The fourteen letters smuggled out of Ravensbruck KL

Letter IV without date[1]

Brothers! Your every word sent to us brings us peace and the belief that we are not alone for many long days and weeks. The breeze of the homeliness, mother tongue and cordiality you show us is a reward for many challenging moments, bleak and unending days. Something in our souls tells us that we know it and feel it like we do in such bad moments. We are convinced that lately, the times of trials have happened for us Poles. Constant arrests, revisions, repressions and removing Poles from positions of responsibility gave us a hard time surviving. Brothers, with deep sorrow, we must communicate that it is the last time we meet you at that location. We are leaving in days to unknown places–maybe New Brandenburg, Carlsbad or Oranienburg. They send all Poles, including us, to factories. It is hard for us to say goodbye to you. You were our solid and perfect link with our Motherland.

But we promise you that we will keep our dignity as Polish women, mothers, sisters, and wives of Polish soldiers wherever we are. We sincerely believe in our nation’s bright and robust future and speedy victory, and we believe in you. You gave us many warm words, which poured into us confidence. We will march on, holding our heads high. Once more, thank you for everything; with greetings, we say goodbye, keeping a solid belief that we will see you soon in our Homeland.

Salute.                      


[1] Hand writing unknown. The letter is written on an unprinted piece of German newspaper published for the period of 14-20th March 1943 (the date appears on the printed side of the piece). The letter could not be written earlier. Lack of concreate information about the known incidents of the camp life do not allow to establish a date of the latter. It is farewell letter, written because author was a part of prisoners’ group sent from Ravensbrück to an ammunition factory. The above fact and the date of 7th July, 1943 of the 3rd letter in which an author expresses her anxiety caused by plans to send away some prisoners to ammunition factory and probability that the contact will come to the end.