Reading Staszek’s letters from the camp is a difficult experience.

Written in German, they repeat the same phrases: the writer is healthy, satisfied with his circumstances, and concerned only about whether “everything is all right” at home.

At the same time, he continually reminds his family that he can receive money only in German currency, RM, and — heaven forbid — never enclosed in a parcel of clothing.

He receives the money and thanks them for it, while repeatedly reminding them of the camp commandant’s strict rules governing correspondence.

The first letter was written in July 1940, and the last on 24 November 1940.

At the end of January 1941, a telegram arrived from the camp commandant’s office, addressed to Franciszek Baraniecki, announcing his son’s death.

Here is its text:

German Post East

Telegram sent from Auschwitz
31/29 — 29 January — 20:02

Telegram received
30 January 1941 — 08:07

In Reichshof [Rzeszów]

Franciszek Baraniecki
Dynów, Rynek 10, Brzozów district

Your son Stanisław died today in the concentration camp at Auschwitz, as confirmed by the command of the Security Police and Police (?) of the Kraków district (?).

Camp Commandant

Here are the translations of the letters.

First Letter

Auschwitz, 28 July 1940

Dear Mother!

I am writing to let you know that I am healthy, and I hope this letter finds you in the best of health.

I am here in the camp at Auschwitz and am feeling well. Please note that money can only be sent in German currency, and letters must be written only in German.

When sending letters, please follow the regulations printed on the envelope.

I send warm greetings and kisses to you and everyone at home.

Stanisław

Second Letter

25 August 1940

My Dear Mother!

I received a letter from home and am very glad that everything is all right. I received the money — ten RM.

I am healthy and eagerly await news from home.

Mother! Why did you not answer my letter yourself?

Please have everyone sign the letters to me. Money may continue to be sent to me only in German currency.

Greetings and kisses to you and everyone.

Staszek

Third Letter

8 September 1940

Dear Mother!

I have received your second letter. It made me very happy. I am pleased. Your second letter crossed with my last one. Money can only be sent here in RM.

Write only about what is happening at home.

Please have everyone sign at the end of the letter. That gives me great joy. I am healthy and am getting along quite well.

Warm greetings to you all. Until we see each other again.

Staszek

Scan showing two letters from Staszek, dated 28 July and 8 September 1940.

Fourth Letter

Stanisław Baraniecki
Born 4 March 1922
Prisoner No. 208
Block 3

Auschwitz, 13 October 1940

Dear Father!I send you my warmest wishes for all the very best. I received your last letter a week ago. I was very pleased by the news about Jurek and Andrzej. I am healthy and feel well. Every letter from you, my dear Father, gives me so much joy that I eagerly await the next one. Dear Father, always write as much as possible about everything that might interest me.

Greetings and kisses to you and everyone at home.

Your Staszek

Fifth Letter

My address:

Prisoner in protective custody
Stanisław Baraniecki
Born 4 March 1922
Prisoner No. 208, Block 3

Auschwitz, 10 November 1940

Dear Mother!

Two weeks ago, I received a letter from Father.

I am glad that everything is all right at home. I received the money you sent, for which I thank you warmly.

Warm greetings and kisses to everyone at home. Write to me about everything that may concern me.

Your son,

Staszek

To avoid enquiries from the camp administration and ensure prompt delivery of correspondence, the following rules must be observed:

1. Write letters clearly.
2. Do not send registered letters.
3. Send blank envelopes.
4. Send German postage stamps.
5. Do not enclose photographs in letters.
6. Do not enclose money in letters.
7. Write two letters a month.

If all these points are observed, every letter will be delivered without delay.

Failure to comply with any of these instructions will result in punishment and the destruction of the letter.

Please do not send me any warm underwear, as I receive it here.

Once again, greetings and kisses to you, dear Parents, and to all our relatives.

