[The Ukrainians] murdered 1 Pole. „In the Bircza community, the egg manager, Mr. Kurasiewicz, was abducted”.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – April 1944”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: „1944, April 24 - A note sent to the President of the RGO in Krakow. It concerns Ukrainian anti-Polish demonstrations in Galicia”; in: National Ossoliński Institute, Wrocław, in: No. 16722/2, p. 143—144

Andrzej Przepióra, 42, was murdered by the UPA.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – July 1944”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Orłowski Edward, „Foresters who died during the war and persecution in 1938-1949 in Eastern Lesser Poland and the post-war Rzeszów region”; in: Regional Directorate of State Forests in Krosno — web page: www.krosno.lasy.gov.pl [accessible: 2021.01.29]

There is a grave of Dobrzański, Wilhelm, in the cemetery. 1904, who died at the hands of the UPA on September 28, 1944.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – September 1944”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

There are graves in the cemetery: Hutman Jakub born 1902 and Budnik Stanisław born. 1923 who died at the hands of the UPA. October 8, 1944.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – October 1944”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

The UPA will shoot Andrzej Baryła.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – December 1944 and "in 1944"”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

Baryła Andrzej born by the Ukrainians was killed. 1906.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – December 1944 and "in 1944"”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

The UPA murdered 2 Poles.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – December 1944 and "in 1944"”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

Ukrainian officers from the police station in Bircza, who were also members of the OUN, took part in the 1944 arrest of Roman Segelin and the couple Katarzyna and Michał Gerul, who were later murdered for hiding Jews.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – December 1944 and "in 1944"”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Piwowarczyk Grzegorz, „The real tragedy of Bircza”; in: portal: kresy.pl — web page: kresy.pl [accessible: 2018.11.04]

There is a grave of Flader Wincenty, born in the cemetery. 1925, who died at the hands of the UPA on March 17, 1945.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – March 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

There is a grave of Kozimor Szczepan (Stefan) born in the cemetery. 1924, who died at the hands of the UPA on May 1, 1945.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – May 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

Polish Army soldier Szpak Tadeusz, born in the UPA, was killed. 1923, his grave is located in the military cemetery in Przemyśl.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – May 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

Polish Army soldier Szpak Piotr, born in the UPA, was killed. 1926, who has a grave at the military cemetery in Przemyśl.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – May 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

The grave of Laszkiewicz Edward, born in 1916, who died at the hands of the UPA on June 12, 1945, has at the cemetery.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – June 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: btx.home.pl [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

There is a grave of Szelewa Katarzyna, born in the cemetery. 1892, who died at the hands of the UPA on June 19, 1945.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – June 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: btx.home.pl [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

The UPA kidnapped Katarzyna Szelewa, the mother of six children, to Przemyśl. She disappeared without a trace. Look down.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – June 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: btx.home.pl [accessible: 2021.02.04]

The grave of Pasławski Władysław, who died at the hands of the UPA in June 1945, has at the cemetery.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – June 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: btx.home.pl [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

The UPA took him to the forest and murdered Władysław Pasławski. See above.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – June 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: btx.home.pl [accessible: 2021.02.04]

The UPA murdered Edward Laszkiewicz.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – July 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

The grave of Bartosiewicz Zdzisław, born in the cemetery 1926, who died at the hands of the UPA on July 20, 1945.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – July 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

[The Ukrainians] shot 2 Poles in a wagon.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – July 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

Excerpt from the report of the interrogation of Ivan Domkowicz on July 20, 1945 by the clerk of the SB‑OUN region III in the 'Chłodny Jar' area, Volodymyr Choma 'Karła', about the murders of members of undetermined formations of the Republic of Poland on 2 Ukrainians from Bircza:
„About the murder on Gachowa in Bircza, I don't know anything  […] Attorney Ilnicki was arrested by the militia from Wojtkowo on the orders of the Bircza militia. He came from Bircza. During police interrogations, he was beaten so hard that he died”.

source: Institute of National Remembrance IPN, in: Acta OAIPN Rz 072/1, Cop. VII b (251), sh. 99

source: Huk Bogdan with a group of friends, „Murders of the Ukrainian population 1944-1947”; in: portal: Ruthenian apocrypha — web page: www.apokryfruski.org [accessible: 2021.09.30]

