I don't think that I'll ever get to the bottom of what happened with my Dads family. Both grandparents have died and my Dad, while always telling a good story, has been known to be a little spartan with the truth;-)

My Grandad was Russian, from Kropotkin I think. Grandma was Polish and I believe from Bialystok although the remaining family are now in Gdynia. They were in Russia when they were first married but lost there home to one of the purges on 'foreigners' and ended up back in Bielystok. The war came and with it the Germans and Russians. Now, even after the 'falling out' between Germany and Russia the Russians appear to have either stayed or moved into East Poland. Grandma and Grandad, having previous experience of the Russians, decided not to stay after the war and moved, eventualy, to England. How the family came to be re-united in Italy is a story for another day...

Now then, this is the bit I am not sure of, my Dad with his occasionaly skewed versions of history, tells us of the Ghettoes in and around Bialystok. He tells of Grandad, who became a Russian Orthodox priest when he came to England btw, being given important books for safe keeping by Jewish friends who were, for the obvious reason, later dispossed. He tells of the whole family risking life and limb to help various people in the ghettoes.

I have seen the mention of the freedom fighters, Jewish and Polish alike, around Bialystok but I would like to hear more about it. Anyone studied it? Anyone recommend a readable history of the place and period? The more I ask my Dad and his sister, my Aunt Irene now living in St Louis, the more confusing it becomes - They tend to contradict each other a lot!

Cheers

DtG