broni ani widu, ani słychu.

         4.08. - Friday
         I went ................., they said the conditions were hard and that we would have to defend ourselves. The guys [obtained] the clothes and brought them over. I got a pair of shoes. There was the alert in the evening because they were to drop the guns. Oh .............. the alarm rang out, we walked out into the cemetery .............., there was the four-engine [plane] ] in the sky.
         We were moving forward as far as to Wolska Street to find out if [the containers] landed in some other places, because they were dropped too late and fell behind the walls of the cemetery. Our company got nothing.

         5.08. - Saturday
          The Germans sounded us out and carried out a raid. I went out to buy some bread and had just come back. We stood in the bower outside. Suddenly we heard a whistle, first, second and so on, then there sounded a huge blast, pieces of bread and plaster from the walls fell on our heads. They hit behind the kitchen and before the headquarter. Six of them fell dead including two officers. Many were wounded among them non-commissioned officers.
          We still lived at the cemetery. Next, anti-tank cannons took over [a howitzer located at the railway station in Gdańsk] - they were shooting all the time. In the evening the Germans launched an offensive, we counter-attacked. Many were wounded. We hid ourselves in the tombs. Throughout the night the howitzer was shooting so that everything was trembling.

         6. 08. - Sunday
         At 4 o'clock in the morning we marched between graves to the end of the cemetery. The anti-tank cannon continued to fire and the shrapnels were falling very close. At 8 o'clock we were ordered to leave all the military stuff behind and force our way through to town. We got to the Old Town, it was completely safe. Actually we could have taken everything with ourselves.
         I grabbed a knapsack and some underwear. We reported ourselves to the storm units at 3 Kilińskiego Street, but in the evening our company was back.

         7.08. - Monday
         Nothing new. "Antoni" and …Gustaw" Battalions united and created one Battalion named "Gustaw."

         8.08. - Tuesday
          Some of us got into position close to Zamkowy Square. Without guns we had to stay at 5 Długa Street and be on guard. One might get furious doing this job. Day and night you had to be on duty. It was all the same for a few days.
          One day we went to get some clothes. Wadded trousers and jackets. By the way I got me a rubber coat. When I was on guard once I saw a bullet hit the church and once it burst over the street. I saw it and rushed towards the gate like a grasshopper.

         9.08. - 10.08. - 11.08. - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday
         --------------- [Still no guns. Only the elder ones and more experienced fought in the front line. Our idleness, when the city was continuously bombed became very depressing. The planes flying with impunity over our heads, regularly destroyed house after house. On top of all that the firing of mine-throwers called "cows" or "cabinets," because of their characteristic sound while shooting].

         12.08. - Saturday
         I volunteered to man the barricades in Podwale. I became a gunner's mate at PM (a submachine gun) [the function of the gunner's mate was a result of the lack of guns and the necessity of immediate replacement in case of death of a fortunate PM owner]. Yesterday two were killed and two wounded. I substituted for the killed one.

         13.08. - Sunday
         [We took our positions on the 1st floor in the outermost house with a view of Zamkowy Square and Senatorska Street. The tank was approaching from the direction of the square, it turned its turret toward us, then we ran to the other room that was facing the yard, and at the very time a shell destroyed our position. The Germans brought a small tank to the barricade on Podwale Street].

         There was an explosion of a small tank on Kilińskiego Street. It was at our barricade [and our soldiers] let it pass through. Thanks to our service on the line we survived. [When we were off duty we went over to see it]. A horrible view - torn body pieces were on the windows, balconies, ground etc [About 300 people died, many of whom were from our company who were off duty then].

         14.08. - 18.08. - Monday - Friday
         ----------------- [We were still on duty on Podwale Street. This side was mostly left alone by the Germans because the passage toward Kierbedz Bridge had already been captured. Unfortunately they were still bombarding and mortar firing].

         19.08. - Saturday
         Mortar bombing of the so called "closets", three of them were incendiary bombs and three demolition ones [the Germans' prerogative was to kill as many of the men who had put the fire out]. Three were killed and three others severely wounded.
         I survived only because at that time, I had gone downstairs to bring buckets full of water. [The bodies of the dead friends were ripped to such an extent so as to bury them, we virtually had to pick them up from the floor with shovels.].

