Source materials about the subject of the military settlements (osady) following the birth of the nation in 1921 are sparse. The extensive archive of the Związek Osadników (Settlers’ Union) in Warsaw was destroyed during the German occupation and the fate of the archives of the various Województwa (Provinces) and Powiat (counties) of the Związek Osadników which ended up in the hands of the Soviets, are still unknown to this point in time. Some documents relating to the Settlement Program can be found in the Centralny Archiwum Wojskowy (Central Military Archive) in Rembert and the Archiwum Akt Nowych (Archive of New Records) in Warsaw. Some periodicals of the Settlement Program have survived in Warsaw libraries. These include: Osadnik (1923-25), Rolnik i Zagroda (1925-29), Miesięcznik Osadniczy (1929-31), and the weekly Rolnik i Zagroda which resumed publication in 1938, as well as the reports of the activities of the Związek Osadników for the years 1931-33, 1933-35 and 1935-37.

In these circumstances, the reminiscences of the sons and daughters of the settlers contained in this book are an additional resource and constitute a valuable contribution to the history of the settlement program, as well as providing a window onto life in the Borderlands in that era. It is true that the authors of these reminiscences have reached back to a time of their lives more than 50 years ago, but this was the time of their carefree childhood days which were tragically interrupted by their deportation to Siberia. As a result, that time has remained frozen in their memories, preserving the freshness of a good photograph. These memories have undoubtedly been supplemented by the stories told by their parents who by talking about the difficult early days of the settlements, strove to evoke in their children pride in the accomplishments of their parents, as well as in their osada origins.

Click on the link on the left of the row – testimonies under construction will be uploaded in due course.

002

Forward

Klemens Rudnicki

Reflections on the Settlement Programme and its legacy written by Gen. Rudnicki in Antokol, 1992, a few months before he died.

WRITTEN BY ORIGINAL SETTLERS

004	Radziwiłłów-Bemowo	Wołyń	Piotr Jankowski	The story of hardships and working together to develop virgin land but also of a week-long relay horse race.
005	Rejmontów	Wołyń	Anna Bielińska	A newly married couple leave for their honeymoon to start life on a settlement.
006	Wola Korybutowiecka	Wołyń	Marta Korszańska	A wife recalls the social life in the settlement whilst building a future.
007	Reymontowicze	Wołyn	Józef Malczyk	We had to go through a truly pioneering period of self-denial, perseverance, and conviction in our mission to secure the Polish borderlands.
008	Szwoleżerówka	Wołyn	Zofia Brochwicz-Lewińska	Written by the wife of a settler who lovingly describes the place she prefers to any other.
009	Bałakowszczyzna	Nowogródek	Aleksandra Nowicki	A settler after conscription into the Russian army, volunteered in Piłsudki’s legions and contributed to victory at Lida over the Bolsheviks.
010	Klucz	Nowogródek	Józef Wysocki	Drafted into the Russian Army, captured by the Germans, Wysocki fought for a free Poland but civilian life was not easy.

