Volhynia 1943 Witness to History - The Incredible Story of Maria GRANSORT.
The story concerns the town of Kopaczówka in Volhynia.

Kopaczówka was built at the end of the 19th century. The village community included the following farms: Dębowa Góra - about 15 homesteads, Kołbanie - about 16 homesteads, Krasna Górka - 8 homesteads.
Minister Juliusz Poniatowski had his summer residence in Kopaczówka. He spent his holidays here with his family, his wife Zofia and his daughter Basia.
Mr. Poniatowski bought land from Mrs. Zalewska for the construction of a school and residential buildings for teachers and for the construction of a folk house.
The plot was located on the road leading from Kopaczowka to Dębowa Góra.
In 1937, a 7-grade primary school was opened.
Children from nearby villages and farms also attended the local school: Dębowa Góra, Kołbanie, Prurwa (older children, there was a 3-grade school in Prurwa), Krasna Górka, Wydymer, Mak, Zademle. At school, children were served a free second breakfast, consisting of coffee with milk and a slice of bread. The bread was baked every day by a German cook. Wealthier farmers provided milk and grain to the school free of charge


Maria Gransort
née Poleszak was born in Kopaczówka in Volhynia on September 25, 1924. Her mother later said that the day was beautiful and sunny, and Maria was born in a cap, from which she was taken out after birth. She was the second child of Katarzyna and Karol Poleszak. She had a very happy childhood. Their parents were hard workers, so they were well off. Maria went to school supervised by Juliusz Poniatowski, Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reforms of the Second Polish Republic, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, who had his own estate in Volhynia, which he had previously parceled out at half price to willing settlers. Among other things, Maria's grandfather, Franciszek Pawelec, bought the land from him.
The outbreak of World War II brought her into her youth, and then gangs of Ukrainian nationalists appeared in Volhynia. In July 1943, saving their lives from an attack, the family decided to go to Germany for the so-called robots. Soon they found themselves in a paper factory in Heidenau near Dresden, where they worked in woodworking. Karol Poleszak was taken by the Germans to Milicz to dig trenches, the children stayed with their mother. Poles got badges with the letter O, i.e. Ost (which meant Russian). Katarzyna Poleszak, Maria's mother, a steadfast and brave woman, did not want to wear this letter, she was accused of rebellion and taken to prison, where she spent half a year. She returned to the children for a short time, but she was sick and weak. She died on January 7, 1945. She was only 44 years old.
The war soon ended and Maria, with her father Karol, sister Leokadia and brother Henryk, walked the 280 km separating Heidenau from Załęcz. They found their home here. Karol did not want to go further because there was a stork's nest on the building and it was close to the railway station, from which he hoped to return to Volhynia by train.
In 1948, Maria got married and moved to Ługi. She lived here for 50 years, spending the rest of her life in Wąsosz with her son Ryszard and daughter-in-law Barbara.
She lived for almost a hundred years. She devoted her life to work, family and prayer.
It can now be confirmed that she was born wearing a caul.
God gave her a long life, she survived the occupation, the tragedy of Volhynia, forced labor in Germany, she had good, loving parents, a good husband, she raised six healthy, hard-working children, she had fourteen grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and two great-great-great-grandchildren.
She led a relatively quiet life, working hard on the farm. She retained full intellectual capacity until the end of her life.
She was a hard worker, she was brave, she was not afraid of anyone or anything. For example, as a little girl, she took a lamb from the wolf, she climbed to the top of trees, she survived deadly situations many times, in her youth she liked to dance, she sang beautifully, her favorite color was purple.

She passed on to her descendants the best features in her genes: diligence, physical endurance, resistance to pain, strength, courage, belligerence, fortitude, persistence in pursuing goals, responsibility.

It will remain in their memories and hearts forever!

Prepared by: Barbara Gransort
The interview was conducted by: Kamila Piotrowska
Editing: Marcin Piotrowski
The recordings were made on July 22, 2023.

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