I am researching my late grandmother, Nanna (Bronislawa Stepniak) of her time in Poland/ Germany and to obtain information regarding remaining family.
I have in my collection from my mother and Aunt various papers and photographs:
- an IRO document issued at Fallingbostel (this would have been prior to her immigrating to Australia on the Liguria to Bonegilla). On the back it's stamped with 'Seen by Immigration Fremantle ' & 'Department of Immigration Melbourne, Vic ;
- an AD CARD stamped with Fallingbostel listing RC as religion; Geburtsurkunde (birth certificate) for her son born in Wermelskirchen, listing Polin Bronislawa Stepniak as "wohnhaft in Solingen, Polenlager (polish camp)";
- an IRO (British Zone) document dated for Bocholt;
- Certificate from Bocholt stating 'has been a resident of this camp for past 24 months..she has not been working,' ;
- two International Certificate of Inoculation and Vaccination books for her and her son;
- Two Personal-Ausweis booklets for her and her son (British Zone) stating Wiener-Allee/Lager, Bocholt;
- Meldekarte (registration card) stating Lager Sengwarden, stamped Wilhelmshaven;
- Medical Card for her son, 87 DPACS Bocholt.
I am attaching photographas and am hopeful others may recognize individuals to help further my search.
I have also recently contacted the Polish Central Military Archive http://www.caw.wp.mil.pl/en/ 89.html regarding two photos she has of one of her two brothers, to which I do not know a name/s.
I have also included a document, Bron's Story,(in Word doc format) which was written by her brother-in-law, for an assignment he completed for Deakin University, unfortunately it does not mention areas/names.
If you have any information/links I would be extremely grateful. Refer to the photo number if you recognize any person so that we can caption it. Many thanks and kind regards, Tanya Lester tanyalester@hotmail.com
*Bron 4 photo....
1946.m. XI (something)
Reine
Tolgam (something) (something) savo fot?grafija siwo(?) (something scrubbed out) (something scrubbed out).
Stasys(?) (something).
Sietugon(?) (something) (something).
And another sentence which I don't know.
Once back from holiday will get to a professional photographer to hopefully enhance words.
Question marks are there as unsure if interpreted letters correctly.
Click photos to enlarge
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4.* 5.  |
| Bronoslawa (Nanna) in first three photos |
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Nanna in the center; .......Nanna standing on top of tank. |
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Nanna on far right.
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Nanna is on far right. First two ladies unknown
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| Nanna is far right, hit in mouth with butt of rifle, got infected.............Nanna is on left. |
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Nanna is 2nd from right.
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Unsure whether this is Bron..............Mother or Grandmother?
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Nanna at far right.
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American soldier
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Nanna and American
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| Nanna with Italian man. |
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unknown lady & Nanna |
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Nanna sitting in chair.
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Nanna on right
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22.  |
Missing Army brother..................Unknown woman
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Army group - Nanna's brother seated far right. Bocholt camp. Verified by mariuslange@gmx-topmail.de
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Bocholt camp. Verified by mariuslange@gmx-topmail.de
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25.  |
Nanna standing far right; Jozia kneeling left
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Nanna standing second from right
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Nanna third from left standing
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Nanna sitting, second from right, man's arm on her shoulder
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Nanna second row with male's arm around her.
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33.  1. |
Unknown boy...................................Unknown teens
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In Bochult, unknown christening party....Nanna behind small boy
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34.  |
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Nanna second from right, head touching mans'; note: workers in uniforms |
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labour group: Nanna standing second from left
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Group eating corn
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Unknown people
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38.  39.  |
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40.  41.  |
| Unknown lady on bike..............Unknown lady walking on steps. |
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Jozia - "For long & unforgetable memory, I give my photo to beloved and pleaanat Broni. Stay in exil, Jozia. "
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| 42. Two children on sofa; 1-7-1949 in Greven
Email from Marissa Rinius: One of the photos of "2 sitting on a sofa" seems to be of my sister (on the right) who was also born in Germany in 1947, slightly younger than her cousin Kazimir. Maybe it's the two of them in that photo."
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43. 
Boy beside still for liquor brewing.
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| Wedding |
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Unknown wedding couple
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Unkwown wedding couple; Nanna at back on the right.
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48.  49.  |
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50.  51.  |
| Krystyna (Christina) Gonorwiska? Goworska? |
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Kazimierz Tadeusz in Sengwarden - Who can translate the back of photo? |
52.  53.  |
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54.   |
Email from Marissa Rinius:
One photo in particular was arresting, photo 52, because it is a picture of my father, who is your grandmothers son's uncle. My father was Stasys Rinius, and his brother, Kazyk (or Charlie) Rinius; Kazyk is Kazimir's father. Photo 53 - the man in the hat closely resembles Kazyk. my uncle.
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Nanna with son, Tadeusz? |
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56.  |
| Icon of Madonna and Jesus |
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Arriving in Australian camp Bonegilla.
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Various Documents
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Personal Identification documents: outside cover
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Inside: Bronislawa's on left; Tadeusz's on right in Camp Bocholt |
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Read about Bocholt: http://stalag-vi-f.beepworld.de/
Bocholt camp no longer exists; it is now a forrest. |
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Proof of residency in Camp Bocholt
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Proof of residency in Camp Bocholt
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Meldekarte (registration card) full view
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Meldekarte Close Up
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Rieker newspaper
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Shoe ad in Rieker newspaper
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List of residents
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World Health Organization vaccination booklet & date stamps
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IRO Certificate of Eligibility from Bocholt says Bronislawa is forced labor |
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Note needs to be translated.
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letter
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letter or journal
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| Date stamps vaccinations |
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Vaccination against smallpox certificate from Bocholt
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| Verification of birth by registrar in Wermelskirchen |
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and stamp from Wilshemshaven
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