ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT
JOURNAL OF A SILESIAN SOLDIER 1943-1947
This is a publication of the original World War II journal of a young soldier from Upper Silesia in the occupied Poland. At the age of 15 Wiktor Szołtysek was sent to the labour camp, and 3 years later he was drafted to the Wehrmacht. In 1944 he deserted the German army in Italy near Castelfiorentino, Tuscany. He was hiding at the Italian farmer's family near the Oliveto castle, and when the Americans arrived in the village, he joined the Polish army, and took part in the liberation of Bologna.
His war time journey included places like ROME, CISTERNA, CASTELFIORENTINO, MATERA, BOLOGNA, SARNANO, BODNEY AIRFIELD (in the U.K.), and finally MIKOŁÓW in Poland.
Wiktor Szołtysek was faithfully writing his journal between 1944 and 1947 until he came back from the war (see the manuscript sample)
WEDNESDAY 2024-06-01 OLIVETO – Castle, Molino (mill), Church of Saint James
We Will Follow In The Footsteps Of Wiktor Szoltysek…
Castello di Oliveto (castellooliveto.it)
Again the Szołtysek family investigative committee is going for a site visit to Castelfiorentino, Oliveto and Sarnano. This year we are planning to visit old friends and to meet relatives of former administrators of the mill in Oliveto, whom we did not meet the last time. In Castelfiorentino, we hope to meet again the local members of Società Storica della Valdelsa (Historical Association of the Elsa Valley) and the administrative authorities of Castelfiorentino. Wiktor Szołtysek kept up to date journal with his escape from the Wehrmacht and his service in the Polish Army in the publication On Both Sides of the Front. Journal of a Silesian Soldier 1943-1947
The plan is to making entries about impressions from Italy while on the road (JS).
The photo shows the Oliveto Castle near Florence. The buildings of the mill where Wiktor Szołtysek was hiding in 1944 can be seen in the upper left corner. On June 26, 1944, Wiktor, in a German uniform, was walking along the road visible in the photo, next to the mill buildings and met three young Italians - Sergio, Luciano and Alighiero. He asked if they could hide him somewhere because he is a Pole and does not want to fight for the Reich. The young Italians took him to the mill, where Wiktor was hiding at the family of Adelindo Giorli until the arrival of the Allied forces.
WEDNESDAY 2023-05-04 MONTE CASSINO – Henryk and Jan Szoltysek at the Cemetery of 923 Polish troops fallen in the battle of Monte Cassino
SATURDAY, 2022-09-10 GOSTYŃ-WYRY, Near the Memorial to the Soldiers of September 1939
Field game "Wiktor’s Journey"
- They (Also) Followed In The Footsteps Of Wiktor
https://gostynslaska.pl/wiadomosci/ruszyli-sladami-wiktora-szoltyska-gra-terenowa-wedrowka-wiktora/
28 teams of several people took part in the field game "Wędrówka Wiktora" played on Saturday, September 10 at the Monument to the Remembrance of the Soldiers of September 1939. The game inspired by the publication of a Silesian soldier by Wiktor Szołtysek (On Both Sides of the Front. Journal of a Silesian Soldier 1943-1947) was created as part of activities undertaken thanks to Barbara Długosz from the Municipal Public Library in Wyry .
The game was about reaching historical places from the times of World War II on the basis of the iPhone application "Droga Wiktora Szołtyska" (Wiktor Szołtysek’s Journey)
WEDNESDAY, 2022-05-11 GOSTYŃ - Auditorium of the Cultural Center
Silesian Soldiers On The Fronts Of World War II. Lectures And Presentations
The Municipal Library in Wyry, inspired by Wiktor Szołtysek's book On Both Sides of the Front. Journal of a Silesian Soldier 1943-1947 joined the project, the aim of which is to show the wartime fate of Silesians on the fronts of World War II. The first part of this initiative was a conference on May 11, bringing closer - with the help of historians - this intriguing page of Silesian history.
