Remembrance Day for the victims of the Katin massacre. Relatives of residents of Vagrovic also died in the woods to the east

It is 81 years since the tragic crime that took place in the woods around Kattin in the spring of 1940. From March to May, the Russians killed more than 21,000 poles: officials, representatives of the intelligentsia …

Forbidden History

Among them were relatives of Vakrovich and surrounding areas. For years, these people have not been able to speak openly about what happened. This is the situation of Isidore Wezenke, who was only able to begin talking about what happened to his uncle after 1989.

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“Immortals” film dedicated to Katin’s assassination

– Before that, it was a forbidden story. Couldn’t even pronounce the word cut. I believe it is necessary to talk about it today. Then talk about the dead there, inhumanely murdered – Mr. Isidore agreed on our pages.

Mr. Isidore described the fate of his cousin in his book.

Casimierz Wezenke was one of seven siblings. – Only two of the seven graduates. Casimiors became a lawyer – Mr. Isidore recalled. After completing his military service, he began his legal career as a second lieutenant in the Reserve. He pursued a goal. – He wanted to be a judge. This dream has come true. He passed the judge’s examination. In July 1939, he was even appointed to the Kono Municipal Court – he explained. In August, however, a message from the military came to the apartment on Focha Street – today’s Djokovska Street.

March East

– Mobilization. Like all young men, my uncle joined the army. The outbreak of the war found him in a section in Bosnia – explained a resident of Vakrovich. The march of the German troops took place very quickly. – The infantry regiment where my uncle served was ordered to march eastward to create a new defense there. Meanwhile, due to his education, my uncle was transferred. His new job is a military tribunal – he reports.

Casimiers Wezenke was eventually sent to the eastern frontier. He was parked near Cannes.

– Here comes the last message to the family in Bosna about the Cosmiers – his cousin explained.

In vain, my mother and sisters tried to contact Casimiro.

Captured by the Russians

– However, in November 1939, an unexpected guest knocked on the door of their apartment. This is a friend of Casimir’s from the army. It was from him that his relatives learned that he was able to escape and that the Casimiors did not escape. His family learned that Casimir and other officers had been captured by the Russians during dinner at one of the Ukrainian families. It was learned that he was sent to a POW camp. What happened to him is once again a mystery – Mr. Isidore agreed. In December 1939, the family was resettled in an apartment in Foca.

– They went to the public government. Their seats were taken by the head of the German post office. However, at the time Casimiers’ sister, who lived on Chroniksna Street, was staying in Bosna. She is the only hope of the family to communicate with the relative. Everyone hoped that he would be back soon or at least write a letter – Mr. Isidore described.

Last letter

The latter is fulfilled.

– After Christmas in 1939, a letter arrived. My sister was able to get it. Casimiers wrote from the Kozheilsk camp in the Smolensk region. He wrote that he was alive, but complained that he was cold and hungry. In the letter, he asked for warm clothes. The sister sent them to him, who immediately reported the news to the family in the public government. Isidore explained.

At the time, no one in the Wezenke family expected the Casimiers’ first and last letter …

Joseph Sifter died

Joseph Sifter, the father of the late Mrs. Sylvester, a well-known dentist from Vogrovich, also died in the woods.

Joseph Sifter, a Greater Polish rebel, a participant in the Polish-Bolshevik war, was a pilot in the Polish army and the first commander of the Savica Airport in Bosna. At the end of August 1939, he was mobilized, and on September 17, he was detained by a Red Army unit in Svinox in the province of Tornopol and imprisoned in the Kojilsk camp.

From there several letters reached the family. Correspondence broke down in 1940. Captain Joseph Sifter was killed in the spring of 1940 in the Katin forest.