The letters
The letters featured on this website belonged to my grandfather, the late Franciszek E. Banach. Hundreds upon hundreds of letters have been preserved for a glimps back in time. The types of letters found on this website range from 'Prisoner of War' letters to personal letters made out to Frank himself. Please take your time to view the posted material in detail.
The letters: POW Letters
Under the Geneva Convention, it was agreed that prisoners of war (POW) during World War 2, would be allowed 2 letters per month for 'Other Ranks', while Officers would be allowed 3; and 4 postcards a month on stationery provided. They would also be allowed to receive letters and relief parcels.
Each POW was allowed to send a postcard to their family as soon as practicable after capture, and in any case not later than 7 days after arrival at a POW camp. The routing of all such mail in Europe was carried out with the assistance of the International Red Cross based in Geneva.
Within Europe, by 1941, agreement had been reached that letter mail, (Axis and Allied) would be transported between Britain and Lisbon by British air services, and between Lisbon and Germany / Italy by the German / Italian air services.
About Franciszek E. Banach:
Franciszek E. Banach (aka Frank Banach) served as a member of the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) during WWII (World War 2) aiding Poland during the years 1939 - 1945. Due to medical reasons, Frank was not able to fight in the war, so he devoted his time serving his country by the next best way that he felt he could.
Purchasing these letters:
These letters have been placed online for historical viewing as well as to be purchased as collectible items. If you are interested in purchasing a letter, please email us and refer to the letter #. Items can not be purchased through the website.