STORY 1-4

# **Story 1: The Shadow of Partition (1875–1905)**

In a small village on the outskirts of the former Russian partition, lived **Jakub**, a young boy with curious eyes and a restless spirit. His father was a blacksmith, his mother worked in the fields, and his siblings helped on the farm.

Every day, Jakub rose at dawn to help his father in the forge. He loved metal and the sound of the hammer striking the anvil, but his heart was drawn to learning – he dreamed of learning to read Polish, even though Russian was the dominant language in school.

One day, a teacher from the city came to the village and began teaching the children the alphabet and Polish history. Jakub was delighted. He read in secret at night, while everyone slept, dreaming of a free Poland.

However, life was difficult. In 1905, riots broke out, and peasants rebelled against serfdom. Jakub's father was wounded during a demonstration, and for the first time in his life, the boy felt that freedom came at a price.

Jakub's story is a tale of **first dreams, the struggle for knowledge, and the beginnings of national consciousness**, which shaped subsequent generations of his family.

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## **Story 2: War and Silence (1914–1920)**

In 1914, World War I broke out. **Helena**, a young girl from a town near Lviv, was 17 years old. Her father had been drafted into the army, her mother suffered from tuberculosis, and she had to care for her younger siblings.

Everyday life was filled with fear. News of the fallen arrived in the city, peasants sent reports of destroyed homes, and every night was filled with fear for the lives of her loved ones.

Helena began writing a diary, recording everything she saw and felt. Her words were filled with sadness, but also with hope. She dreamed of the day the war would end and Poland would regain its independence.

In 1920, a flu epidemic broke out. Helena's father died, and she took full responsibility for the family. Silence became the order of the day – no one spoke of fear, everyone fought alone. Helena learned that life requires courage and hard work, even if your heart breaks with pain.

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## **Story 3: Occupation Period (1939–1945)**

During World War II, **Franciszek**, a young man from a small village in Mazovia, tried to protect his family from the German occupation. His home was near a road where soldiers drove, and every night was filled with fear of searches or reprisals.

Franciszek hid Jews in a barn – a family that had fled the city. He risked his life daily smuggling food and information. In the evenings, he wrote letters to his family, which he never sent, recording his fears, hopes, and sense of helplessness in the face of the war.

* "I can't let others suffer while we live in peace," he said to himself silently.

After the war, he discovered that not everyone had survived. The trauma and guilt lingered for years, and Franciszek learned that **courage isn't always rewarded**, and life often requires silence and heavy responsibility.

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## **Story 4: The Polish People's Republic and Daily Toil (1950–1970)**

In the 1950s, **Maria**, a young woman from Krakow, worked in a textile factory. She woke up at five every morning to catch the tram, toiled on noisy machinery, and spent her evenings caring for her home and siblings.

Her dreams of studying and traveling were stifled by the realities of the Polish People's Republic. Sometimes in the evenings, by the glow of a kerosene lamp, she wrote in her journal:

* "I want to see the world, feel freedom, but everyday life drags me down."

Maria fell in love with a colleague at work, but their relationship was difficult – a lack of housing, inspections, bureaucracy, and political constraints made every decision difficult.

Maria's story is a picture of the **daily life of ordinary people in times of restrictions**, the struggle for dignity, and the attempt to preserve dreams despite the harsh reality.

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