PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: Hiring a Researcher

Sophia — Wed Jun 11, 2025 8:09 am

Author: Sophia

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 8:09 am

Richard Kuzniak wrote:

I am trying to find out information on my mother's forced labour in WW2. I have tried the usual resources (Arolsen, USHMM, etc.) but no luck to my specific questions about where and when she worked in forced labour and what day did she finally enter Hellbrunn DP camp (where I was born). I have what I believe is an Arbeitsbuch ID (photo and number).
My question is: is it worthwhile hiring a private researcher? Is there anyone that specializes in this area that you could recommend?

Hello Richard,

Hopefully you will be able to find what you want through your correspondence with IPN and Arolsen. As regards your question about hiring a private researcher, I would mention that this forum, where your answers come predominantly from genealogy volunteers, is actually part of the Polish Origins website and they are a professional genealogy research company. It would be worthwhile to ask them if they have experience in this specific area of research. It won't cost you anything to ask them that.

I recall that back in early March, you had posted a question about songs you were trying to remember. You did receive replies from both Barb and me, and I cannot tell whether you ever saw those replies. Your question is here:
https://forum.polishorigins.com/viewtopic.php?t=24294
I realize that people do not always receive the email from Polish Origins that there has been a reply to their question, so I did try to follow up later in March by sending you a private message letting you know you had gotten these replies, but I can see that you did not open that private message.

Good luck to you as you continue your search,
Sophia

Re: Hiring a Researcher

Richard Kuzniak — Tue Jun 10, 2025 9:07 pm

Author: Richard Kuzniak

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 9:07 pm

Thank you Henry.

Re: Hiring a Researcher

Richard Kuzniak — Tue Jun 10, 2025 9:04 pm

Author: Richard Kuzniak

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 9:04 pm

BarbOslo wrote:

Hi,
Have you tried contacting IPN? Maybe they can help?
https://ipn.gov.pl/

Have you contacted Arolsen by mail? Or did you search on-line?
Where did you get this photo from?

-Barb

I am waiting on a reply from IPN. I contacted Arolsen by mail. Lots of good information but no answer to my questions. I found the photo in my mother’s possessions.

IPN Straty

Henry Soszynski — Tue Jun 10, 2025 7:19 pm

Author: Henry Soszynski

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 7:19 pm

I too had a mother that was forced to work for an elderly German couple, probably soon after 1942, and I would dearly love to know more.
I checked out https://www.straty.pl/ and found some records for my father, his sister and her husband, but nothing greatly informative.

Good luck and Best Wishes to you Richard,
Henry Soszynski

Re: Hiring a Researcher

BarbOslo — Tue Jun 10, 2025 3:35 pm

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 3:35 pm

Hi,
Have you tried contacting IPN? Maybe they can help?
https://ipn.gov.pl/

Have you contacted Arolsen by mail? Or did you search on-line?
Where did you get this photo from?

-Barb

Hiring a Researcher

Richard Kuzniak — Tue Jun 10, 2025 1:42 pm

Author: Richard Kuzniak

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 1:42 pm

I am trying to find out information on my mother's forced labour in WW2. I have tried the usual resources (Arolsen, USHMM, etc.) but no luck to my specific questions about where and when she worked in forced labour and what day did she finally enter Hellbrunn DP camp (where I was born). I have what I believe is an Arbeitsbuch ID (photo and number).
My question is: is it worthwhile hiring a private researcher? Is there anyone that specializes in this area that you could recommend?