European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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If I am saying bad things about Lithuanians, because they were very cruel to the Poles,
If I am saying bad things about Lithuanians, because they were very cruel to the Poles,
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but there were two very good people in Niemenczyn.
but there were two very good people in Niemenczyn.
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It was the village leader Mr. Baučius who was sent from Lithuania,
It was the village leader Mr. Baučius who was sent from Lithuania,
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I guess he could speak Polish, even though it was not good.
I guess he could speak Polish, even though it was not good.
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The second one was Mr. Žemaitis
The second one was Mr. Žemaitis
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who had nothing to do with the next minister in here, who was by the way a person of Jewish descent, not a Jew or a Lithuanian.
who had nothing to do with the next minister in here, who was by the way a person of Jewish descent, not a Jew or a Lithuanian.
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Žemaitis had a big farm house
Žemaitis had a big farm house
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and he was the vice-village leader.
and he was the vice-village leader.
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Mr. Jankowski, Henryk as I well remember – the district secretary, was also helping.
Mr. Jankowski, Henryk as I well remember – the district secretary, was also helping.
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But there were some people who were against Jankowski in spite of the fact he had never done any dirty things.
But there were some people who were against Jankowski in spite of the fact he had never done any dirty things.
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At Jankowski´s place lived an organist,
At Jankowski´s place lived an organist,
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he was the musician and later professor at our Music Academy - Witold Rudziński.
he was the musician and later professor at our Music Academy - Witold Rudziński.
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The Rudziński family lived at Jankowski´s.
The Rudziński family lived at Jankowski´s.
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We had stayed in touch with the Rudziński family,
We had stayed in touch with the Rudziński family,
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I mean me and the Świezewski family used to go there,
I mean me and the Świezewski family used to go there,
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all of them knew about Maryśka coming,
all of them knew about Maryśka coming,
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maybe some documents were needed to give to Maryśka so the church was also a good place.
maybe some documents were needed to give to Maryśka so the church was also a good place.
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Those two men, these village leaders, did not let Gestapo get to Orwidów two or three times.
Those two men, these village leaders, did not let Gestapo get to Orwidów two or three times.
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When the Gestapo came and started investigating the inhabitants,
When the Gestapo came and started investigating the inhabitants,
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Mr. Žemaitis went to his farm house, bringing rotgut from there, some meat - they organized a big party and informed me.
Mr. Žemaitis went to his farm house, bringing rotgut from there, some meat - they organized a big party and informed me.