Jan Kazimierz Tryuk 1912 - 1943

Born 28.2.1912 in Pabianice
Died 8.7.1943 in Mauthausen

Biography

After finishing primary school, Jan Kazimierz Tryuk attended the state ‘Jędrzy Śniadecki’ grammar school in Pabianice, from which he graduated on 7 June 1932, going on to higher education in Kraków. On 5 November 1932 he matriculated as a degree student at the Academy of Mining. He was a very active in organising student festivities, was a member of the scientific circle of mining technicians and was a splendid athlete.

At the Museum of the Academy of Mining and Metallurgy, as it is called today, there are numerous medals he won at university championships, a student gala uniform donated by his daughter (the only one in the collection) and a collection of archive photographs, among them one of a scientific excursion to European mines.

At the request of the minister for military affairs, Jan Tryuk was given a commission that named him a reserve lieutenant of the corps of infantry officers by seniority as of 1 January 1938; he was ranked number 1261.

In 1939 he began a university placement at the Janina mine in Libiąż. Two weeks before the outbreak of war he was called up to join the 39th Lemberg Rifle Infantry Regiment in Jarosławiec. During the German attack on Poland he fought in the ‘Karpaty’ army, from which he returned in October.

On 31 October 1939 he married his fiancée, Jadwiga Zimny, in Grodziec, and on 9 September 1940 their daughter, Eva Maria Tryuk, the author of this biography, was born.

In cannot remember my father. All the information I have about him is taken from stories told by my mother, from the wonderfully labelled photo albums, but primarily from my father’s diary in which he wrote about his life. It stretches from his early years in school to his merry student days to his happiness in love to the most painful of times.

 

From the diary:

1.IX.1939           War

30.X.1939          Tomorrow is our wedding.

31.X.1939          We already belong to one another. Our marriage just took place.

9.IX.1940           We have a daughter, Ewunia-Maria.

The last entry is dated 21 January 1942:

21.I.1942            More and more we hear the sound of a child’s chattering in the apartment. God, how happy I am. Now the chatter turns to tears. And she can cry. But she’s a good child. Jadzia [pet name for Jadwiga] takes great care of her. And does so although the war is entering its third year already. She looks good. Very cold down to minus 20-25 °C. We are cosy and warm at home. Just keep surviving. God is great and almighty. Thy will be done.

 

During the occupation my father worked in the mine in Grodziec and at the same time was involved in the underground movement. On 13 March 1943 he was arrested by the Gestapo at work and deported to Auschwitz. On 13 April 1943 they sent him on a transport to Mauthausen concentration camp. He was housed in Gusen in Block 15 and was assigned prisoner number 13268.

On 8 July 1943 he was executed and on 10 July his body was burned in the Gusen crematorium.

The verdict that was read to my mother at the Gestapo office stated: ‘Sentenced to death by firing squad for high treason’. But according to the latest information that I have been given, it seems that my father died in a different way. Together with 46 other prisoners he was herded into a truck and then murdered using poison gas. He lived for just 31 years.

 

Ewa Tryuk-Blanc

Translation into English: Joanna White

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