September 7th, 1939
On that day a close friend of my parents, Col. Roman UMIASTOWSKI from Lwow, broadcast on radio as Propaganda Chief on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, calling on the population to participate en masse in building barricades and various city fortifications. At the same time he called upon all men capable of bearing arms and not yet called up for the army to leave the Capital immediately and proceed to the eastern boundary where they would be inducted into the ranks.
Also on that day the population of Warsaw learned by radio that Marshal Rydz-Smigly had left for Brzesc-on-the-Bug.
The news about the threat to the city, the departure of the Government and the call to the remaining men to go to the eastern border caused panic among the population. Thus everyone who could left the city with their families - most going in an easterly direction via the district of Praga. Some refugees left our building also.
