CRISTIN "CRISTIN" OF THE AK SOLDIER
...Krzysia”, “Krysia”- Czesław Cydzikow, from the home of Hnatatyn, a soldier of the Home Army...
Whenever we face the beautiful home of the Cidzików state situated on the cliff, I get the impression that abruptly I was in a fairy-tale garden, that somewhere outside it is the confederate sea, any exotic country. It seems that it is not possible for all these very exotic plants to grow under the Lviv sky.
Beauty is as if ubiquitous. Mrs Czesława, who studied before the war at the Lviv Academy of Fine Arts, was an artist, and after her father, an educated gardener, she brought them from around the world. Both of them, together with his husband Eugeniusz Cydzik, besides an AK soldier (Grodno), despite the opposites of fate, the atrocities of war, taking them distant from their beautiful, wonderful Homeland – Poland, despite their envoys, tortures, harassments, they were able to make their planet – a beautiful Polish house, to preserve culture, order, harmony, to keep allegiance to old, good customs, Polish traditions.
The words of God, Honor, the Homeland in this home have not lost its rank and meaning.
It is hard to believe that this small, fragile woman, like a porcelain woman, from this home full of flowers and souvenirs came to the AK branch once, a young girl, almost a kid – bringing 3 guns that she participated in sharp actions, that there were no confederate seas, just... A worker, where she was sent for 20 years, that she was interrogated on Kadecka 20, that she was a prisoner at Łąckiego Street in Lviv.
From the memories of Mrs Czesław Cydzikowa, from Hnatovna's house:
"I was born in the most beautiful country in the planet – free Poland. I had a beautiful childhood. It's been a large day. erstwhile I was thirteen, I joined the Boy Scouts.
I attended the Sofia Strętkowska technological Plant at Zielona Street in Lviv, and later studied painting. My parents – Poles, patriots. We were a happy family. But this beautiful childhood, this planet full of good and beautiful ended – future enemies. You should have grown up quickly, made choices. I joined NOW.”
National Military Organization (NOW) – a conspiracy military organization of the National organization during planet War II.
Memoir of Cesi, due to the fact that that's what her friends called her, companions of her misery in the russian camp at Peltevna Street, Wanda Chwastowska – Bystram can be found in her book “In a bonnet born, AK, prison, Ural's lago” (release: planet Union of Soldiers AK, Polesie District, Warsaw, January 2002):
"Our barracks was cared for by an NKVD officer, who, strangely, was curious in the life and past of Poland. To a large extent, thanks to his efforts, we gained greater freedom to decision around the camp and to organize 2 textile and painting studios. (...).
In the next room, my younger colleague from the Institute of Plastic Arts arranged her “painting work” – where students were admitted after the alleged "small matriculation".
Cesi's parents wanted to send her to Paris for further studies, but the war destroyed those plans. At the camp, she made sketches of the heads of fellow prisoners, unfortunately not much of her work was preserved. I have my image (God of Rafalska) and I think the drawing is successful and the resemblance captured(...).
... Cesi could be written long, although she speaks small and very modestly about her work in the conspiracy. Czesława Hnatówna was born in Lviv in 1920.
She joined the National Military Organization in July 1942 and adopted the nickname “Krystyna”. She engaged with all her heart in carrying out her commissioned tasks.
Initially, she drew posters commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Defence of Lviv, and then incorporated herself into their laying on the city walls. She was escorting the “burnt” boys to the guerrilla forest troops and was wherever needed.
Later, erstwhile the Germans arrested her friend from the same branch, Cesi was ordered to leave the place of residence for security. Where better to hide than in the woods these days?
So she took 3 guns from the home and reported a willingness to service in the guerrilla. As it is known, the soldiers of the Polish Underground in the Kresach lacked weapons, but Cesia claimed that only thanks to these guns she was assigned to storm platoon.
Visa kept it. She gave it to the team. With her platoon, she went into action. She and the boys took the drop, and erstwhile the request came, she threw grenades no worse than they did.
Her boss was Józef Szajda, a sergeant of the French abroad Legion, who accepted his nickname “Bela – bes” from the town of Sidi – bel – Abbes, in which his garrison in Algeria was stationed.
Cesia liked him very much, but she resented not letting her stand watch alone. Instead, he motivated his command by the fact that a man passing through the forest may not perceive to the warning: - “Stop, for I am shooting!” - said a thin girl’s voice and there will be a tragedy.
Since the spring of 1944, forest troops, boastfully bearing the pre-war name of the 14th Jazlovski Ulan Regiment, in the replacement of the commander, who arranged for the partisan interests in Lviv, commanded and led the combat actions of Serb, Captain Dragan Sotirović “Drazi”.
“I met Dragan in the woods – you mentioned Czesława. He spoke to us before the action. He asked us to pray before the fight, so that God would not let us accidentally harm the innocent, that he would forgive us if women or children died in this action.
Then I thought, why does he talk Polish so strangely? I didn't know then that he wasn't Polish. He was very brave and strong.
