Kazimir Ladny is a Polish WW II veteran. He was captured by the Russians in late 1939, spending the winter in a Siberian POW camp. He was then exchanged with the Germans, and spent the remainder of the war as a slave laborer. Liberated in 1945, he struggled to survive, even dabbling in the black market before finally emigrating to America.
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Kazimir's paternal grandparents, Karol Ladny and Teofila Mandra Ladny. Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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Young Kazimir Ladny before the war. Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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Kazimir's older brother, Karol, and his son, who was named after his uncle Kazimir. Karol had presumed that his brother Kazimir was dead at the time of his son's birth. Where:
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Narrator's photo. 
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Kazimir in his uniform in 1937. He served with the Polish Army Signal Corps, with the 30th Poleska Infantry Division. Where:
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1937Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the original copyright holder. The ALPL Audio-Visual Archivist can assist you in this regard.
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Wedding portrait for Kazimir and Adele (Lambertz) Libertus, on the occasion of their church wedding on June 23, 1945. Where:
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June 23, 1945Ownership:
Narrator's photo.
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Kazimir and Adele with Kazimir's Polish friend and his new bride on their wedding day. Where:
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UnknownOwnership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the original copyright holder. The ALPL Audio-Visual Archivist can assist you in this regard.
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Kazimir whittled this pipe while a POW in Oranki, Siberia, and later carved the case while in Germany. These were two of his precious few possessions he managed to retain throughout the war.Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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The pipe Kazimir whittled while a POW in Siberia. Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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Kazimir on the left with fellow prisoner Leo Goreczny at the Henkel farm in Wildberg. Herr Henkel treated his prisoners humanely. Where:
Henkel farm in WildbergWhen:
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Narrator's photo
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Kazimir, Felix Kaschubowski and an unidentified friend in Dusseldorf shortly after the war. Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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Kazimir and fellow POWs take a rare Sunday outing in Wildberg. Kazimir is in the front row, left, wearing a suit sent to him by his father. Note the badges on the right side of their suits, designated “P” for Polish POW. Where:
WildbergWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's photo.
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Kazimir's identity card issued following his liberation in 1945. Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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A note from the commandant of the Displaced Persons Camp following the war, granting Kazimir permission to leave. The seal belongs to the 6th Battalion Royal Welch Pusiliers. Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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Kazimir Ladny and Kazimir Tafil. Childhood friends, both were in WWII, and each thinking the other had died in the war, met after 60 years in Siedlce, Poland. Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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Tafil, at 15-16 yrs. Old was taken to Auschwitz with 3 older brothers who were killed there. The brothers were more educated, high school level. Kazimir survived.Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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He had 3 sisters. The oldest one directed a Christmas play in which Ladny took part. Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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Tafil's wife, now deceased, was nobility. Her father was a big landowner in Jurki, on the way to Radzyn. All people in the village worked for him, the only place that had turkeys and peacocks. Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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They lived in Kakolewnica, also Mr. Ladny's village. When the Russians came in, they confiscated the estate and divided it among the workers. Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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Plaques at the chapel in Siedlce, Poland reading “God Honor Fatherland” and “In Memory”. Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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Plaque at the chapel in Siedlce, Poland reading: “Project and Builder, Kazimierz Tafil. Thankful to God for my survival through this hell on earth in Auschwitz, 1941-1945.” Where:
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Narrator's photo.
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Kazimir Tafil and a friend discussing his experiences. Where:
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UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's photo.
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Stanislaw Ivanowski, Kazimir Tafil, Mary Eglin, and Kazimir Ladny on August 19, 2002, standing in front of the chapel built by K. Tafil in Siedlce, Poland. Where:
Siedlce, PolandWhen:
August 19, 2002Ownership:
Narrator's photo.