Kresy, an Introduction

These pages are dedicated to my mother who was born in that wonderful land and to all the "Kresowiacy" who lost their rightful place of birth.

Kresy Wschodnie(Eastern Borderlands) the places of legends and of valorous deeds. The places of mystical Pan Wolodyjowski, Zagloba and Kmicic. Places that Henryk Sienkiewicz wrote of, the battles against Ukrainian, Swedish, Tatar and Turkish invaders. The lands of our forefathers. A lot can be said of those lands that were so dear to out forefathers, legends were born and to this day they still survive. The modern film makers still make films about those times so that the new generation will not forget those times. What would Polish history be without those wonderful legends.

Kresy are also the lands that were settled by the ex-servicemen that fought for Poland during the First World War and against the Bolshevik armies in 1920. Those soldiers were given land by the newly established Polish state, and they settled those areas and made a life for themselves and their families. Their initial years were hard as the land that most of them received was pitted with shell holes, trenches and other flotsam of war. Their hard work made that land plentiful, they and their families prospered in daily life, a life full of happiness. Then came the dark days of Second World War, the fateful Soviet invasion on 17th of September 1939 put paid to all their life's work. Few could imagine what lay in store for them and that they would never see their homes again.

That was yet to come, on that faithful day of 10th of February 1940.

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Books and films that portray the life in those Old times

by; - Henryk Sienkiewicz

Commonly referred to as "Trylogia Sienkiewicza" (Sienkiewicz Trylogy)

This film has very close links to the Old times as the film shows the fight against the Prussian oppression in the Polish lands

 Most of the above books can be purchased at Veritas Foundation Publication Centre

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© Copyright 2003; Paul Havers