Gdańsk, 14 April 1989
Esteemed Sir,
Engineer Jędrzej Tucholski
In response to the appeal for supplementation of the Katyn List (of those reported missing), I hereby send you information about my father, Władysław Jerzy Wejsflog.
| – | Father was born in Kiev on 15 July 1901 [as the] son of Helena and Juliusz. |
| – | Father’s last address of residence was Warsaw–Włochy, Piastowska Street 8, flat 3. |
| – | Father’s education: university, an engineer specializing in forestry; he graduated from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. |
| – | His last place of work: The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry [Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Reform], Board of the State Forestry Authority, Warsaw, Wawelska Street, in the capacity of inspector of the woodworking industry. Previously (in the years 1935–1936) Father had worked at the State Forestry Authority in Czarna Wieś near Białystok. |
| – | Extant documents and letters present his life story as follows: In 1920, Father played an active role – as an artilleryman – in repelling the Soviet invasion, in recognition of which he received a medal (certificate no. 43 of 1921). He joined the Polish Army, that is the Polish Legions, on a full-time basis as a volunteer, and served at the front line in 2. Battery of 201. Field Artillery Regiment from 5 August 1920 to 10 November 1920 – seal on the certificate: “Field Artillery Regiment … (illegible) Auxiliary Battery, 4 March 1921, Warsaw”. Another piece of information – Corporal Officer Cadet Władysław Wejsflog graduated from the Officer Cadet School for Reservists of the Mounted Artillery in 1929. His certificate was signed on behalf of [?] the commandant of the Officer Cadet School for Reservists of the Mounted Artillery, Z. Karasiński. I also have his personal identity card, no. 123, with the stamp of the Mounted Artillery Squadron, issued on 31 December 1929. It was stamped and signed by the commander of the Squadron, Lieutenant–Colonel [Brunon?] Romiszewski. My father was mobilized in July or August 1939 to the reserve. In all probability, the unit to which he was posted was stationed in Włodzimierz Wołyński. When war broke out, my Father held the rank of Second Lieutenant. |
His personal documents include a copy of Father’s letter which he sent from Starobilsk, dated 8 March 1940. Judging by the handwriting, this copy of the letter (or postcard) had been made by my Grandmother, Helena Wejsflog. This is the heading of the letter, and I quote it in full: „Почтовая карточка carte postale – Германия, Варшава Влохы, Warsaw Włochy, Piastowska Street 8, flat 3, Juliusz Wejsflog Esq. Aдрес отправления: CCCP Старобелск почтовый ящик №15, Владислав Юлянович Вейсфлог, 8 III 40 г.” (a German stamp). I found the same mail box number on the photograph of a postcard which had not been sent from Starobilsk, in the book entitled “Zbrodnia katyńska [w świetle dokumentów]”, which was prefaced by [General] Anders.
This final letter of Father’s was addressed to my Grandfather, Juliusz Wejsflog. The letter concerns private matters. Among other things, my Father wrote that he had received a postcard from his mother, Helena Wejsflog, dated 3 January 1940, and also a postcard from his wife Emilia (my Mother), sent on 7 January 1940. He further informed us that on 25 February 1940 he had received correspondence from his cousin. In the letter Father expressed joy at the birth of his daughter. In March 1940 I was barely four months old. I was born in Warsaw on 1 November 1939. Therefore I never had the chance to meet Father. When I was christened, my Mother gave me the names Ewa Wiktoria. The second name embodied her hope that Father would return to his family and his homeland. But this wish of my Grandparents and Mother was never to be fulfilled. In his letter Father asked us to write frequently and stressed that he himself could write only once a month. He thanked us for the parcel which he had received. He also sent us festive greetings (most probably on the occasion of Easter). We did not receive any more letters – in fact, his whole correspondence was just this one letter.
I know that both my Mother and Grandparents made efforts to gain information about what had happened with my Father. But their attempts proved fruitless.
By a decision of the Magistrates’ Court […] Department […] my Father was officially recognized as missing (decision of the Court in case file no. III Zg.).
I have attached photographs to the data concerning my Father (six photographs in total). I hope that they will be of use to you when elaborating documentation. Maybe it will be possible to trace some of my Father’s friends from the Army? Perhaps one of those men was also sent to Katyn, Starobilsk or Ostashkov?
Ending my letter, I would like to express my deepest admiration that you have undertaken such a monumental task – creating the Katyn List of missing persons for posterity. This matter is also of personal importance for myself. I was raised without my Father, all the time having in mind the sole sentence which he wrote me from Starobilsk.
I sincerely wish you strength and perseverance in the execution of this task, which is so important for all Poles.