WRITTEN BY DESCENDANTS OF SETTLERS 

011	Granatów, Lispotadówka, Krzemienice	Wołyn	B. Łozowski		Recollections of various osady in the Chorów district by an 86 year old settler
012	Lachów	Wołyn	Julia Prochorowicz		A list of settlers drawn up by the wife of a settler.
013	Zabuże	Polesie	T. C. Kryński		Making a living from the land amongst Belarusian and Ukrainian villages.
014	Cezarówka Proszowa, Sodowka Grzegulec	Tarnopol	Antonina Nowakowska primo voto Zapiór	Zych	Recollections from , not only the daughter but also the wife of settler,  who inherited the land from his father.
015	Karolinowo	Wilno	Halina Kurczawa	Zwierchowska	The parents instilled in their children the motto “For you Poland and for your glory”.
016	Kuropol	Wilno	Bolesław Polnik		Boyhood memories of home in Kresy.
017	Rżawka	Wilno	Ludmiła Gutowska	Stopa	The smallest osada worked by two brothers following their military service
018	Rokitno	Białystok	Władysław Przygoński		A military settler from Kresy who spent 30 years in Canada but died in Poland
019	Żydomla	Białystok	Alicja Polanin	Orechwa	A soldier awarded the Virtuti Militari in the Battle for Warsaw, settles in Kresy but ends up with a family of 4 generations in Chicago.
020	Adampol	Nowogródzkie	Zofia Szyman	Górska	A daughter of settler family reminisces of her life in the osada.
021	Adampol	Nowogródzkie	Józef Rojek		A survivor recalls life as a 12-year-old and dreams of returning to Adampol to dig up treasured possessions.
022	Under Construction
023	Gienuiga	Nowogródzkie	Adam Wojtowicz		A short account with a list of settler families.
024	Horka	Nowogródzkie	Bolesław Trojanowski		A short account with a list of settler families.
025	Jodańce	Nowogródzkie	Henryk Madany		A small settlement of seven families.
026	Kajszówska	Nowogródzkie	Bolesław Turowicz		A very brief overview
027	Kuszelewo	Nowogródzkie	​Alicja Jankowska	Rozwadowska	Eight childhood years in this settlement formed a lifelong love expressed in the words of a national poet.
028	Łohwinowicze	Nowogródzkie	Bogdan Trybuchowski		Includes excerpts from Bogdan Trybuchowski’s book Polskie Drogi 1940-2000 (Polish Trails) with more information from this author.
029	Mały Olżew, Szczytniki	Nowogródzkie	Alina Kawulok	Drozdowska	Life on the estate that had been confiscated by Russia in 1863 but reclaimed by Polish settlers in 1920.
030	Natalin	Nowogródzkie	Janos Kranodębski		– – – –
031	Niechniewicze	Nowogródzkie	Feliks Wdowczyk		This family of eight children farmed the land and owned a restaurant but faced local communists who burnt settler’s barns.
032	Under Construction
033	Puzieniewicze	Nowogródzkie	Stanisław Świercz		Colourful  anecdotes in this account of life on a settlement.
034	Chlewiszcze	Polesie	Halina Papowszek	Żaboklicka	Settlers regarded by local population as the “salt of Poland”.
035	Chylin	Polesie	T.Sobierajski		The author tells of relationships with other nationalities in the area.
036	Chylin	Polesie	Maria Wylot	Woźniak	As in the song “The Spell of Polesie”, life in the settlement has a charm of its own.
037	Chylin	Polesie	Wiktor Staniaszek		Describes life in a remote settlement with few facilities and subject to annual flooding.
038	Chylin	Polesie	R Staniaszek		An account of an agricultural livelihood on a smallholding
039	Kopań	Polesie	Maria Dolecka	Królikowska	The author remembers many of the settlers and their roles within this settlement.
040	Osownica	Polesie	Jadwiga Dabrowska	Korta	Birthplace of a  Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs.
041 042	Osowce Osowce	Polesie Polesie	Tadeusz Kralski ​Henryk Nowicki		Two descriptions of a small settlement on land once owned by Eliza Orzeszowska, (1841 – 1910) a Polish novelist and  writer.
043	Stawy	Polesie	Irena Orzel	Kujawa	A remote settlement  with no facilities of its own until June 1939
044	Trebiezów	Polesie	Halina Szulc	Sobocka	A family devoted to settler’s issues and involved with the community on a settlement with an abundance of snakes.
045	Under Construction
046	Under Construction
