Main entrance to the former Oflag VII-A, currently a German Army barracks.
Last week my dad and I flew to Munich, Germany. The main purpose of the trip was to travel to Murnau, a city about an hour’s train ride south of Munich. The picturesque, Bavarian town of about 15,000 residents lies not far from the Swiss border and has a beautiful view of the Alps.
Murnau, Germany
During World War II, the German army barracks (constructed before the war), served as a prison camp for Polish officers taken prisoner after the invasion of Poland in 1939. Among the initial wave of 1,000 prisoners were both of my grandfathers, Konrad Siekierski and Kazimierz Bendisz. As time went on, more men were sent to the camp and at its height over 5,000 prisoners were kept there.
The commemoration events that I attended marked the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the camp (April 29, 1945) and were organized by a local high school teacher, Martin L., who spent the past several years organizing the day.
The days events included mass at St. Nicholas’s Church, a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument to the Polish soldiers who died in captivity in the adjoining cemetery, a tour of the former camp (now a German army barracks), an exhibit and ceremony at the high school, organized by Martin’s students.
Memorial to Polish soldiers in the St. Nicholas Church cemetery, Murnau, Germany
The text on the monument reads: In memory of the Polish soldiers who died in captivity from 1939-1945 as well as 1945-1947. They didn’t arrive + they rested + they will rise.A firefight erupts outside of the Murnau POW camp between American and Nazi soldiers. Prisoners in the camp are seen running towards or away from the barbed wire fence. April 29, 1945View towards the main entrance of the camp, April 24, 2015View towards the main entrance from inside the campAt the exhibit on Oflag VII-A in the local high school, pictured on the wall is my grandfather, Kazimierz Bendisz, in 1939
I’m very glad you came across this post, and thank you for your comment. The visit I described was organized by Martin Lohmann, a teacher at the high school in Murnau.
Hi
It’s the 50 years anniversary of my father’s death in 1967 and I feel the need to commemorate. He survived Murnau and I assume knew Konrad and Kazimierz as he was there from 1939 after being captured early on in the campaign –he was in the (Poznan?) cavalry.
What happened after Murnau? Looking at the Alps in the picture, I know my father told my mother he and 2 others chose to cross the Alps to meet up with the troops in Italy – he wouldn’t talk much about what happened in general and I know this is true. I wondered what kind of feat this was. It would be incredible to link up with any descendants and anyone else who has stories.
Kind regards
Fiona
Hi Fiona, thanks for the comment and sharing your story. My gradfathers made their way to Italy after Murnau was liberated to join “Anders’ Army”: https://infogalactic.com/info/Anders%27_Army They made their way back to Poland in late 1945 or early 1946 from what I recall. Send me an email if you can and I’ll try to find some more information: nick@researchteacher.com
I am from Murnau, and i must say, i didnt know this part of our History. I just leard about it
I’m very glad you came across this post, and thank you for your comment. The visit I described was organized by Martin Lohmann, a teacher at the high school in Murnau.
Hi
It’s the 50 years anniversary of my father’s death in 1967 and I feel the need to commemorate. He survived Murnau and I assume knew Konrad and Kazimierz as he was there from 1939 after being captured early on in the campaign –he was in the (Poznan?) cavalry.
What happened after Murnau? Looking at the Alps in the picture, I know my father told my mother he and 2 others chose to cross the Alps to meet up with the troops in Italy – he wouldn’t talk much about what happened in general and I know this is true. I wondered what kind of feat this was. It would be incredible to link up with any descendants and anyone else who has stories.
Kind regards
Fiona
Hi Fiona, thanks for the comment and sharing your story. My gradfathers made their way to Italy after Murnau was liberated to join “Anders’ Army”: https://infogalactic.com/info/Anders%27_Army They made their way back to Poland in late 1945 or early 1946 from what I recall. Send me an email if you can and I’ll try to find some more information: nick@researchteacher.com