Magdalena's life spanned one of the most turbulent times in Polish history, including two World Wars. She nurtured strong feelings of nationalism, and developed a reputation for being defiant and rebellious: these traits were rarely restrained.
In 1939 World War II exploded across Europe, and within weeks, Soviet troops had captured most of the disputed Polish borderlands.The communist rulers in Moscow decreed that Magdalena and her family,along with thousands of other Polish men, women and children, were enemies of the people. They were arrested, loaded into railway cattle trucks, and deported to Siberia into enslavement. It was abundantly clear they were all rapidly descending into hell!
At the end of Magdalena's first day of felling trees on the northern heights of the Ural Mountains, they returned to the work camp. She noticed a sign above the arched entry gates: 'What does that say?' she asked.
'It says:"Work and you will find freedom".'
Magdalena smiled and murmured, 'We'll hold them to that!'
In 1939 World War II exploded across Europe, and within weeks, Soviet troops had captured most of the disputed Polish borderlands.The communist rulers in Moscow decreed that Magdalena and her family,along with thousands of other Polish men, women and children, were enemies of the people. They were arrested, loaded into railway cattle trucks, and deported to Siberia into enslavement. It was abundantly clear they were all rapidly descending into hell!
At the end of Magdalena's first day of felling trees on the northern heights of the Ural Mountains, they returned to the work camp. She noticed a sign above the arched entry gates: 'What does that say?' she asked.
'It says:"Work and you will find freedom".'
Magdalena smiled and murmured, 'We'll hold them to that!'
