KORDIAN’S DIARY — THE OUTBURST OF THE WORST
1 September 1939, Westerplatte
The worst happened, Germany invaded Poland. I had to leave my house, all my possessions. Although I didn’t really leave anything on Westerplatte, because the Germans had done a terrible bombing, they had destroyed everything I had for so short. The only thing you could take with you were only memories. I took my diary with me, which I always have with me in my pocket.
The Germans began bombing early in the morning. It was 4.40 a.m. when I woke up from the sound of my alarm clock. As always in the morning, I opened the window and stood by it for a while. And then it all began. I saw bombs falling, one after another. It was 4.45 a.m., I still managed to see it. The Germans fired artillery and threw shells from planes. On the other hand, the worst was the shelling of a German warship. I left all my belongings and ran away from home. While running away, I had to avoid the bullets falling next to me. Although, although I didn’t trip over anything, I fell over as a result of the force of the bomb that destroyed my house. I turned around, and behind me there were only rubble and a crossbow. I escaped from Westerplatte, although I saw others die for Poland.
I didn’t want to fight anymore, I’ve had enough of wars. Despite my young age, I fought in World War I. I have seen the worst and nightmarish scenes full of blood many times. I don’t want to go through the same thing again. Today I was supposed to go to work, to school, to the children. I was supposed to teach philosophy, and it happened…
I’m out of Westerplatte. I don’t even know where exactly. I found shelter in some forest. I noticed a burrow here, just right for me, that caught my eye. Fighting can be heard in the distance. I plan to wait at least one night here. I hope I can fall asleep and rest. And today I was supposed to teach philosophy… Today, in lesson 2i, I planned a discussion about the moral principles of conducting an armed conflict. As you can see, the war happened by itself.
Kordian’s Diary — A Mobilization Surrounded by Fear
2 September 1939, Westerplatte and surroundings
I don’t know what time I woke up, but it must have been very early in the morning, because the sun was just waking up. I came out of my burrow. I dared to say that I did not hear the sound of bombs exploding as often as yesterday. I came out of the forest and saw what I was most afraid of. At one of the churches, on a wooden lantern.
The Polish authorities announced mobilisations for active military service. So I was drafted into the armed forces. If I don’t show up, they’ll find me and put me in prison forever, or they’ll do even worse and kill me.
I’m incredibly scared. But what am I supposed to do now? For the time being, I have decided, I am staying and not reporting to the army. At most, they will kill me. I experienced a nightmare once, I don’t want the same thing a second time. I’ll hide in this burrow, in the forest. I’ll wait here. But what will I do when the Germans come here?
Kordian’s Diary — An Escape from Fear
3 September 1939, Westerplatte
It is 6.11 a.m. I just signed up. I’m sitting in line for medical examinations to see if I’m still fit for military service. The stench closes my eyes. Lack of air, great stuffiness closes my heart.
The doctor recognized my fitness so that I could go to the front. I was given a uniform with boots, bullets and a rifle.
The first task is Westerplatte!
The Diary of Westerplatte — The Defense of Westerplatte
6 September 1939, 6.33 p.m.
We are losing us, there are fewer and fewer soldiers. Most likely, we will not protect Westerplatte, I will not defend my house. Today, before 1:00 p.m., I was injured, but not seriously. A bullet from a German soldier touched my hand. I was transferred by my colleagues to the base. There I was taken care of by medical volunteers. They wrapped my hand in a bandage.
Admittedly, I survived here for three days. Which is unbelievable. Bomb after bomb falls. German fighters fly over our heads all the time. I killed three Germans. I had no choice!
Kordian’s Diary — The Fall of the Westerplatte Uprising
September 7, 1939
We were tasked with defending Westerplatte. In the unit in which I belonged, we were hung up to defend one of the local naval bases. We didn’t make it. Because I had a higher military rank, I had information that ordinary soldiers did not have. Our commanders knew that we would not be able to cope with the task. Everyone thought that the Germans would conquer Westerplatte very quickly. Apparently, we didn’t have any chances. And yet, admittedly not entirely, we defended Westerplatte longer than others thought.
The Germans captured Mount Westerplatte and planted their Nazi flag, dirty with sacrificial Polish blood, into it. The soldiers were taken prisoner. And how do I know that?
The defense was nearing its final end. Nazi planes bombed with all their might. I shot at them with a rifle, I tried to get rid of even the glass. Which would make it very difficult for the German pilot to conduct a further assault on Westerplatte. I didn’t manage to do this because I didn’t notice the bomb falling behind me. The force of the bomb was so strong that it threw me a few meters (according to my later calculations, the force of the German shell threw me about 4 or 4.5 meters). After some time I slipped away, I don’t know how long I lay unconscious, but when I regained consciousness, my unit was in Nazi captivity. I have no idea what their further fate is. I suspect only one thing, that they were shot by the Germans. I’m not sure about that because they later disappeared from my sight, but I heard shots. I, on the other hand, was in the leaves I fell into. I was covered in blood, torn by corks. I waited until the evening. Later I picked up my four letters and ran away again, and I should have been shot along with my brigade.
Direction — East
September 15, 1939, Brest
A week has passed since my escape from Westerplatte. Although it was difficult for me to get deeper into the country, this is exactly what worked out for me.
Brest I’ve never been here before. What a beautiful city it is. I saw a forest here. I went to see him, although I regretted it very much later. This forest seemed quite familiar to me, although I had never been here before in my life. Or maybe I was, but that’s not possible. Everything there was exactly the same as in Poznań. Exactly in terms of details. There were ponds, an observation tower (with the same stairs) and even a bench. I immediately thought of my beloved Sonia. I cried, but I quickly forgot about what had already happened. It is simply not worth looking for another strong pain in your memory. You need to focus on what is current, here and now, and not on what happened quite a long time ago. It was and it was gone. Now this is just one of my tiny memories among the billions of other events that are in my memory. I’ve even forgotten about Sonia for good. Sonia is unfortunately only a very weak fragment of my memories, as I have already mentioned.
From a resident here in Brest, I learned that a large German force from East Prussia was approaching this city. I decided to go even further towards the East. Perhaps I will go to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. After all, we have signed a non-aggression pact with them. I have such plans and I hope that the Russians will accept me.
Soviet attack
17 September 1939, Nowogródek
And yet, I wouldn’t have expected what happened in the end.
Treacherous Franco-British aid!!
August 25, 1939
In one of Warsaw’s high schools, chaos has been going on for many days about Franco-British aid to Polish. Conversations during breaks in the teacher’s room were incredibly fierce, and the end of arguments between teachers started with the bell for lessons and ended with the same bell for recess.
„You have heard that the British are supposed to help us in the event of a war with Hitler. — the philosophy teacher began the conversation.
„Yes, but not only them, but also the French. — added the Polish language teacher.
Kup książkę, aby przeczytać do końca.