Your son,

Staszek

Sixth Letter

My address: Polish prisoner in protective custody
Stanisław Baraniecki
Born 4 March 1922, K.L. A.
Prisoner No. 208, Block 3

Auschwitz Post Office, 24 November 1940

Dearest Mother!

Your letter reached me three days ago and made me very happy. Thank you warmly for the money. With the permission of the camp administration, I ask you to send me immediately:

1. A pullover.
2. Winter socks — ski socks.
3. Gloves.

Nothing else may be added to the parcel, including money, otherwise the parcel will be confiscated.

I send dear Basia my warmest wishes for happiness on her name day.

Everything is all right with me, and I hope it is the same with you. Greetings to everyone at home. Write a great deal, as much as you can.

Warm kisses to you, dearest Mother, and to everyone at home, including Wojtek and Andrzej.

Your son, who loves you with all his heart and longs for you,

Staszek

Later Correspondence Preserved by the Family/im

Among my documents are two letters from a certain Dr Stanisław Pełka-Peliński. They were probably written in response to a request from Grandma Wandzia. It is difficult for me to say exactly who this man was.

Peliński was some sort of clairvoyant. Grandma had asked him to explain what had happened to Staszek. These letters date from 1942, so they were written after Staszek’s death…

Here they are:

Warsaw, 14 November 1942
35 Żurawia Street, Flat 5

Dear Madam,

If the vision I have received corresponds to reality, then unfortunately I do not see Mr Stanisław among the living. I write conditionally, because the enclosed photograph is unsuitable for psychometric examination for two reasons: first, the pupils of his eyes are not visible at all; second, Mr St. is in the company of another person whose name is unknown to me. I could not exclude that person’s emanations while in a trance, and the two auras conflict with one another.

Therefore, if you have a better photograph of Mr Stanisław, please be so kind as to send it to me, and I shall try to perceive his fate more precisely. In the present case, I see him suffering grievously, alone at first, then staying in a barrack in an internment camp. There, in the first month of 1941, around 29 January, after prolonged suffering, he leaves this world. Once again, I emphasise that this vision may be inaccurate for the reasons explained above.

Awaiting any reply you may wish to send, together with another photograph or further questions, I remain,

Yours respectfully,

Dr Stanisław Pełka-Peliński

And the second letter, written on 7 December 1942:

Dear Madam,

In accordance with your wishes, I have once again subjected the late Stanisław to psychometric examination. Unfortunately, I confirm the sorrowful news in its entirety, in accordance with what I wrote previously. Divine Providence chose him to be a martyr and evidently assigned him this earthly mission. May the Lord’s words bring inner consolation to the Family, still suffering:

“Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness, for they shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Is it not a sign of Divine Grace that the late Stanisław became one of the chosen? We bow our heads humbly before the Lord’s will, believing that the near future will cast a radiant light upon the darkness of the days that we Poles, and the whole world, have been called upon to endure.

Yours respectfully,

Dr Stanisław Pełka-Peliński

For the sake of the historical record, I also include here a strange prediction about Staszek Baraniecki from a fortune-teller in Kraków. It is undated, but one may suppose that it was sent in the autumn of 1940, or perhaps early in 1941.

Here it is:

At present, he [Staszek] is in quarries in north-western Germany, near Hamburg. She received distressing news [this probably refers to the fortune-teller receiving distressing news in her visions], but he will survive the war. Hard labour in underground chambers, blasting rock and clearing rubble. Hot below, draughty above. He will return early in 1943. He will be ill. His health is already beginning to fail. Winter will be very difficult to endure. The air is heavy, thin — he will develop a lung disease. He removes rubble in handcarts. Ten hours of work. There is no question of getting out. This camp was established a year ago. The people there are doomed.

He will return ill and spend two years recovering. He will make up for missed schooling, but then abandon it and take up social work different from what was planned. In 1950, he will marry, but his happiness will not last long, especially because of his health. Death in 1958.

There were round-ups, and he was taken, confronted with his companions, and beaten into admitting political activity, although it was not true. He had only passed on news.