047	Under Construction
048	Antonin	Wołyń	Aleksandra Rymaszewska	Jarmulska	Sixteen families and some of their fates.
049	Arsonowicze	Wołyń	Genowefa Kwiecińska	Staniszewska	Amid many executions, Staniszewski was saved by  Ukrainians.
050	Bajonówka	Wołyń	Krystyna Ostrowska	Chyży	A young girl taken on a journey to collect, for the new church, a copy of the “miraculous” image of Our Lady of Częstochowa .
051	Bajonówka	Wołyn	Genowefa Łacka	Nosek	Of a family of nine, only the author survived Siberia.
052	Under Construction
053	Under Construction
054	Under Construction
055	Chorów	Wołyń	Jadwiga Markiewicz	Winnicka	A community where everyone spoke Polish and Ukrainian.
056	Chrobrowicze	Wołyń	L. Rybacka	Grzeszkiewicz	“Wołyń…..was in my mind the closest description of Heaven.”
057	Chrobrów	Wołyń	Irena Ryduchowska	Matkowska	“I lived at that time like “a hare under alert”
059 ​060	Dorotycze Sarny-Dorotycze	Wołyń	Grazyna Dabrowska Wiesława Chmura	Wizgird Misztel	​Two short accounts of the osada by survivors who were young children at that time.
061	Drozdów	Wołyń	Teresa Palej	Domalgalska	Tales of settlers who didn’t get on well with each other.
062	Hallerowo	Wołyń	Zofia Bronowicka	Pasik	Zofia describes childhood dreams dashed by war and deportation .
063	Hallerowo	Wołyń	Jadwiga Pawłowicz	Pleciak	Born in an earthen cabin, Jadwiga dreams of the most beautiful days of her life with summer picnics in beautiful meadows.
064	Hallerowo	Wołyń	Irena Rybiczonek	Budzyń	Bountiful orchards planted by settlers and a visit by General Haller after whom the settlement was named.
065	Under Construction
066	Janina	Wołyń	Mieczysław Więckowski		A courageous widow defends her property from thieves.
067	Under Construction
068	Janówka	Wołyń	Tadeusz Walczak		This story features a number of photographs of people who lived on the settlement.
069	Under Construction
070	Jazłowiecka	Wołyń	L. Cabut		Settlers built a new church and with donations such as wedding rings purchased a replica of the Częstochowa Black Madonna.
071	Jazłowiecka	Wołyń	Karol Olszewski		Tales of old die-hards of the 14th Jazłowiec Lancers Regiment whose “selfless efforts …just burst like a bubble of soap”.
072	Under Construction
073	Under Construction
074	Karczówka	Wołyń	Józef Pajdowski Irena Bieżańska	Pajdowska	From the wilderness to a model farm in 16 years but then the Soviets took all of the horses and destroyed everything.
075	Under Construction
076	Kościuszko	Wołyń	Jerzy Kondziela ​Alicja Kondziela	Szalast	A detailed description of the location, social makeup and community life from the arrival of the first pioneers until the War.
077 078	Krechowiecka Krechowiecka	Wołyń Wołyń	Danuta Gradosielska  Danuta Gradosielska	Mączka Mączka	Danuta describes the organisation of the settlement and her life and family who lived there.
079	Krechowiecka	Wołyn	Jan Kulik		The eldest brother of five describes life for his family.
080	Krechowiecka	Wołyń	Janina Misik	Góral	Janina spent school holidays with her Aunt and Uncle here.
081	Krechowiecka	Wołyń	Czesław Pukacz		A detailed recollection, honouring parents whose example taught their children work ethic, love of nation and how to be productive.
082	Kurhany	Wołyń	Maria Kruczkiewicz	Kacperska	A  settlement with many connections to graves.
083	Kurhany	Wołyń	Stefania Borowy	Kacperska	Detailed list of settlers and the day to day life on the settlement
084	Kurhany and Chorów	Wołyń	Stefania Borowy Stanisław Borowy	Kacperska	Stories of soldiers of the 21st Infantry Division settled amidst local Poles and Ukrainians.
085	Listopadówka	Wołyń	E.P.Brzeziński		He writes – ​to remind those that come after us that our fathers and we lived there. It was our home and our land. It was Poland.
086	Łany	Wołyń	Jadwiga Osostowicz	Wnęk	A settler who took a Philosophy Masters degree, was Chairman of the Settler’s Association, became an MP and whose freedom was pleaded by local Ruthenians and Jews.
087	Maczkowce	Wołyń	Zofia Repa	Stepek	Memories that bring on tears.