3 soldiers of the Polish Army were killed by the UPA: Miraszewski Edward, born 1923, Mrozek Władysław b. 1924, Sidor Wacław b. 1924, who have graves at the military cemetery in Przemyśl.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – September 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

A soldier of the Polish Army, Piotr Jarmolonek, born in 1918, who died at the hands of the UPA on 2 October 1945.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – October 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

At the municipal cemetery there is a grave of 7 Polish Army soldiers who died on November 8, 1945 at the hands of the UPA.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – October 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

During the night, the UPA attacked Bircza for the first time. The attack was fought off with great personal losses. At the municipal cemetery there is a grave of 12 Polish Army soldiers who died on October 22, 1945 defending the town. They are: Banasik Bronisław born. 1922; Bohdanowicz Władysław b. 1925; Botamowski (Bułanowski). Kazimierz. born 1923; Cieszko Konstanty born in 1926; Chycak Jan b. 1926; Jakielski Mieczysław born on 1924; Kuchta Konstanty b. 1910; Mgarenko Piotr b. 1926; Nowak Bolesław born on 1924; Pietraś Jan b. 1924; Pole Stanisław born 1906; Ugarenko Franciszek born on 1926. In addition, there is also the grave of three Polish Army soldiers who died at the hands of the UPA in the defense of the town on October 23, 1945. These are: Deja Jan born on 1924; Jesionowski Wacław born on 1922; Wojtasiński Władysław b. 1924 Also in this cemetery there is a grave of 8 civilians murdered on October 23, 1945. by the Ukrainian Uprising Army. They are: Baryła Wilhelm, 1960s; Cichońska Stanisława b. 1915; Trznadel Maria, 62 (Tadeusz's mother); Trznadel Tadeusz b. 1926 (son of Maria); Wasiewicz Tadeusz b. 1918; and 3 people NN.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – October 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

„The first attack on Bircza took place on the night of October 22–23, 1945. At 11.30 p.m. the Bandera followers in Polish, Soviet and German uniforms attacked the town. The fight lasted about four hours. From the parish chronicle it can be read that the Ukrainians in Polish uniforms, speaking Polish, confused the Polish soldiers. There was confusion, because Poles and Banderites were dressed in the same”. The Banderites threw the farmer Wiktor Baryła into the fire. According to the telephoneogram sent by the commander of the MO post, 17 soldiers of the Polish Army and 12 civilians were killed in Bircza. Among the victims were three women and a child. One local Ukrainian was also killed. The fights took place in the center of Bircza. „We hid with the children in the church. What a bang it was. What the shooting was. The children squealed!” – recalled a resident of Bircza. Eleven houses, army barracks, a people's house and a sawmill burned down, and thus despairing families could not get coffin boards for their loved ones. There was great sorrow at the funerals of the victims. Despite the presence of the army, the inhabitants of Bircza demanded that the authorities transport them to Przemyśl. Some of the people left soon, leaving their fortune. Fugitives from other towns, Poles and some Ukrainians, sought refuge in Bircza, defended by self–defense, MO and the Polish Army. Some of the people left soon, leaving their fortune. Fugitives from other towns, Poles and some Ukrainians, sought refuge in Bircza, defended by self–defense, MO and the Polish Army. Some of the people left soon, leaving their fortune. Fugitives from other towns, Poles and some Ukrainians, sought refuge in Bircza, defended by self–defense, MO and the Polish Army.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – October 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Piwowarczyk Grzegorz, „The real tragedy of Bircza”; in: portal: kresy.pl — web page: kresy.pl [accessible: 2018.11.04]

And: „  […] the town was attacked by a UPA freak «Podkarpacie» from the former Stanisławów voivodeship, commanded by Paweł Wcyk, nom–de–guerre «Prut», sotnya «Karmeljuka» from the Sambork county, chota «Horbowy» from the dissolved U–3 sotnya, commanded until the summer of 1945 by «Buryja» and the local SKW (about 700 people), whose uniforms were dressed in Polish fighters, German and Soviet. at that time, the headquarters of the 28 Infantry Regiment, the 3rd Infantry Battalion and a reconnaissance company were located in the town. The whole was commanded by Lt. Col. aleksander Wygański. The fighting lasted 4 hours and resulted in 17 (19?) Casualties among Polish army soldiers and 8 civilians (3 women, 4 men and one child) and 2 MO officers were injured. according to other data, 9 soldiers were killed, 11 civilians and 5 were injured. The aim of the attack was to liquidate the Polish Army garrison, consisting of about 450 soldiers”. .