Within a short time, “Drazy” took command, and since he had difficulties with Polish pronunciation and spelling to the law firm, Cesia was assigned to fill in reports with his easy, equal, tiny writing.
On July 31, 1944, the Soviets arrested the "Drague" along with another commanders, slylyly called as a briefing. AK soldiers and forest troops were ordered to lay down their weapons.
The last paper written by Cesi's hand from the times of guerrilla action was a census of the weapon being handed down.
Number 1 received a dense device weapon captured on the force tower, she kept writing the crap herself, due to the fact that something had to be passed, and a better weapon each left to himself.
After returning from the forest to Cesia's home, she again made contact with NOW and incorporated herself into conspiracy activities. On 1 September day, she received a joyful message about the escape of the “Strike.” ...
"Dreams" not paying attention to the fact that he is wanted by the NKVD and local Ukrainians, he decided to say goodbye to his fellow armsmen before leaving, and due to the fact that he inactive misinformed the Polish language, he asked Cesia to accompany him to this event. They did not study the intended expedition to command, fearing the ban due to the unnecessary hazard of the venture.
On the scheduled day, Cesia put on a coat with large pockets to hide a vis and set off. The way led through a pine grove and dense beech bushes remaining after logging the forest, outside of which unexpectedly came a Bolshevik patrol with pepeshes ready to fire.
They were pierced with sharp penetrating eyes, then heard that the patrol stopped and most likely watched closely, but confused by the calm behaviour of the infantry did not halt them. At the turn of “Drazy” he opened a wide loose coat and showed the grenades stuck behind the belt, adding that he always carries them with him but the gun, so they would not quit easily.
To the west he went in the company of Władysław Pruczkowski "Boxer", a tall, well-built partisan fast in decisions, bravado in actions.
It was said that during the German business he was walking with 2 another guerrillas, protecting his commander. close the Gestapo office they were called by a five-man patrol to show the kenkarta.
In response, “Bokser” took out the weapon he gave a series of shots to the MPs, his colleagues supported him with their vending machines, after which all 3 managed to escape happily. Now both of them dressed in Polish military coats and hats according to recently issued false papers from Cesi's home to the railway station drove distant in a carriage, warmly said goodbye by their closest friends.
Wisia Kramasz, who, thanks to the bad pronunciation of “Draży”, chose to break up with her beloved commander as her nickname “Wiszka” she poured hot tears. For his service to Our Homeland, he was given the highest combat discrimination of the Virtuti Military Cross.
Cesia remained in Lviv, and in addition to organizing metastasis behind San, she took an active part in various actions, mostly specified as having automatic weapons was desirable.
Among another things, it provided protection at the time of the acquisition of money from the office where day-to-day receipts collected in large grocery stores intended exclusively for the citizens of the russian Union were made, and in the evening it was taken to the bank.
This successful venture brought a major cash injection. More than 170 000 rubles were adopted for the organization on this date. This sum was utilized to treat the wounded during combat actions and to aid families of soldiers killed and imprisoned.
One day Cesia met a friend from the partisan “Sasa”. He said he was arrested and escaped from prison. Beaten face suggested the fact of his words, so she believed.
Unfortunately, he later proved to be a dangerous confidant with many colleagues on his conscience. Arrests started. In Cesi's home, after a large-scale revision, his father decided to marry San and join the “Dragues” branch.
Cesia was escorting him to the station in company with “Sasa” who had been around her since the first meeting. At 1 point, “Sas” left for the phone, and as a consequence of this conversation, soldiers came to the train and lucklessly searched for an old man with a backpack.
After saying goodbye to her father erstwhile they were coming home, she didn't think it was the last walk before they were arrested.
It was an evening. “Sas” knew that “Krystine” was constantly carrying a weapon and would usage a weapon in case of danger, so the minute of her arrest was so organized that she did not have time to remove the visa.
Walking through the square he stopped her in front of a dark car in which abruptly the headlights flashed and briefly blinded Cesia. The minute was adequate to get the “catchers” out of the truck, overpowered her, disarmed her, put handcuffs on her hands and went to jail.
In May, together with the arrested officers of NOW “Mark” and “Rys” she was transported to Moscow and imprisoned in stalls in Lubianka.
They were wanted to be utilized as witnesses at the Okulicki trial, which trusted the promises of the NKVD, accepted their invitation and went to talks with 15 leaders of the Polish Underground State, who paid their lives in "Process 16" for their credulity.
When the NKWD received no information from Cesi and her associates, they were returned to Lviv. The trial was dense and the sentences were high. Cesi was given 20 years of katorgi, as she received an additional point 8 i.e. terror. Both officers were sentenced to death penalty. Cesia in her last word, reasoning that they acted together, asked for the same dimension of punishment. She was not given this satisfaction. On the another hand, after being held on death row for 2 months, his colleagues were turned into 20 years of katorga.
There have been attempts to escape from the camp on Peltevna, unfortunately unsuccessful. Mrs. Czesława, who was 1 of the organizers of the escape, was placed in solitary confinement without being able to communicate with anyone.
