Krystyna and Edward Bieszka

Krystyna and Edward Bieszka, Lębork, 25 December 1945. When the Second World War broke out, the young doctor Edward Bieszka found himself in the middle of the September campaign as a field doctor. When he was captured by the Nazis on 27 September 1939, things were no longer simple. He had to exchange his medical practice in Działdów for work in the infirmary of Oflag II C in Woldenberg, and family meetings for camp life. For the prisoners, the only means of contact with the 'normal' world were the postcards they could send to family and friends. And although each POW was entitled to only one postcard a month, correspondence with loved ones provided encouragement and hope of survival, and allowed family and friendships to be maintained and sometimes even initiated. This was the case with Edward Bieszka. Friends from Działdów sent the doctor the address of a young high school graduate from Starogard Gdański - Krystyna Balewska. It is not known whether her friends intended her to act as a 'war matron', i.e. someone who would provide moral and material support. What is certain is that the young people were united first by friendship and then by love. They became engaged by correspondence and when Edward Bieszka regained his freedom on 4 February 1945, he took his first steps towards his beloved.