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – October 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Zapałowski Andrzej, „Border on fire”, in: ASPRA-JR Publishing House, History of the Peasant Movement Museum, Warsaw 2016, p. 220—221 — web page: ptg.edu.pl [accessible: 2021.06.10]

A soldier of the Polish Army Witold Hryniewicz, born in 1909, who died at the hands of the UPA on October 24, 1945.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – October 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

[The Ukrainians] have graves at the municipal cemetery: Pacławski Franciszek, murdered by the UPA, born on 1923 and a soldier of the Polish Army Robliczek Andrzej born 1913, who died at the hands of the UPA.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – November 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

There is a grave of 9 unknown Polish soldiers of the Polish Army who died at the hands of the UPA on November 30, 1945 during the second attack on the town.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – November 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

The second attack on Bircza took place on November 29–30, 1945. It was dark. A cold wind was blowing and it was snowing. The defenders were prepared. Mr. Karbowiak claims that it was a sham attack because it was about burning down the surrounding villages. In fact, Stara Bircza, Korzeniec, Boguszówka and Huta Brzuska were burned down. Buildings were also on fire in Wola Korzeniecka. People and animals died in the flames. During the fighting, some inhabitants of the attacked towns fled to Bircza. Some of them hid in hiding places. The Banderites tried to break into the city, but were repulsed. There were fortifications around Bircza, and fire from firearms made it impossible to penetrate the town center. However, the presbytery in Bircza was shot at. The priest miraculously escaped death.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – November 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Piwowarczyk Grzegorz, „The real tragedy of Bircza”; in: portal: kresy.pl — web page: kresy.pl [accessible: 2018.11.04]

The UPA raid on Bircza was repeated on November 29. The attackers were dressed in Polish, German and Soviet uniforms. 4 saves took part in the action. One of them was commanded in place of „Hromenka” by „Bartel”. Bircza was defended by a battalion from the 17th Infantry Regiment (about 500 soldiers), the MO company (160 officers) and the KBW company (100 soldiers). After a 5–hour fight, the Bandera followers were repulsed. However, they kidnapped 6 soldiers who managed to escape. 3 soldiers, including 2 officers, were killed. The Banderites left 8 dead. Other data about the fallen are also given. As a result of the attack, 5 soldiers of the Polish Army and one policeman were to die. In addition, the Bandera followers burned down 4 buildings. According to reports by the UPA, 17 people were killed on the Polish side, 7 were wounded, and 3 were injured on the Ukrainian side (one died).

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – November 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

source: Zapałowski Andrzej, „Border on fire”, in: ASPRA-JR Publishing House, History of the Peasant Movement Museum, Warsaw 2016, p. 221—222 — web page: ptg.edu.pl [accessible: 2021.06.10]

Excerpt from the situational report of the 'T' clerk from the Przemyśl OUN district about the murder of Polish Army soldiers against a Ukrainian from Dobrzanka:
„On the same day [December 13, 1945, Polish Army troops] in the village of Dobrzanka, they caught a Ukrainian, Ivan Szczerba, who was still hiding from the MO. He was listed shot in Bircza”.

source: „Wisti z terenu [za grudzień 1945]”; in: Poticzny P. J., Łyko I. (ed,), „Litopys UPA”, in: Toronto-Lviv 2002, vol. 34: „Lemkivshchyna and Peremyszczyna. Political reports (Documents)”, p. 437, in: orig. Ukrainian

source: Huk Bogdan with a group of friends, „Murders of the Ukrainian population 1944-1947”; in: portal: Ruthenian apocrypha — web page: www.apokryfruski.org [accessible: 2021.09.30]

