World War, 1939-1945 - Poland

Date: [194-]

By: O'Neill, John, active 1945

Reference: MS-Papers-7447

Description: Wawjyam describes the shortages in Poland under Communist rule and asks if O'Neill could send clothing for his family. He expresses the wish he might be able to visit New Zealand one day. Wawjyah, a Pole, met O'Neill, a New Zealander, when both were working in a Polish coal mine while prisoners of the Germans during World War Two Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donated by Mr N Thomas, Waikanae, 2002

Date: 3 Mar 1995 - 03 Mar 1995

From: New Zealand fishing history oral history project

By: Kaminski, Edwin, 1921-

Reference: OHInt-0444-04

Description: Edwin Kaminski born in Poland 1921. Talks about his early life in Poland. Recalls attempting to escape from Poland after the outbreak of World War II, being captured and sent to work in the coal mines in Russia from where he eventually escaped and made his way to England. Talks about the beginning of his seafaring career as a marine engineer and the shipping companies he worked for. Recalls emigrating to New Zealand with his wife and working in Haast for five months before joining P Ferons & Son Ltd, who owned fishing vessesls. Describes his work, maintaining the company's vessels which, directly or indirectly, numbered 80. Recalls a nine month period living aboard a converted naval fairmile which was anchored in Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island and was used, as an interim measure, as a floating refrigeration plant to service some of the local fleet, until a freezer could be built ashore. Talks about fishing in the Chatham Islands and describes his involvement in the setting up of a processing plant at the Chathams by Ferons Ltd during the tail end of the crayfish boom which occurred there from 1965 to 1971. Discusses crayfish processing and his experiences with the locals on the Chathams. Recalls being an engineer on a number of Chatham Island convoys which travelled between the Chathams and Lyttelton. Mentions the vessel `La Paloma' which was lost with all hands during one of the convoys. Talks about the salvage of the fishing vessel `Rosaleen' which he nursed to Lyttelton. Joined the Marine Department in the early 1970s as chief engineer of their new fisheries research ship `James Cook' and discusses the problems in preparing the vessel for her new role. Recalls later working on the department's new vessel the `Kaharoa' which was built in Whangarei during the early 1980s. Retired from MAF in the late 1980s and talks about his occasional work as chief engineer on a variety of vessels being delivered to or from New Zealand. Ends the interview with his view of the present fishing industry in New Zealand and comments on some of the policies. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Emmanuel Makarios Venue - 73b Tahunanui Drive, Nelson Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-010221-010223 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3413.

Date: 23-24 August 2002

By: Oldham, Philippa Jane, 1957-

Reference: OHColl-1549-01

Description: An interview with Stefan Wisniewski. Speaks about his family and growing up in Brzesc, Poland. Speaks about his experiences during World War Two and living under occupation; his time at Barnaul concentration camp; and later living in Uzbekistan. Mentions his brief time in the Polish Army. Speaks about the death of his mother and he and his siblings evacuation to New Zealand as orphans and his time at a camp at Pahiatua. Describes life in New Zealand after World War Two. Interviewer(s) - Helena Brow Helena Brow is the daughter of Stefan Wisniewski. Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 Interview(s). 1 printed abstract(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - awaiting description. Search dates: 2002

Date: 1 September 1939

From: Minhinnick, Gordon, 1902-1992 :[111 original pencil and ink cartoons. 1930s-1980s]

Reference: C-171-004

Description: Shows the earth as a pendulum, with Europe and Britain in view, as it swings between 'Hopes' and 'Fears'. Refers to the day when World War II began, with the German invasion of Poland Inscriptions: Recto - bottom left - Minhinnick [in ink]; Recto - beneath image - The pendulum of the hours [in ink] Quantity: 1 original cartoon(s). Physical Description: Ink, crayon and Chinese white on paper, 340 x 460 mm

Date: 1946-1962

From: Hampton, Richard George (Dr), 1906-2006: Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-12101-3