On 15 December 1945, she drove off on a transport to Workuta. At Workutu, the mine chief was curious in Mrs Czesława's artistic skills. So she wasn't sent to work in the window. She drew, painted in a garrison club, sketched portraits, decorated a recently built school.
Further memories of Wanda Chwastowska – Bystram:
"Before being arrested on the property of her parents, Cesia hid in a bunker, set on the border with a second plot, a stene, an American mine, an iron tape and a briefcase which she received from Mr. Władysław, a friend from a conspiracy ordered to hide without looking inside.
In 1948, a neighbour leaving San under his cell telephone from his side buried the Parabelum. A 10-year-old boy picked it up and tried to sale it.
She was brought from Workuta to Lviv, seemingly in a folder that “Wladyslaw” did not want to see crucial documents. She was kept in a hole. Contacts were asked. She did not admit anything."
From the memories of Mrs Czesława from the prison on Łąckiego Street in Lviv:
“I was very tired of this bunker, I insisted that I didn’t know anything, and they had everything from our bunker. I couldn't not draw there. I had to, or I'd go crazy.
There was frequently light out, so we were given candles. I collected soot, put it on the handle of a stick and drew. There was this russian soldier who threw me through a cat window erstwhile he came back, taking him distant so he wouldn't be accused of interacting with me.
I was wearing underwear from the camp, and I took it off, and I stretched it on a frame, and I drew this cat, and then I switched this drawing to soap. Another time, this soldier threw me a naturce flower.
I had nothing to draw it so I asked them to give me burnt bread, no 1 wanted to take it. I melted this burning skin with soap and drew it with a broomstick.
Then, of course, the soldier took that flower so no 1 would see it. In prison, I met “old work workers” I knew from 1941. 1 of them, called “Kat” very much wanted to hit me.
I was in a tiny cell. He opened the window and tried to scope me with a stick. I avoided the punches as much as I could. He was yelling at me for me to rot here. I told him, but not of my own accord. And you will rot here voluntarily due to the fact that you are watching over us and just as we are sitting in this prison.”
After a fewer months Czesława was transported to Workuta again. After Stalin's death, there was a clear thaw, she could already decision outside the camp, at first with the convoy later on. She worked in the task office, this period recalls with pleasance due to the fact that she met many interesting people, professionals, intelligent people, sent here from different sides, from different countries.
The Cydzikows met and loved each another at the exile. The people of that generation, created as if from another noble gold that is unknown to us today.
Hardened in battle. Despite the opposites of fate, they stay friendly and friendly. They were able to do very much in their lives to endure without changing their views, not bowing down to the wickedness and force of the regime, to establish beautiful families, to rise children well, to enjoy grandchildren.
This text, as if a continuation of erstwhile memories of another exiles, “Sybiraków”, for example Beata Obertyńska, Polish poet, daughter of Polish poet Maryla Wolska, whose parent Wanda Monne was married to Artur Grottger.
These memories were described by me (Aleksander Szumański) a fewer years ago in the “Kresowy Serwisy informacyjny” according to the memories of Beata Obertyńska “We deported”, due to the fact that the fates of both Adamski and Cydzików families are linked.
Krystyna from Cydzikówn's home became the wife of Stefan Adamski – boy of Stanisław. The full household of Krystyna and Stefan Adamski belonged to the Scouts. Actually the Polish Scouting Union in Ukraine is the work of Hrcm. Stefan Adamski.
The group of children of Krystyna and Stefan was raised in the most beautiful traditions of the Polish family.
This is Bożena Rafalska, editor-in-chief of the “Lwów Meetings”:
“In view of “Krystina” – Mrs. Cydzikowa from Hnatatny’s home I have a special, enthusiastic relation besides due to the fact that in 1990, erstwhile I began to work on the reactivation of the magazine appearing until 1944 in Lviv “Gazeta Lwowska”, it was Mrs. Czesia who created a unique, referring to the 20th anniversary of the interwar graphic plan of the magazine, which was not very successful “pick up” another newspapers appearing in Lviv. Even the font of the title that Mrs Czesia presented to us at the time referred to the sophisticated good tradition of the Polish press in Lviv.
Not knowing her yet, on the Day of the Dead I always admired the beautiful paper lanterns that we found on the Orląt Cemetery all year. Later I found out that they were made by Mrs. Cydzikowa and the night erstwhile the "sad" gentlemen were inactive asleep, brought to the cemetery.
Today, Krystyna Adamska, teacher of art at St Mary Magdalene's Polish School of Arts (former school no. 10), daughter of Mrs Czesi and her parent – a plasticist, like her postgraduate of the Lviv Academy of Fine Arts. And the name Krystyna was named after her heroic parent Czesława Cydzikowa.’
Bożena Rafalska, Aleksander Szumański “Lviv meetings”
Documents, sources, quotations:
Wanda Chwastowska – Bystram – “In a bonnet born, AK, prison, Uralu lago” (release: planet Union of Soldiers AK, Polesie District, Warsaw, January 2002):
http://www.lwow.home.pl/meetings/cristina.html
(link is external)