Excerpt from the situational report of the reporter 'T' from the Przemyśl district of the OUN about the murder of a Ukrainian from Leszczawa [Dolna?]:
„On December 13, 1945 [Polish special unit] on his way back to Bircza through the [Dobrzanki] hamlet, Kiza met Dmytro Horba, age 22 , A Ukrainian from Leszczawa, who recently returned from Germany and was without documents. They shot him in the leg and took him to Bircza, saying that it was a Bandera. They tortured him for a long time, as a result of which he died. His mother followed him to Bircza, but found only his body in the stable of a Polish priest. The corpse was completely naked, with 12 bayonet wounds”.

source: „Wisti z terenu [za grudzień 1945]”; in: Poticzny P. J., Łyko I. (ed,), „Litopys UPA”, in: Toronto-Lviv 2002, vol. 34: „Lemkivshchyna and Peremyszczyna. Political reports (Documents)”, p. 437, in: orig. Ukrainian

source: Huk Bogdan with a group of friends, „Murders of the Ukrainian population 1944-1947”; in: portal: Ruthenian apocrypha — web page: www.apokryfruski.org [accessible: 2021.09.30]

There are graves of civilians of Polish nationality who died during the fights and attacks of the UPA, they are: Gąska Władysław born 1926 (son of Zofia); Gąska Zofia b. 1903 (Władysław's mother); Harłacz Katarzyna b. 1908; Turczyk Władysław.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – December 1945 and 1945”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

In the village of Bircza, Przemyśl poviat:
„The third attack was carried out on Bircza from January 6 to 7, 1946 by a UPA unit in the strength of 4 sotnyas: 'Burlak', 'Łastiwka', 'Jar' and 'Hromenko' under the command of M. Hala, pseud. 'Konyk'. The towns were defended by the forces of 26 IR and 28 IR of the Polish Army, supported by the local militia. The civilian population also took an active part in the fight (the garrison's crew consisted of 220 people). The 1st Battalion of 30 IR, commanded by Major T. Czerkaszyn of the 9th Infantry Division, provided effective relief to the defending units. The attack was repelled, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers. Ukrainian sources report the killing of 22 Banderites and several civilians, including head of kureń (battalion) 'Konyk' and sotnya head D. Karwański, pseud. 'Orski'. Ukrainian sources claim about 50 soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces were killed and about 23 Ukrainian losses (including 'Konyk', 'Orski' and chota (platoon) leadr Pawlenko) and 15 wounded”.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – January 1946”; in: „Borderlands Information Service” — web page: ksi.btx.pl [accessible: 2021.06.18]

source: Zapałowski Andrzej, „Border on fire”, in: ASPRA-JR Publishing House, History of the Peasant Movement Museum, Warsaw 2016, p. 224—225 — web page: ptg.edu.pl [accessible: 2021.06.10]