         20.08. - 21.08. - Sunday - Monday
          The whole day I spent at the barricade; the fire was incessant.

          22.08. - Tuesday
         The house in the yard burnt. The 26th hour at the barricade passed. We could hear the artillery. They said the units from Kampinos, Wola and Żoliborz districts were supposed to mount an offensive.
         There was no running water in the yard.

         23.08. - Wednesday
         The patrols were sent on upper floors and into cellars on Kanonia, Pawia, Podwale and Miodowa Streets. Huge cellars. One and a half an hour spent drilling!
         I was shivering and suffering from stomachache. Elsewhere the situation was the same.

         24.08. - Thursday
         I was suffering from a total stomach upset. I did not eat anything so as to starve myself. There was a continuous bombing. People drowned in the cellars. I was on duty for 24 hours and off for the next 24 hours.
         The Germans were charging at us - I was shooting from PM. Zdzisiek was killed.

         25.08. - Friday
         Today they were heading for Żoliborz. I handed over a piece of paper. It was a load of my heart. We went to Podwale for the night.

          26.08. - Saturday
          They would not go toward Żoliborz. It made me very worried. This day I fell asleep three times holding a PM in my hands. We were all dreaming it would be over soon. We were looking forward to it. All were exhausted.
         Two walls of the house located in Podwale, where we stayed, collapsed. 36 hours spent at the barricade, 10 hours of break and again 24 hours. We did not sleep for three nights.

         Today we were off. There was general confession with the priest, Rostworowski. They said the situation in town was good; here, just the opposite.

         28.08. - Monday
         Since 19.00 yesterday we stayed on Piwna Street. [Our positions were located behind the church dedicated to St Marcin. We stood behind the wall which was almost two stories high. On the other side of the wall there were only heaps of rubble. The visibility was very bad so we had to be very careful so as not to be taken by surprise. The planes were flying, with impunity, over our heads].
         Mirek was killed. Air raids. Altogether 7 were wounded. It was a hot day. The Germans threw a whole host of grenades. Our Mills [an English defense grenade] exploded in the place where we stayed, after an unfortunate attempt of throwing it through a window opening [on the first floor]. I was badly upset. I was firing a KB (a rifle).

         29.08. - Tuesday
         I became a commander of PM. There was ............... at 7 o'clock on Piwna Street. My gunner's mate was killed by someone from "Anna" [Company].It happened by accident. [This tragic event took place on a dim day, he was wearing a German uniform and a helmet.].

         30.08. - Wednesday
         At night they were throwing granades. In the evening, accidentally again, they fired at one of ours. A change of guard did not take place, no one showed up. My nervous breakdown was almost over. I nervously started smoking while at the barricade.

         31.08. - Thursday
         In the evening we retreated [to the sewers] and came back about 3 hours later. [There arose some misunderstanding. Throughout this time the barricade was unattended. We were quite uncertain of what we would see when we got to the spot. A horrible view of Miodowa Street; the buildings on both sides were on fire.].
         Czarek and I, together with Bogusław [platoon commander] dealt with covering.
         After coming back, between 2.00 and 10.00 (including short breaks while on guard) I fell asleep standing up.

         1.09. - Friday .
         Today we were going to go to the town center. The first group already left. We went at 19.00 .............................. .
         we only waited for the alarm and then headed for Rynek Staromiejski - Old Town Square. When we were back, we quickly had to collect our stuff and head for the town center. One more sally on Świętojerska Street.
         At 22.00 we ran under fire to the sewers. Two and a half an hour of a horrible walk, partly bent in half, up to the knees in water.

         2.09. - sobota.
         Bohdan was dead. [my closest cousin; he was crushed by the wall which collapsed as a result of bombing on 4 August; he died in hospital next day].
         I would like to go to visit the Wejcherts [my parents' close friends]. I did not know if I would make it. There were 52 of us. Presently 25 were killed, 11 were wounded, 16 of us were left.
         We all yearned for the end. We hoped the Germans would surrender as soon as the English army entered Germany. I was totally flat out. I became apathetic. The stillness in the town center, probably, got me all soppy!

