1. Personal data:
Gunner Jan Fostyk, 26 years old, no profession, bachelor.
2. Date and circumstances of the arrest:
12 January 1940 while crossing the German-Soviet border.
3. Name of the camp, prison:
Odessa. Prison. After I had been sentenced, I was transferred to Chibyu.
4. Description of the camp:
Swampy forest. Barracks. 500 people in each barrack. Dirt, lice. Over the course of seven months I was only given soap a few times.
5. Social composition of POWs, prisoners, deportees:
Russians (half), Poles (one third), Jews, Carpathian Ruthenians. Physical laborers (the majority). The relations between Poles were good. They lived separately from the Jews.
6. Life in the camp, prison:
We worked for about 14 hours. The quotas were impossible to meet. The work conditions were difficult. We were not paid at all (because we were unable to meet the quota). The food was insufficient and scant. The clothes came from military warehouses – they were warm and good. Cultural life did not exist.
7. Attitude of the NKVD towards Poles:
Interrogations were vulgar. People were summoned for questioning several times per night. There was a solitary confinement cell in the prison. In the camp – solitary confinement and reduced food rations. There was no communist propaganda. The Soviets talked unfavorably about Poland. We did not receive any news about Poland.
8. Medical assistance, hospitals, mortality:
Medical assistance was insufficient and unfriendly. The standard of the hospital was low. The mortality was low.
9. Was it possible to keep in touch with the home country and your family?
Not really. I received one letter in six months.
10. When were you released and how did you join the army?
August 1942. By railroad, directly from Chibyu to Totskoye.