While conducting genealogy research, we mainly work with birth, marriage, and death records. These documents are also mostly used if our clients apply for Polish citizenship. Unfortunately due to the WW2 some of these documents were lost or destroyed.
When faced with such difficulties, we do not surrender, but try to look for alternative sources of information. We go to regional archives and go through their vast collections of documents issued by local authorities.
They include certificates of:
- citizenship,
- certificates of character,
- lists of residents, census documents,
- voter registration cards,
- proofs of address and identity.
Such documents can give as information about people’s names, surnames, dates of birth, addresses, citizenship, nationality, religion, family relationships. As they were issued by Polish government agencies they have the status of official documents and can be used in the process of obtaining Polish citizenship.
A letter issued by the Starost’s Office in Krosno in 1945 confirming that Mr. Halko was a Polish citizen.