         3.09. - Sunday
          I attended the service. The quarters were burned. I got me different things. 5 were wounded by "kuferek" [a railway howitzer of 600 mm]. We changed the quarters for the third time. I got worse with food and cigarettes.

         4.09. - Monday
         I gave up and started smoking again. It always calmed me down. We headed for the barricade. There was no rest at all. The supply at the barricade was not as good as it used to be in Starówka.

         5.09. - Tuesday
         We were on Czacki Street, facing [police headquarters and St. Cross [Church]. We were on the first line again. We stayed for the night. There were more than thirty hours before the night would come.
         They were still chasing us. We stayed for the night again.

         6.09. - Wednesday
         They destroyed our makeshift headquarters. The bomb hit our house. We were buried under rubble. We stayed for the night. We were exhausted.

         7.09. - Thursday
         The police headquarters were on fire. I fell asleep while on duty. We withdrew at night and then went back. During the day we took our positions just the opposite of Czacki Street. [on Świętokrzyska Street]. Two bombs were dropped only two meters away from us. We were buried again. [fortunately we took shelter in the cellar.].
         Stasiek and Mietek died. [they did not go down to the cellar but stayed at the gate.]. We withdrew. Today I got to know that there were sixty-six of us and only eleven were left - including the dispersed ones. .

         8.09. - Friday
         We quartered at 8 Widok Street. It came true - we were continuously on guard. After 14.00 we were on Czacki Street. I was listening to gramophone. [?].
         The bomb hit and destroyed the building. We were in the cellar.

         9.09. - Saturday
         ------------------- [Our battalion commander, Major Gawrych, who was wounded when in the Old Town, had to relinquish command and go to hospital. It did not have a good influence on our state of mind! Physical and mental exhaustion in the unit was the reason for our transfer to the south part of the town center.]

         10.09. - Sunday
         "Kotek" and me got a pass. I went over to visit his friends.
         [we stayed] ] for the night until 8 in the morning. Take it easy. I cheered up.
         ....................... the food was not exceptional, but it was good and plenty. I received a medicine against a stomachache.

         11.09. - Monday
         I slept all night long. I felt much better. In the morning we had breakfast and then returned. There was neither food nor decent quarters.
         ...................... the pass. And survive to the end.
         There was a passage to Czerniaków. I wanted to go and see Ola and Basia [my sisters who fought there in the 1 Division of Szwoleżerzy].

         12.09. - Tuesday
         At night we went to the brewery near Okólnik for provisions. The road was horrible .................... .
         after bombardment. We ate only after 12- a muck .................... we had to work something out.
         It was cold and we were hungry. We could not sleep it was so cold.

         13.09. - Wednesday
         The bombs were close. It was chilly and there was nothing to eat. Some of us started to lose their temper. What was my whole family doing? I wanted to go home not to action.

         14.09. - Thursday
         The bombs on Hoża Street. The Soviet ones dominated. The Germans showed up from time to time. The Russians were coming closer. There was some relieve. I was afraid about my whole family.
         We were with K .................. We appeased our hunger a bit. We ran out of cigarettes. I gave up smoking. I was curious if after ................... I got a sore throat, but we had to go and dig out the warehouse.

         15.09. - Friday
         We could see the parachutes by night. [It was an airdrop of arms from allied planes, which, unfortunately were mostly dropped on the area occupied by the Germans]. I had a sore throat, I could not swallow. I had to carry some barley with me. [Which was later ground in a coffee grinder. We were carrying it (barley) from the warehouses in Powiśle].
         I went back [to the quarters], and lay down. [my temperature] was above 100F (39,2C). I did not eat anything ............. many times I had to go downstairs [to the cellar to see the doctor].
         At night we moved [to the new quarters at 41 Mokotowska Street on the third floor!]. I had nothing to cover myself with.

         16.09. - Saturday
         My temperature was 39,8. They wanted me to go to the hospital, but I wanted to go to my friends.
         I went downstairs [to the cellar] to see the doctor. At the same time a howitzer shell ["Karl" - 600mm] hit the quarters - 16 killed.