The conference started at 16.30 in the Auditorium of the Cultural Center in Gostyń under the name "Man is like a ship - Wiktor Szołtysek's diary as an example of the fate of Silesians on both sides of the front of World War II", which is a direct reference to the diary of Wiktor Szołtysek from Gostyń from the years 1943-1947, which for the first time was published in the form of a study in May 2019 on the initiative of Wiktor's sons, Jan and Henryk Szołtysek, and their cousin Elżbieta Słomka, and in 2021 it received its second extended edition and a full-fledged translation into English.
Presenters during the conference in the auditorium of the Cultural Center in Gostyń
Conference Agenda:
1. Project presentation
2. Lectures by historians:
· prof. Grzegorz Bębnik
"From the Wehrmacht to Anders"
· Lidia Borowian-Cyba
"Wiktor Szołtysek in the Carpathian Division 1944-1947 - soldier, student and scout"
· dr Kamil Kartasiński
"Searching for the wartime fate of soldiers' ancestors - about the service of Poles in the Wehrmacht and the Polish Armed Forces in the West"
· Kacper Perkowski
Wilhelm Kubsz - the Silesians in Berling's Army"
· Henryk Szołtysek (Jan Szołtysek, Elżbieta Słomka)
The authors of "On Both Sides of the Front..." about the new project
3. Presentation of historical reenactors
4. Members of the Children and Youth Parliament, authors of a website about a local veteran of World War II - Wiktor Szołtysek
Wiktor Szołtysek (wordpress.com)
5. Good Books and gamification of literature
THURSDAY, 2021-11-25 MIKOLÓW - Municipal Museum – Little White House
Meeting With The Publishers Of The Book "On Both Sides of the Front..."
Wiktor Szołtysk's sons - Jan and Henryk once again traced the history of their father's war journey, reaching many previously unknown documents. On Both Sides of the Front. Journal of a Silesian Soldier 1943-1947 has been extended with several additional chapters, letters of friends and many new photos. The meeting, organized to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the creation of General Anders' Army and the 50th anniversary of Wiktor Szołtysk's death, will be hosted by Lidia Borowian-Cyba and the sons of the diary's author.
Jan Szołtysek signs books for the audience after the presentation in Mikołów. In the background Mrs. Adela - a neighbor of the Szołtyseks in Mikołów and a friend of the late Marta Szołtysek - mother of Jan and Henryk (2019-05-23). Jan and Henryk met Mrs. Adela for the first time after 50 years.
WEDNESDAY, 2021-09-08 18:30 - GOSTYŃ - Auditorium of the Cultural Center
Wiktor Szołtysek's Diary: First English and Second Polish Edition
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Wiktor Szołtysk's death, on Wednesday, September 8, Gostynia hosted the premiere of the second edition of his diary in the study entitled On Both Sides of the Front. Journal of a Silesian Soldier 1943-1947, as well as an English-language version. Elżbieta Słomka, Jan Szołtysek and Henryk Szołtysek talked about the new project.
Elżbieta Słomka, Henryk Szołtysek and Aleksander Uszok present the second edition of "On both sides of the front..." On the screen Jan Szołtysek connecting from Canada via Skype
SATURDAY 2019-05-25 The area of the Memorial to the Soldiers of September 1939, and the "Sowiniec" Bunker - The re-enactment of the Battle of Wyry in 1939.
Re-enactors On The Battlefield. Fifteen Years Long Tradition
https://gostynslaska.pl/wiadomosci/na-bitewnym-szlaku-rekonstruktorow-tak-juz-od-pietnastu-lat/
At one of the stands of the event, Wiktor Szołtysek's war diary On Both Sides of the Front. Journal of a Silesian Soldier 1943-1947 was being promoted by the authors and publishers - Jan Szołtysek, Henryk Szołtysek and Elżbieta Słomka.
