employed as a woodcutter in the Janów Forests. Guerilla troops of the Home Army were active within the area. In order to continue family tradition, he decided to join them. The following year he came back to Biała Podlaska. He got a job at the soldier’s house (Soldatenheim), the institution serving as a hotel and restaurant for Wehrmacht and SS soldiers on vacation or travelling. The Soldatenheim in Biała Podlaska was situated in a multi-story building in the centre of the town, at Wolności Square.
On the night of January 5th to 6th 1944, the Germans arrested in Biała Podlaska a large group of young people together with their teacher Dymitr Timoshuk, Commander of the Scouting Home Army Platoon. One of Tadeusz’s friends warned him that he was in danger as well. In spite of being told so, Tadeusz went to work as usual in the morning of January 6th. He got arrested there, charged with stealing German weapons. He spent nearly a month in the gestapo prison in Biała Podlaska and then, in February 1944, was transported to the Castle in Lublin.
On March 23rd 1944, announcement of the commander of German security police for the Lublin division was put up in the cities throughout occupied Poland, including the list of 60 persons sentenced by the summary court to death. The crime for which most of them had been sentenced consisted in the “membership of an illegal organization”. The list included the names of 10 young boys from Biała Podlaska, with Tadeusz Tuz and their commander Dymitr Timoshuk among them. They were all accused of the membership of the Home Army. In theory, they might have been “pardoned” if the Home Army had not undertaken any sabotage activities within the area.
Unfortunately, it did not happen. Tadeusz Tuz did not regain his freedom. On May 12th 1944, he was transported to the camp at Majdanek together with a group of other Castle prisoners and shot there. His burial place and date remain unknown.
A few secret messages sent by Tadeusz Tuz to his nearest and dearest from prison at the Lublin Castle were preserved. We learn from them that, in spite of the circumstances, their author would not lose his young man’s optimism and sense of humour. He believed that he would be released soon.
We present below the transcription of two secret messages donated to the Archives of the State Museum at Majdanek. The first of them, dating back to March 14th 1944, sent to the “Społem” store at Wolności Square in Biała Podlaska, where Aniela Nela Tuzówna, the sister of Tadeusz used to work at the time, was addressed to his mother, Lucyna Tuzowa.
Lublin, 14.3.44. Aniela Tuzówna, “Społem” store next to the police station or Terespolska 37 [Biała Podlaska – A.W.]
Dear Mommy! I’m already writing my third letter, and I haven’t received any response. Mommy, please attach a “kite” to each package you prepare. Please send the next package in a box; put some paper sheets at the bottom (pad it) and between them please insert a few postcards. You’ve been putting them on top, so they were taken during the revision. One of our mates, I mean Włodek Kowalski, has already been released, on condition that he probably joins the police. It took place as a result of his father’s efforts. I hope that he will inform you, Mutti, about everything in details. It would be good, Musia, if you could undertake similar actions. My best wishes to all of you. Tad.
The next letter was written on March 25th 1944 and even if its style seems humorous or even ironic, it is not optimistic at all. The author is suffering from hunger and trying to trick it by smoking strong tobacco, troublesome scabies appeared on his skin and his soul is tormented by longing for his nearest and dearest. But there is still a little hope that maybe at Easter, he will be back home.
Lublin, 25.3.1944. Aniela Tuz, “Społem” store [Biała Podlaska – A.W.]
Dear Mummy! On March 20th I received two packages: one with Ovomaltina and the other with bread. The package including bread must have been examined thoroughly as the bread was torn into a dozen pieces and the message was totally visible. It was naturally taken away, so I was unable to read it. So I think that it would be a better idea not to put messages inside bread loaves. It’s best to put them in some fat, sandwiches and generally small items. For example the package with Ovomaltina was inspected only superficially. Anyway, it’s all just a trifle. I’m coming back to Biała, optionally to Warsaw, at Easter. Please let me know how the life is going in Biała. We’re having a very good life here; we have newspapers, maps etc. I’ve recently become a chess master. I’d like to ask you to send me anti-scabies liquid that I’ve mentioned in my previous letter and some mustard or horseradish, as we keep on receiving bacon and lard in packages addressed to us. For Easter, please prepare together with my uncle a few liters of Cieleśnicka. As this liquor is concerned, I would drink it here and now. I lost my jumper a long time ago. Traded it for 3 strong tobacco packages. But I’ve got another fancy one, factory-made. I am the most grateful for the sheepskin coat. I don’t know how I could survive here without it. We have a skilled guy here who is making firs-class slippers. I’m thinking about getting myself a pair of them, but I don’t know yet whether to give him the coat or some blanket as fabric. When it comes to lard again, please do not send it anymore. I’d prefer some other fat or butter. My clothes are really damaged. 1/3 with disinfection, but I think that it’ll be enough until Easter. I’ve washed my underwear twice already. When it comes to handkerchiefs, I’ve got 4, I’ve lost the rest. We are allowed to send one letter a week. [How is] grandpa, very worried that I’m not at home? And our Hostess? The weather is beautiful here, a few degrees above zero. I only experience the lack of… beer. But they all keep on cheering me up that it’s just first five years, then one gets used to it. Is Dzidzia already such a big girl as Nula, or a little smaller? I haven’t seen her for a long time. It seems that I will be removed from my current accommodation. I’m thus planning to apply for the possibility to stay a few months longer, but I don’t know if they agree. But I’ll try. Best wishes. Tad.
In November 1958, upon the request of his family, County Court in Biała Podlaska declared Tadeusz Tuz deceased. His name is included on the board dedicated to the victims of the Lublin prison in the castle tower as well as on the mass grave of victims of the last execution of Castle prisoners located within the cemetery at Lipowa Street in Lublin as well as the cemetery in Biała Podlaska.
In 1990 Aniela Tuz began the official search for her father. She soon received the information that the name Paweł Tuz is present on the NKVD list from Ostashkov dated April 20th 1940. This information confirmed his death on that day. The burial place of Paweł Tuz remains unknown as well.
* The biography and fate of Tadeusz Tuz are presented basing on the materials by Anna Tuz, chronicler and documentalist of the history of the Tuz family.