The documents of the Polish Army mention only 10 wounded soldiers, hence the victims must have belonged to the Polish civilian population, but Polish sources say that the Banderites slept in another house near the synagogue, in which five Poles were killed, including two women and a child, most likely refugees from Rudawka village burnt out by the UPA.
„In January 1946, Mychajło Halo 'Konyk', commander of the kuren (battalion), ordered the destruction of Bircza during the briefing in Grąziowa. In Łomna it was announced that Bircza would burn down within half an hour. It is possible that the plan of the robbery was developed by the clerk of the OUN Security Services of the First District of 'Chołodny Jar'. 'Burłak' and Hrihorij Jankowski 'Łastiwka' were to attack from the east, and from the west Mykhailo Kuczera 'Jar' and 'Hromenko' (Dmytro Karwański 'Orski' commanded in his name), who were to launch the main attack. Kuren (battalion) head, Mychailo Halo 'Konyk', personally commanded there. Their attack started from the side of Nowa Wieś. 'Konyk' and 'Orski' led a small unit which, after breaking through the first line of Polish trenches, broke into the city. Other Banderites were arrested by Polish shelling. The 'Konyk' group, during their rally towards the market square in Bircza, set fire to a house in which 5 people, most probably refugees from Rudawka burned by the UPA, burned down. Eventually, the Bandera followers from the commander–in–chief 'Konyk' group passed the mikveh and entered the stairs near the tenement house, where the staff of Bircza's defenders was located.
Unfortunately, Leon Lubecki, the commander of the garrison in Bircza, who was staying in Przemyśl at that time, was not there. He was a brave, a pre–war officer who shared the views of the National Democrats and who later in 1947 suffered the communist repressions. In his stead, Lieutenant Arsenij Kuźmiczenko, a Soviet officer of Ukrainian nationality, who claimed to be a Pole, was in command — ineffectively.
The aim of 'Konyk' was probably the staff office of the Polish forces. The Banderites climbed the stairs and probably tried to enter the tenement house through the windows. Polish soldiers defended the entrance to the building with butts and machine gun fire. The Banderites were surrounded. In the morning, 20 Banderites were killed on the stairs. 'Konyk' himself probably died there.
A few hours after the fight, around 11 a.m., shots were fired from the mikveh building, injuring the Polish soldier. A grenade was thrown into the building that killed a UPA teenager. It is possible that not only he survived the hell on the stairs leading to regiment staff office. Anna Karwańska, 'Orski's wife, wrote that after the battle for Bircza, a Bandera man came to her, who said that her husband had died at the beginning of the battle, wounded with a bullet between his eyes. Was it at the beginning of the assault on the staff HQ building, or while breaking the Polish defense at the beginning of the fighting? Probably we'll never find out  […]
Polish defense lines were broken in the vicinity of the Humnicki Palace and the church. It was there that Lt. Witold Grabarczyk directed the mortar fire. In the past, he was a soldier of the 27th Volhynian Division of the Home Army AK, who was also the victim of the communist repressions after 1947. The Banderites, who were approaching the Civic Militia post most likely along the valley carved by the stream near the palace, were forced to retreat.
The Battle of Bircza was won by the Poles. The announced genocide did not take place. To this day, there are witnesses to those events who say that ropes and vodka were found with the bodies of the Bandera followers. Were they supposed to celebrate Eastern Christmas Eve by hanging Lachs (i.e. Poles)? They had announced the destruction of the city and threatened to murder the population.
How many UPA members were killed? In the article «The Tragedy of Bircza» it was stated that 23 Banderites. In my opinion, the number of victims cannot be stated so clearly. Various data appear in the sources. It is possible that 20 Banderites died on the stairs in the center of Bircza, and 10 more bodies were found on the outskirts of the town. Probably some of the fallen were taken by the retreating Banderites. In the study by the Ukrainian historian Eugeniusz Misiło, the number 23 appears, but at least one of the listed Banderites did not die in Bircza. «A lot of Bandera people died in that battle» ‑ the parish chronicle states.
This will always be an unknown. Mr. Karbowiak said that the exhumation revealed that only two skeletons had shown traces of combat wounds. The remaining Banderites were to be taken prisoner and murdered with butts or a shot in the back of the head. The author of the article stated unequivocally that they were murdered after being taken prisoner.
The Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation Rzeszów Branch, i.e. the prosecutor office of the Institute of National Remembrance IPN, stated — unlike Arkadiusz Karbowiak — that it cannot be clearly stated whether the Bandera followers buried in Bircza were murdered after being taken prisoner. The investigation reference number S 2/02/Zk was discontinued «due to the lack of evidence that the UPA members died on January 7, 1947 as a result of torture and execution»  […]
The notes in the parish chronicle state that on the day after the fight, a dozen or so wounded Bandera followers were found in the ditches. Reports of the Polish Armed Forces mention the arrest of several UPA members. Captured Banderites were sent to the division headquarters.
It should be added that the members of the UPA, according to Polish and international law, were not soldiers but terrorists. Most likely, the Banderites' bodies had shoes, trousers, coats, jackets and even underpants removed. Most often, the blood–stained T–shirts were not taken off. In 1946, the material situation of the population was mostly catastrophic, which was largely due to the Banderites. Mr. Karbowiak wrote that the soldiers murdered the peasants from Lachowa and threw them into a mass grave. During the attacks, the UPA, as well as the Polish Army, used peasants as guides. They often died during the exchange of fire, such as the Polish guide during the fights on April 25, 1945 in Jawornik Ruski. Lachowa itself was a place where the UPA battled frequently with the Polish Army. It was there, on April 15, 1945, the commander of the sotnya Mykhailo Duda 'Hromenko' met with Stepan Stebelski 'Chrin' and discussed the plans for the attack on Borownica”.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – January 1946”; in: „Borderlands Information Service” — web page: ksi.btx.pl [accessible: 2021.06.18]

source: Piwowarczyk Grzegorz, „The real tragedy of Bircza”; in: portal: kresy.pl — web page: kresy.pl [accessible: 2018.11.04]

source: „Witness interrogation report”, 12 IV 2002; in: „Investigation into the murder of people of Ukrainian nationality in Bircza in January 1946 files”, Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation Commission Wrocław Branch Commission, in: S 2/02/zk

