1. Personal data:
Second Lieutenant Marian Kubuła, son of Józef and Cecylia, born on 24 April 1909 in Częstochowa, forestry technician, Roman Catholic.
2. Date and circumstances of arrest:
I was arrested on 24 December 1939 in Dąbrowica on charges of arms possession, and I was incarcerated in the prison in Sarny until 10 February 1940. Then I was joined to a transport of exiles which comprised also my entire family.
3. Name of the camp, prison, or forced labor site:
We were deported to Arkhangelsk Oblast, [illegible] region, Witumino [?] hamlet, for work in the forest.
4. Description of the camp, prison etc.:
Witumino was located in the woods, a hundred kilometers from the nearest human settlements. We built the barracks ourselves. The food was delivered to the store, where we could buy it, provided of course that we had money. Maintaining hygiene was impossible.
5. The composition of prisoners of war, inmates, exiles:
The exiles were mainly settlers and rangers from state-owned and private forests. The majority of rangers were Ukrainians, who were hostile towards Poles and the Polish state.
6. Life in the camp, prison:
Our work began at 7.00 a.m. in winter, and at 6.00 a.m. in summer. The work was very hard. If we met the daily quota we could receive 12 rubles (it was practically possible to earn from 3 to 5 rubles). The women, the elderly, the sick and the children were all forced to work.
7. The NKVD’s attitude towards Poles:
The authorities were very hostile towards the Poles. This attitude got worse over time, as the Ukrainians informed on us. All of the better jobs – as overseers etc. – were assigned to Ukrainians.
8. Medical assistance, hospitals, mortality rate:
There was almost no medical assistance. We had one medsestra [nurse] for 600 people, and she had no knowledge of medical treatment. Mortality was quite high, mostly due to hunger and cold. I don’t remember any surnames. Among others, my father Józef (67 years old) and daughter Ewa (6 months old) perished there. Both died of exhaustion (hunger).
9. Was there any possibility of getting in contact with one’s country and family?
I didn’t have any contact with my country, because my entire family was deported to Russia, and my younger brother Kazimierz, having crossed the Romanian border, disappeared without a trace.
10. When were you released and how did you get through to the Polish Army?
Having been released on 13 November 1941, I left for the south of Russia as commandant of a transport. Next, I worked as a representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Hazarasp and then Shakhrisabz, where on 7 February 1942 I joined the Polish Army.