European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

The next spring came in 1941.

In June 1941 I went to Vilnius.

I guess I had to meet with somebody, to find out about somebody, I do not remember exactly.

There was very little contact then with the city.

I found out that the doctor died two days earlier,

that his wife and daughter did not have money to pay for the funeral,

and they asked me if me and my mum could help them.

I came back home, my mum said: your money, you made it, take it.

I went to Vilnius and after that I did not see my mum for a couple of years.

That day I could evade arrest, this family had a phone– the Zebrowski family,

and somebody from their relations knew I was in Vilnius

and informed me that my mum had been deported from her place

and told me not to come back as they were looking for me.

Introduction, parents

My name is Stefania Dąmbrowska.

I do not like my name, I am Stenia Dąmbrowska, formally Stefania, my nick name is Stenia.

I was born on 12th October 1916 in Petersburg.

My father was a military man, Bohdan.

At that time in Russia, he was a cavalry captain I guess.