I Am Not a Polish Bastard

This book is not intended as simply a collection of stories, but as a personal account, prepared with a knowledge vital to my survival during the wars. My homeland, Ukraine, is the largest country of Europe, with Poland on the west and Russia on the east, it acts as a buffer between the east and the west. Known for its fertile soil, the area has earned the title of "The Breadbasket of Europe." However, the government was not interested in improving the primitive living conditions of the common folk or tribal population.

I was thought of as "A Polish Bastard," but this narrative about survival and endurance during three wars, and covering three generations, proves that title to be false. My grandparents passed most of these brutal, life-long stories and experiences recorded here to me. I can accurately say, "I am not a Polish bastard!"