A photograph of the nativity play at the Polish Orphanage in Bolshaya Yerba, a family photo, and Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta with its legitimacy are among the items displayed at the Sybir Memorial Museum as part of this month’s installment of the series.

“It has been over two and a half years since we launched this exhibition cycle at the Sybir Memorial Museum, and I am delighted that it has become a permanent feature of our activities. When visiting the museum, whether it’s the main exhibition or one of these showcases in the hallways, our attention often focuses on the items themselves. However, we must remember that the objects are not the main story here – what matters most are people and their stories,” emphasized Piotr Bosko from the Educational and Cultural Projects Department during the event.

During the inauguration of the January exhibit of the month, attendees had the opportunity to learn the story of Apolonia Karp’s family hidden in these items.

“This story relates to one of the largest Polish orphanages, launched in Siberia. The heroine of this month’s installment is Mrs. Apolonia Karp, who served in the orphanage as its deputy director. When seeing today’s exhibit, let us remember not only about adults but also, and especially about children, who, having lost their parents, were placed in institutions like this one. Youngest suffered immensely – facing not only harsh conditions, hunger, and illnesses but also the loss of their families,” said Professor Wojciech Śleszyński, Director of the Sybir Memorial Museum.

Apolonia Karp was deported to Siberia on June 20th, 1941 together with her two children – Jarosława and Ryszard – as well as her sister-in-law, Maria Mroziewska and Maria’s children: Stanisława, Halina, Czesław, and Wiesław. Upon reaching Krasnoyarsk Krai in Siberia, they all ended up in the village of Bolshaya Yerba, the Krasnoi Bayec (Red Warrior) kolkhoz.

Apolonia Karp was the founder of the Polish orphanage located in the town of Bolshaya Jerba. After months of hard work, in mid-1942 the orphanage accepted transports of Polish orphans, a total of about 120 children. Besides orphans, the orphanage also housed the Polish staff (about 30 people – including Apolonia Karp, who served as its deputy director, and Maria Mroziewska, who worked in the kitchen) and their children. A total of about 200 people.

The Polish orphanage survived the difficult period, which was begun by the revelations of the Katyn Massacre and the death of General Władysław Sikorski in 1943. In 1946, the children and staff of Bolshaya Yerba were given the opportunity to return to Poland. They left the Soviet Union to begin a new life in Poland – country that was completely different from the one they had left years earlier.

The memorabilia will be displayed until mid-February 2025.

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