088	Maczkowce	Wołyń	Bronisław Wawrzkowicz		Extensive descriptions and photos of the settlement.
089	Under Construction
090	Narutowicze	Wołyń	Janina Walbach	Warzecha	A short account of this Osada
091	Nawóz	Wołyń	Zdzisław Michalski		A settler whose family possessions are on display in a museum
094	Ostrów	Wołyń	Zyta Szulejewska	Rzehak	A brief description of the settlement as Zyta was very young
095	Piłsudczanka	Wołyń	Maria Filon	Oleś	Short account from the eldest daughter, the only survivor from a family of seven.
096	Pomorzanka	Wołyń	Józef Ćwirko		“Even now, during lucky chance encounters, we greet each other like neighbours.”
097	Pomorzanka	Wołyń	Teresa Rafaląt	Miłoszewska	“Now, even after so many years of exile… I can still see a picture of my happy childhood.”
099	Radziwiłłów	Wołyn	Alina Żbikowska	Musiał	A family whose three men were taken by the whirlwind of war
100	Rejtanów	Wołyn	Dorota Jasińska	Jarosz	Tales of a settlement with uneasy relationships
101	Under Construction
102	Reymontowicze	Wołyn	Eugenia Zakłada	Popsowska	“…it was a barren land, but they left  behind beautiful houses, farms, orchards, and churches.”
103	Under Construction
104	Under Construction
105	Sienkiewicze	Wołyń	Franciszek Gall		A son recounts his father’s work in the settlement and the fate of all its inhabitants.
106	Under Construction
107	Under Construction
108	Under Construction
109	Under Construction
110	Under Construction
111	Under Construction
112	Under Construction
113	Szwoleżerów	Wołyń	Rozalia Gordon	Reich	“If not for WW II, what a vibrant, rich Polish culture would have pulsated on the soil of Wołyń!”
114	Szwoleżerów	Wołyń	Krystyna Walak		“In such a short time, they accomplished so much and had such wonderful plans for the future.”
115	Szyły	Wołyń	Jerzy Rzegota-Januszajtis		A dismissed General wins respect from local Ruthenians and settlers.  His actions save workers from an out-of-control bull.
116	Teklówka	Wołyń	Janina Kruszewska	Pawlik	Janina describes her family and includes many photos of the settlement.
117	Topule	Wołyń	Tadeusz Lachowski		Wreaths of flowers were floated down the river in the moonlight during May celebrations and people danced until midnight.
118	Ułanowice	Wołyń	T.Dela		Short description of the settlement and the names and fates of the settlers.
119	Ułanówka	Wołyń	Halina Bąbik	Rafał	A fascinating history  of men from Jaworski’s cavalry; heroes who earned distinctions in the war with the Bolsheviks.
120	Ułanówka	Wołyń	Henryka Lappo	Utnik	A detailed description the life of a young girl on this settlement.
121	Wielkopolanka	Wołyń	Każimierz	Grubczak	His certificate in support of an application for the Cross of Independence lists the campaigns he fought.
122	Under Construction
123	Wola Korybutowiecka	Wołyń	Maria Krystyna Kalaga	Cieślinkiewicz	​Detailed description of settlement including a list of settlers and plot numbers.
124	Wola Piłsudskiego	Wołyń	Teofila Rachel	Kowalska	Rachel describes a settlement of thirty families with rivalry between cavalrymen and infantrymen.
125	Under Construction
126	Under Construction
127	Wola Wilsona	Wołyń	Helena Moczulska	Węglarz	A short  description of life  on the Osada including a list of settlers.
128	Wółczek	Wolyń	Genowefa Guzewicz	Szymańska	Witold Szymański’s (129 below) sister Genowefa recounts her memories of the osada she calls ‘heaven’.
129	Wołczek	Wołyń	Witold Szymański		An account of the inspiration for the settlement name and the deep-felt longing for the life long gone – “remembering my childhood, I write about it for the next generation”.
130	Under Construction
131	Under Construction
132	Under Construction
136	Kosy-Dwór	Nowogródek	Regina Walczak	Sobieraj	A story dedicated to a mother who, on her own in subhuman conditions and at the price of self-denials and sufferings, managed to save the family from death.
137	Armatniów	Wołyń	Helen B Cheek	Kozioł	A settler who was a good husband and a passionate beekeeper, written by his only daughter.
138	Under Construction
139	Under Construction