Description: Three publications about the destruction of Warsaw during World War Two, published in Poland in 1946 and 1962. -Andrzejewski, Jerzy. 'Warszawa 1939-45'. Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy,1946. Written in Polish. Includes many photographs of buildings and streets in Warsaw in 1939 and then in 1945, after the destruction by the Germans. Includes handwritten inscription to "Pani i Panu Hampton" -Library of the Polish Embassy. 'Warsaw accuses'. The Embassy, [1946]. Written in English. Includes an essay outlining the stages of destruction in Warsaw from 1939 to 1945, particularly focusing on the collections of libraries, archives and museums. Also includes many photographs of monuments, buildings and streets in Warsaw before and after the destruction. -Ciborowski, Adolf, and Jankowski, Stanislaw. 'Warsaw rebuilt'. Polonia Publishing House, 1962. Written in English. Essays about the impact of the war on Warsaw and the efforts and plans to rebuild it, with projections to 1965. Contains photographs of the streets and buildings in 1945 and in 1962. Quantity: 3 volume(s). 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Three publications in one folder

Date: 28 May 1998

From: 1998 New Zealand citizenship oral history project

By: Green, Tamara, 1924-; Green, Arnold, 1922-2000

Reference: OHInt-0421/05

Description: Arnold and Tamara Green give details of family in Czestochowa, Poland where they were born. Arnold mentions his father's involvement with German company, Farben Gesellschaft. Recalls: outbreak of war September 1939, walking to Warsaw, bombardment by German planes and sleeping arrangements during bombardment. Briefly mentions effects of German invasion on Jews in Czestochowa. Tamara recalls how schooling continued after German invasion. Gives reasons for establishment of partisan groups after 1942. Briefly describes `selection process' and reason why some were not sent to their death. Describes night in January 1945 when Russians liberated camp. Arnold describes his escape from Hasag Pelzery labour camp. Recalls leaving Poland for Czechoslovakia, then on to Hungary and arrival in Bari, Italy where they lived at camp in Santa Maria del Bagno before going to Rome. Recalls job with United Nations Relief Organization in Rome (UNRO) who paid fare to New Zealand on the `Napoli', arriving November 1948. Both describes experiences in New Zealand: first earthquake in Wellington; social contacts with New Zealanders; involvement in organisations; membership of Wellington synagogue; feelings about New Zealand; setting up Green's Precision Engineering, with reference to [Len] Southward and reason for moving factory to Marion Street, eventually selling factory to firm in Blenheim and becoming co-owner of Ariki Industries, Blenheim. Gives reasons for taking out New Zealand citizenship in 1954 and mentions swearing allegiance to the Queen. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Megan Hutching Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-007652-OHC-007655 Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s) (plus one copy). 3.25 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1987.

Date: 2003

By: Tomaszyk, Czelaw, 1922-2011

Reference: MSX-7050

Description: Typescript remimiscences of Czelaw Tomaszyk, recounting his early life, his experiences under German occupation during World War II, life in slave labour and concentration camps, his emigration to New Zealand, and his work for State Forests as a timber preservation officer, and then as a brewer for Waikato Breweries Ltd. Includes copies of correspondence, copies of labelled photographs. Written partly in Polish and partly in English. Source of title - Transcribed from text. Other Titles - From the memories of an immigrant (Translation of title) Quantity: 1 volume(s). 0.02 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript, photos (photocopies) Photocopies of original photographs

Date: 1992

By: Kaniuk, Roman, 1914-1998

Reference: MS-Papers-4830

Description: Describes Kaniuk's experiences first in Stalag 2E in Westfalenhof and then in Mauthausen. Also briefly describes the liberation of Mauthausen and Kaniuk's move to New Zealand. Source of title - title page Roman Kaniuk served briefly in the Polish Army 5th Field Artillery Regiment before being captured and becoming a German prisoner of war. He spent the rest of the war in concentration camps. In 1949 he migrated to New Zealand. Quantity: 1 folder(s) (11 leaves). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Roman Kaniuk, Helensville, 1993

Date: 1939

Reference: 1/2-066962-F

Description: A boy selling Evening Post newspapers outside a Bank of New Zealand office. In the foreground an Evening Post signboard reads: " War Begun. Attacks on Poland. Allies Ultimatum". Photograph possibly taken by Eileen Deste. Source of descriptive information - Print. Possible photographer identified by John Sullivan, curator of Photographic Archive, Alexander Turnbull Library. Quantity: 1 b&w copy negative(s).

Date: 2012

From: Evans, Malcolm Paul, 1945- :Digital cartoons

By: Press (Christchurch, N.Z.)

Reference: DCDL-0023429

Description: Shows large weapons firing at the smouldering ashes of the Warsaw Ghetto, and a German soldier. Compares the German annihilation of Warsaw during World War II to the current violence between Israel and Palestine. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).