Mother shared home with soldiers in WW I

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My mother, Ursula Paszkowski Varescak, went through World War I as a child in the small village of Lubno, in the Austria-Hungarian province of Galicia, now in southeastern Poland. She often mentioned her memories about the war.

The area had seen major fighting, and with several offensives and counter-offensives, the German and Austria-Hungarian armies, as well as that of their Russian enemies, occupied the town at different times. Soldiers from both sides occupied their house and stayed with the family.

Since her father had emigrated to the USA to work in the coal mines in Wehrum, Pa., mother, her small brother, and my grandmother were the only residents of the house, and they were concerned for their safety.

Mother indicated they were fearful of the Russian solders, who were mean and brutalized the local residents, who often hid their cattle, poultry and possessions in the forests to avoid confiscation.

Conversely, the German soldiers who stayed with them were kind, caring and decent and often shared food with them. In return, my grandmother washed, cleaned, and stitched and sewed the uniforms of German soldiers, and my mother helped her.

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Sep

7

Mother shared home with soldiers in WW I

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