The Photograph (Zdjecie)

The Photograph

We've seen this photo for the first time during Józef Rybicki's exhibition.

He was a soldier of the Fourth Division in the Polish Army and a photographer.

It was taken in Praga in front of the building just left by the Germans.

We've decided to find these boys and their story.

Our first interlocutor was author of the photograph.

We've entered Praga 15th of September in the afternoon.

The next day I was taking photos of various situations since morning.

We've entered the courtyard with lots of people there.

Propaganda vehicle drove in and played national anthem...

and all the people from the building came to the courtyard.

The anthem caused emotional reactions.

Two officers took off their hats and put them on the heads of the boys,

two others gave them rifles and I made the picture.

And that's the whole story of this photograph.

Many times later I visited this courtyard and the building...

so now I know - it's Brzeska Street 5

- Excuse me, do you live in here? - No, I'm just painting.

Excuse me, I have a short question.

- Do you live in this building? - Yes.

- Can you tell me who's lived here since the war? - I'm a new tenant here.

There are persons here who've lived here for 40-50 years, ask them.

I won't tell you because I don't know anything.

- How long have you been living here? - 10-15 years.

- Since war? - Yes. - Did you live here when the war ended? - Yes, I did.

Do you remember... please take a look.

I don't remember this.

No, I don't recognize this.

- Boy scouts. - Who is this? - Boy scouts.

- It was taken the day this building was freed. - I wasn't here.

- You weren't here then? - No, I was in Germany.

I've participated in Warsaw Uprising for 6 weeks. I've forgotten how it was.

- Can you... - Szwabs were beating people, nothing more. What can I say?

- Take a look. Who is it? - Kids.

- Whose kids? - Maybe someone we know?

They might have been defending, throwing bottles with gasoline at Germans, tanks.

They clothed them this way. But such kids, they couldn't have done anything.

They were running and nobody even paid attention.

- It's Mrs. Waszylowa. - But kids, tell something about the kids.

Maybe you'll recognize. You should know who are these children.

They resemble someone, but...

Yes, here's Majenka Dzienia.

Janek Jastrzebski.

- Isn't this your wife with some child? - No. - Yes, it's your wife.

- Look Marysia, it's you! - Who would recognize half of my face?

I only remember how we'd all left this building and had shouted that we're freed.

Our army came first, then Russians.

I remember, because a lot of people came out of the building, ...

but something like that, I don't remember.

- Mister is here, so there must be something. - I'm not sure if that's me.

- How long have you been living here? - Since war, since 1939.

Take a look at this picture.

Children. God, oh my God. That's awful. Such a small children.

- Whose children are they? - Polish children. Our children.

- Can't you remember who is it? - No. - Names? Please take a good look.

I don't remember. I don't recognize this children.

Do you remember the day when soldiers came and freed this building?

I do. I was crying and kissing with them. I came out of the basement.

I remember that day. It was an awful day. A happy day.

Yes. But I don't know this children. I moved here lately, in autumn.

- No, I don't remember. - Don't you recognize this lady?

- Wasilewska? - Maybe it's her. - And here's Dzienia's oldest daughter.

- Schabowa is standing here. And late Mrs.Wasilowa. - But whose kids are they?

- Don't you remember? - I don't remember.

- I think they're Janczewski's boys. - Whose? - Janczewski.

- Whose? - Janczewski. - Which Janczewski?

- This one living on the ground-floor. - Here? Near the toilet? This boys?

- Two sons. - Yes, she had two sons. I think I recognize this little one.

- Janczewski's, true. - That's what I'm saying.

- Janczewski's children. - Which one? - The one who lived here.

What a chance to see this young children.

- What's the reason, gentlemen? - We want to find this children.

They're adults now.

- What's his name? - This one's Tadek. And this one... I don't remember.

- And what's the name of the smaller one? - This one's Darek, no?

What was his name?

This one's... what's his name? Younger one, I forgot, so many years.

I can't recall it.

- There was a daughter Danka. - Yes, Danka.

- Wasn't he Leszek? - No, not Leszek. - Zbyszek maybe?

- This one's Zbyszek. - Yes, this one's Zbyszek.

Tadek and Zbyszek. Yes I remember them, I was a child too.

I was 12. This family lived here, in an annex.

It was a very poor family.

- What more can I say? They moved out in 1947. - Do you know where to?

- I joined army soon after. Our ways split up.

- You were here the whole time during occupation, right? - 30 years.

Take a look at this photo. Tell us who are these boys. Do you know them?

Mister, this one looks like my... boy.

I don't know this one, but the other looks like mine.

- Your son? - Yes.

- No. No. - Marian? Looks like Marian. He used to dress the same way.

- Whose are these boys? - Neighbours told us they're Janczewska's boys.

Tadek and Zbyszek.

- Yeah, that might be right. - Yes? - Yes, that's right.

- They moved out. Do you know where? - I don't know.

- Did you run a shop during war the whole time? - Yes, it was a restaurant.

Can you tell something about this boys or Janczewski's family?

No, I don't remember anything.

I'm 83 years old and I'm sick.

Neighbours told us they were from Janczewscy family.

I don't remember. I was so upset, because my son wasn't there.

I thought he was executed, but thank God he's missing a leg, but he's alive.

Please tell us something about Janczewscy family.

- I don't remember. - Mrs. Janczewska, Mr. Janczewski. Do you remember them?

I don't remember.

- Mother died. - Father died. - Mother died too.

How can we find where did they move out? Who may know?

- Wouldn't Tadek know? But he doesn't live here. Tadek would know.

How can we find him? Who could know where is he living?

His mother lives here and a brother too.

- Tadek's mother lives here? Where? - On fourth floor. There's someone in the window right now.

To Mr. Michalowski. I have a favor, can you come here for a moment?

We want to see you in the light.

- Mr. Michalowski, right? - Yes. - We're searching for your brother Tadeusz.

- He's living in Bielany. - Can you give us his adress?

He's working today, he's on a second shift in Warsaw's steel mill.

- But we want his adress, so we can find him. - Magiera Street 20/26. He's living on the ground-floor.

We're searching for this boys. It's a photo taken just after the occupation.

I know them too. They are Janczewscy. They lived there. Our neighbours.

It was taken first day after the liberation.

Do you know if your brother knows more about this? Wasn't he friend of this family?

Yes, you're right. He may know more about this.

You were a good friend of Janczewscy family, weren't you? -I was a neighbour.

- You're were a neighbour and also... - Mainly a neighbour.

We were living in front of each other.

Do you know where they moved out to? What happened to them after the war?

I don't know. I can't tell you.

- And that's... Janczewski. - Do you know which number? - No, I don't know.

DOMESTIC BOOK OF REGISTRATION

- I have to skim through the whole book. - OK, let's do it.

Jackowski, Jakubowska. Janczewski Jerzy and Tadeusz.

Registered here in 1945. They came from Brzeska too, just another flat.

- Where did they go? - 15th July 1947, Debinki village, Falenica district.

- Good morning. Once in this village... it's Debki, right? - Debinka.

- In 1947 Janczewscy family came from warsaw to this village. - They did.

- Do you know something about them? - They were living here.

- Where? In which house? - I don't remember. I only know they were here.

- We want to find their house. - I don't remember, it was over 10 years ago.