„During the attack, 5–12 living members of the UPA were captured, who were transferred to the headquarters outside Bircza. The mentioned ones were not included in the UPA report. None of them was judged. The further fate of those mentioned is unknown. Some of the captured Banderites likely died from the wounds sustained during the fight. Perhaps some members of the UPA were handed over to the Soviet authorities or used for intelligence purposes. The investigation conducted by the office of the Commission of Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation Rzeszów Branch of the Institute of National Remembrance IPN denied the possibility of execution of the Banderites in Bircza.
It should be added that in accordance with the applicable Polish and international law, they did not have the status of prisoners of war, some of them wore Polish uniforms. From a legal point of view, they were terrorists.
The Polish side rightly assumed that the losses were greater. It should be presumed that at least 30 Banderites died in Bircza. 28 Banderites killed were buried in a mass grave near the synagogue. At least 22 members of the UPA were injured in the fighting. According to the report, 19 weapons were lost, including two guns. The Polish side had 5 wounded soldiers. Some sources mention one dead, but this information could not be confirmed. The Banderites murdered 5 civilians who were escaping from neighboring villages.
After the fall of communism, Poles and Ukrainians lived in harmony in Bircza and the surrounding towns. However, the issue of attack has returned. On the initiative of the Union of Ukrainians in Poland in the 1990s, the search for the remains of UPA members who died during the attack on the town began. At the same time, the Ukrainian side demanded permission to commemorate the Banderites as Ukrainian soldiers, which caused opposition from residents who lost relatives and property of considerable value during the attacks.
Moreover, it should be remembered that Michał Galo 'Konyk' and Dymitr Karwański 'Orski' served earlier in the ranks of the 14th SS Division. A significant percentage of the UPA members were former Ukrainian policemen in the German service, and attempts were made to present them as heroes (cf: A. Karwańska–Bajak., p. 82 et al.). At the same time, former policemen in Bircza, including commandant Józef Winiarski, received anonymous threats.
In 1999, the remains of 28 participants of the 3rd attack on Bircza were found and exhumed. (cf: OKŚZpNP, S 2/02/zk, Protocol…). Due to the opposition of the Polish inhabitants, they were not buried in Bircza, but in Przemyśl–Pikulice in 2000, next to soldiers of the Ukrainian People's Republic interned by the Republic of Poland, who died during the epidemic at the turn of 1920 and 1921 (cf: A. Karwańska–Bajak…, p. 143 et al.). Due to a warship of UPA members and promotion of nationalist ideas during the so–called procession to the graves of the heroes for a number of years now scuffling between the Poles and Ukrainians take place on the streets of Przemyśl (cf: Report. Ukrainian minority…; M. Dachowicz…).
Protocol from the exhumation of the Banderites in Bircza signed by the archaeologist prof. Andrzej Kol and the anthropologist dr. Andrzej Florkowski, contained a suggestion that members of the UPA in Bircza were murdered in an execution. On the basis of the above–mentioned document, the president of the Union of Ukrainians in Poland reported to the Institute of National Remembrance IPN the possibility of committing a crime consisting in the murder of people of Ukrainian nationality because of their ethnicity. The investigation was conducted by OKŚZpNP IPN in Rzeszów. An independent expert, prof. dr hab. Franciszek Frel from the Jagiellonian University, based on the exhumation documents, decided that he was unable to confirm the version about the execution. The Ukrainian side has not been able to provide any other evidence. The witnesses called stated that they saw the bodies of many dead Banderites immediately after the fight. Investigation nr S 2/02/zk was discontinued on October 11, 2004. The prosecutor, Marek Sowa, decided that it had been necessary to defend the lives of the inhabitants of Bircza. On the other hand, the conclusions as to the enforcement nature of the injuries found on the skeletons are largely unjustified (Prosecution of Crimes against…, S 2/02/zk, Decision…).
For many years, on the anniversary of the first raid, the inhabitants of Bircza have been organizing ceremonies to commemorate the murdered and to commemorate the defenders. The celebrations take place in a solemn and peaceful atmosphere. Around November 8, 2017, new plaques with the names of twenty towns in Volhynia and the Lublin region and in Eastern Lesser Poland were installed on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, where defense against attacks by Ukrainian nationalists took place. Bircza was among them. The unveiling was allegedly made personally by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda. However, the plates were replaced and the inscription 'Bircza 1945–1946' was omitted from the new inscriptions. On November 10, 2017, on the eve of Independence Day, the then Minister of National Defense Antoni Macierewicz unveiled new plaques on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, without Bircza. The above–mentioned activities were noticed and publicized by the Kresy (Borderlands) communities.
The replacement of the plaques was indignantly accepted by the inhabitants of Bircza and the entire province. These sentiments were expressed in resolutions adopted by local governments. The circles of Kresovians, veterans, including soldiers of the 27th Volhynia Division of the Home Army AK, and patriotic organizations spoke in a similar vein. At the same time, accusations of the lack of sovereignty of Polish historical policy were formulated. In response to the interpellation of MPs Piotr Zgorzelski and Mieczysław Kasprzak from the Polish People's Party, the Ministry of National Defense released a note of March 2, 2018, which stated that Bircza was removed from the plaque as a result of the decision of the Minister of National Defense, Antoni Macierewicz. The Ministry also informed that all activities in this case were carried out on the basis of the findings of an expert team consisting of representatives of the Institute of National Remembrance, the Office for Veterans and Victims of Oppression, the Ministry of National Defense, the Military Historical Bureau, the Warsaw Garrison Command, the Polish Army Museum, The World Association of Home Army Soldiers, the Polish Association of Peasants' Battalion Soldiers and the scientific community. At the time of publication of the memo, Antoni Macierewicz was no longer the Minister of National Defense”.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – January 1946”; in: „Borderlands Information Service” — web page: ksi.btx.pl [accessible: 2021.06.18]

