George (Jerzy) Gorzkowski

Memoirs of a Siberian Survivor George (Jerzy) Gorzkowski

"Ours is the typical Polish noble family with ancient roots, long tradition of Catholicism, independence, and some conceit, if not cockiness." The harrowing journey of a young child deported with his Mom, sister and both grandmothers to a small town in the Siberia's Altayski Kray province, guilty only by birth. They were meant to live and die there. Separated from his dad for the duration of the war, enduring five years in exile, his family miraculously survived and was reunited Poland. It is a personal story of the largely unknown and forgotten (by the West) history of the Eastern reaches of Europe during WWII. Its people, abandoned by the rest of the world, suffered great hardships and sorrow at the hands of the Soviets. In the end, it is an uplifting story of overcoming the odds, hard work, following one's dreams, family and ultimately achieving happiness. George lives in San Juan Capistrano, California with his wife Anita. They spend much of their time with their four children and nine grandchildren.