Beginning of hell - the war.

It is September 1^st  1939. As it occurred later, this day was written in not only the polish but also the world’s history forever. The memory of that day will survive in our hearts for many more centuries. The war there, was to bring tragic consequences. Most of the resolute politicians and the public expected it, but all had hope that, against all odds, it is possible to avoid it. Unfortunately, the machine of great evil was unstoppable. It was too late. The Poles, day after day, had to find themselves in a new reality they had to cope with. They had to try to fight for what was the most valuable: for their own homeland and people who lived there. That is why not only the soldiers but also ordinary citizens fought for free country.

At that time our heroine, Czeslawa, lived with her family on the right side of Vistula River, Targówek. Near was the Rogulski’s bakery. Czeslawa mentions that it was her mother who took two bags of dried bread from Mr. Rogulski. Soon such bread became the basis of the Zaks family diet.

Even then, at the beginning of 1939, Czesława, as a 12-year-old girl, worked as a nurse. She was running on the streets with a first aid kit and was helping the wounded. However, as she says, she was brave only until she heard a bomb explosion- the noise frightened her so badly that she was not always able to serve those in need. In the end she was just a little girl...