Table of Contents - PDF
Book description:
The album is a presentation of previously unpublished photographs of Capt. Karol Angerman, documenting his and his comrades-in-arms’ combat trail from December 1940 to February 1944. Karol Angerman initially served with the Officers’ Legion in Al-Latrun, Palestine, from where he and his unit moved to Egypt. Then already in the ranks of the SBSK (Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade), as a heavy repair shop officer, he took part in the defence of Tobruk, the Battle of Gazala and other battles of the brigade in North Africa. After its withdrawal to Palestine, the brigade was transformed into the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division, part of the Polish Army in the East, commanded by General Władysław Anders. Angerman and his unit were stationed in Iraq and then in Palestine, from where he was transported to Italy near the town of Santa Teresa in December. The photos show his fate up to February 1944, when the 3rd DSK (Carpathian Rifle Division) took over the front on a forty-five kilometre stretch from Piano del Monte to Castel San Vincenzo.
The photographs mainly show the routine of a soldier’s service: daily duties, drills, troop ceremonies and parades. Some of these are souvenirs from trips the soldiers went on during their time off duty.
The photographs are accompanied by texts by Ewa Hoffman-Jędruch and Tomasz Stempowski. The first presents the fate of Karol Angerman and the combat trail of the SBSK. The second, in addition to recalling the course of the SBSK and 3DSK battles, discusses the role of photography in the cultural activities of these units and the lives of soldiers.
Publication prepared as part of the research work of the IPN Archive.