European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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They appeared first, the Zambrowicz family,
They appeared first, the Zambrowicz family,
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Mrs. Maja Zambrowicz, the mother of Joanna, with her husband and a goat.
Mrs. Maja Zambrowicz, the mother of Joanna, with her husband and a goat.
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She asked if they could live at my place.
She asked if they could live at my place.
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Yes, of course, you are welcome.
Yes, of course, you are welcome.
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It was good for me that somebody would live there, not only Melania and me.
It was good for me that somebody would live there, not only Melania and me.
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They just escaped from Warsaw, were in Vilnius, as they heard about many little farms there where holidaymakers come.
They just escaped from Warsaw, were in Vilnius, as they heard about many little farms there where holidaymakers come.
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It was June, so they thought that maybe during the summer they could stay there,
It was June, so they thought that maybe during the summer they could stay there,
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save some money and come back to Warsaw.
save some money and come back to Warsaw.
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They did not have any plans what to do next.
They did not have any plans what to do next.
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Beginning of WWII, Soviet occupation
Beginning of WWII, Soviet occupation
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When the war broke out, the second one,
When the war broke out, the second one,
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the Vilnius Region was captured by the Russian army.
the Vilnius Region was captured by the Russian army.
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And there were different connections than in the Warsaw areas.
And there were different connections than in the Warsaw areas.
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Fish ponds were nationalized, forests were nationalized, only thirty hectares of land were left.
Fish ponds were nationalized, forests were nationalized, only thirty hectares of land were left.
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Horses were given to the war,
Horses were given to the war,
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we – me and my mum were left, there were no men, my parents separated much earlier,
we – me and my mum were left, there were no men, my parents separated much earlier,
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we were the only ones at the farmhouse.
we were the only ones at the farmhouse.
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During the whole autumn in 1939 I was ploughing, only I worked with the plough.
During the whole autumn in 1939 I was ploughing, only I worked with the plough.
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There was one horse left and three colts which were still too small to work.
There was one horse left and three colts which were still too small to work.
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Then the Lithuanians theoretically got power over a big part of Wileńszczyzna from the Soviet Union.
Then the Lithuanians theoretically got power over a big part of Wileńszczyzna from the Soviet Union.