         We were roaming from bunker to bunker and ............... I was taken in by Mr and Mrs Ślęzak.

         17.09. - Sunday
         ---------------------

         18.09. - Monday
         I felt better

         19.09. - Tuesday .
         ---------------------

         20.09. - Wednesday.
         Joints at my palms started to hurt me; I could not sleep.

         21.09. - Thursday
         I already felt better. I saw a doctor. It was calm, maybe the calm before the storm.
         I felt like going back to Żoliborz! The first night passed very quietly for me!

         22.09. - Friday
         I got up. The Russians made a bridgehead on our side. AK (the Home Army) higher-ranking officials would reveal themselves. [?]

         23.09. - Friday
         It has been a week since I stayed with Mr and Mrs Ślężakowie. It was quiet. There were no planes. I did not know what it meant. Tomorrow I would be attending the mass. Someone delivered my letter to "Kotek" [a company friend]. God, I badly wanted to go back.
         I really missed home. Everyday I was saying a litany to God's Mercy.
         I did not want to come back to the company any more. I was constantly wondering what my return would look like. I dreamt of home and good food.

         24.09. - Sunday
         I read me a mass from a Mass book. I ironed my trousers and polished my shoes. I was worried about "Kotek" I missed home. Yet I thanked God because .......... I was in a pretty good situation.
         It all lasted so long, I had no one to talk to. I wished I knew when it would be over. My poor parents.

         25.09. - Monday .
         I was still worried about "Kotek." He was either wounded or they had already marched off? It was raining. The weather and my mood were alike.
         The thought about return kept me alive. My life consisted only of sleeping, eating and contemplating.

         26.09. - Tuesday
         --------------------------

         27.09. - Wednesday
         Mietek, Czarek, Kazik and "Kotek" came over to see me. They stayed longer. They were ill from cold.
         ........................ I was worried, they said that from the direction of Promyk Street [in Żoliborz close to the place where we lived], the Germans ................ .
         I was really anxious about my whole family.

         28.09. - Thursday .
         About 20.00 many planes were circling above [There was a huge airdrop from allied planes]. "Kotek" came over, he gave me a pudding. On Sunday I was going back to the company.
         

         29.09. - Friday
         I attended the Mass. I went to confession and received Communion. Cavalry captain [?] blind, we talked about Poznań.

         30.09. - Saturday
         They already started writing about evacuation. What was going to happen? What would happen with AK!
         I could not believe in it. I believed some other organization would be set up.
         The Soviet planes started to fly more often again ................ they said there was the barrage in Żoliborz again. I wondered what was going on with my family. Seemed like we would never meet again.
         People were coming out. We would probably capitulate and go to Stalag Camp. I was thinking of Krystyna while listening to the records. What was she doing?

         01.10. - niedziela.
         I went back to the company. ................... humour. Yesterday after hard fighting Żoliborz gave up. Where were my friends. I did not know what was going to happen.

         02.10. - Monday
         They said that "Bór" flew ......................... the Germans to London. Did not know if it was true. What more we would have to face. If they decide to send us to Stalag Camp, it would be hard ....................., … the winter was coming.
         People were talking to the Germans.

         03.10. - Tuesday
         The capitulation was signed yesterday. Today we would go to Jasna Street. We got about one hundred of Sports and of Egyptians [cigarettes].

         04.10. - Wednesday
         We were preparing ourselves for relocation. They would probably take us to the Stalags. We were on Jasna Street. Poor scoff.

         05.10. - Thursday
         We were to leave this morning. We handed over our guns in the University Hostel [[in Narutowicz Square]. Crossing Grójecka and Wolska Street we went to Wola. ............... a march to Ożarów. We arrived at the place at 8 in the evening
         Exhaustion was incredible. [We were located in a cable factory hall on the concrete. The crowds were terrible.].

Janusz Gunderman


translated by Lukasz Glowacki

Janusz Gunderman, born on November 24th, 1926 in Poznan the NOW and the Home Army Corporal pps. "2671", "Janusz" "Gustaw Harnaś" Battalion "Aniela" Company prisoner of war no. 140334