"The forest by the "Sowiniec" combat shelter like a garrison, the meadow in front of the Monument to the Soldiers of September 1939 like a battlefield - this is how the area located in the area of ul. Tęczowa and Tyska in Gostynia. This is due to the event organized there under the name of "Bitwa Wyrska - Bój o Gostyń" and the annual reunion of re-enactment groups, playing episodes of actions carried out as part of the Polish defensive war of 1939 in front of the audience. This time, the event was held for the fifteenth time, on Saturday, May 25, 2019.
The Szołtysek brothers present "On Both Sides of the Front..." to Mr. Andrzej Sośnierz, Member of the Polish Parliament - Sejm
THURSDAY 2019-05-23 MIKOŁÓW, Little White House - Municipal Museum
Book Launch Presentation For The Museum In Mikołów, Poland
About 70 spectators, including the mayor of Mikołów, attended the premiere of Wiktor Szołtysek's war diary On Both Sides of the Front. Journal of a Silesian Soldier 1943-1947.
The presentation was conducted by Wiktor Szołtysek's niece - Elżbieta Słomka, and his sons Jan and Henryk
Jan Szołtysek signed the copies of the book.
Elżbieta Słomka, Henryk Szołtysek and Jan Szołtysek. Introduction to the book presentation at Mikołów Museum
THURSDAY 2019-05-21 GOSTYŃ - Primary School named after the Heroes of September 1939
Presentation For Children At The Primary School Named After Heroes of September in Gostyń
The presentation of the book On Both Sides of the Front. Journal of a Silesian Soldier 1943-1947 took place at the school in Gostyń. This is the same school that Jan Szołtysek was enrolled in over 40 years earlier
Gostyń, 21 May 2019 - Jan and Henryk Szołtysek met with Anna Kazimierek-Wróbel, the great-grand-daughter of Teodor Bielas, after book presentation at Gostyń primary school, where Anna is presently a teacher. Both Jan and Henryk used to be pupils at this school decades ago.
WEDNESDAY 2019-05-22 in the afternoon WYRY - Primary School
Lecture For Children At The Primary School In Wyry
Kontakt | Szkoła Podstawowa w Wyrach (edupage.org)
The Szołtysek brothers had a presentation on the war journey of Wiktor Szołtysek to children at the Primary School in Wyry. The story is based on the new publication On Both Sides of the Front. Journal of a Silesian Soldier 1943-1947. In 1932 and 1933, Wiktor attended school in Wyry at its previous location
Teachers of the school in Wyry presented Elżbieta Słomka, Jan Szołtysek and Henryk Szołtysek with commemorative diplomas and flowers.
WEDNESDAY 2019-05-22 10:00-11:30 GOSTYŃ - Municipal Library
Newly Published Wiktor Szołtysek's Diary Describes War Journey Of A Young Silesian
The world premiere of the book took place exactly on the 75th anniversary of Wiktor's first diary entry. The presentation took place in the building of the Muinicipal Library at the old location of the school. The old school was attended in the 1930s by the author of the journal - Wiktor, and in the 1960s by one of the publishers, Henryk.
On Both Sides of the Front. Journal of a Silesian Soldier 1943-1947 - under this title, on May 22, 2019, the diary of Wiktor Szołtysek from Gostyń was published, which is a very vivid testimony to the long and winding road of a young man from Upper Silesia drawn into the merciless war machine.
The publication prepared by Jan Szołtysek, the son of the author of this unique soldier's diary, is, on the one hand, a priceless souvenir for the Szołtysek family and their relatives, and on the other, a completely new and fascinating source of knowledge about the everyday life and wartime fate of Upper Silesians.
It is also a story about what the life of the inhabitants of Gostyń and Wyry looked like before, during and after the war.
Jan Szołtysek and Henryk Szołtysek with Mr. Ernest Jaszczyk, who attended the Mechanical High School in Dwory near Oświęcim with Wiktor Szołtysek
The launching of the publication in the Gostyń library was an opportunity to meet old friends. Jan Szołtysk was welcomed by: Ireneusz Kołada from the school in Wirek, as well as by Genowefa Roj and Eugeniusz Wilk from the school in Gostyń