extracts
Now our whole transport was divided into three posioleks â two large ones, situated deep in the forest, and the third small one near the railway track. Those of us left near the track had to work loading wagons. The barrack huts in which we lived had small rooms to each one of which was assigned two families: an average of ten people. We slept on bunk beds which at night were spaced out so that they covered the entire floor space. All the men were immediately set to work either felling trees in the forest or loading logs on the wagons of a train which came a few times each week. At such times we had to load it as quickly as possible, and do this very often late at night by the faint light of paraffin lamps. Such was the employment of daddy and Witek and the payment for this was minuscule but came with a 200 gram piece of bread. In fact the wages were never paid in full for they said that the rest was kept on account. (After the amnesty and a long wait all the outstanding wages were paid). The younger children, which included me, were required to attend the Soviet school on the posiolek of Chichagov. My mother and sister stayed in the barracks. This was the winter arrangement because during the summer we worked sawing logs into lengths of between one and two metres. Working gave us the right to enter the canteen where soup and bread was available. Those who didnÖt work had no bread allowance at all. Winter passed and summer eased the situation because we collected berries and wild mushrooms which lessened the worst of the hunger crises. Moreover a bakery in one of the neighbouring villages would exchange our berries and mushrooms for bread .
Exile
ALINA ZBIKOWSKA (MUSIAL)
Osada Radziwillów, District Dubno