source: dr Brożyniak Artur, „The third attack by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army on Bircza on January 6/7, 1946”; in: Listowski Witold (ed.), „OUN-UPA genocide in the South-Eastern Borderlands”, in: Kędzierzyn-Koźle 2018, vol. 10 — web page: kresywekrwi.neon24.pl [accessible: 2018.12.31]

source: Karwańska-Bajlak, „Ukraine, confess”, in: Ukrainian Archives, 2002

source: „Witness interrogation report”, 12 IV 2002; in: „Investigation into the murder of people of Ukrainian nationality in Bircza in January 1946 files”, Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation Commission Wrocław Branch Commission, in: S 2/02/zk, sh. 133—137

source: „Decision of discontinuation of the investigation”, 11 X 2004; in: „Investigation into the murder of people of Ukrainian nationality in Bircza in January 1946 files”, Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation Commission Wrocław Branch Commission, in: S 2/02/zk, vol. 5

source: Tyma Piotr (ed.), „Report. Ukrainian minority and migrants from Ukraine in Poland. Analysis of the discourse”; in: Union of Ukrainians in Poland, in: Warsaw 2018, p. 35 — web page: naszwybir.pl [accessible: 2021.06.18]

source: Machnowicz Dachowicz, „Me – a Russian agent. Make-up removal from Ukraine”; in: „Voice from the San river”, in: No. 29, summer-autumn 2016, p. 44751 — web page: docplayer.pl [accessible: 2021.06.18]

[After the clash at Lachawa on January 1, 1946] a dozen or so arrested residents of Lachawa were sent to the detention center in Bircza, where three of them were killed on January 7 in the morning after the third UPA attack on Bircza, and buried in the pit with fallen UPA soldiers [1]. Two people were beaten so badly that they died on the way back to Lachawa.

source: „The crime in Lachawa”; in: portal: WikipediA — web page: pl.wikipedia.org [accessible: 2021.02.04]

In the village of Bircza, poviat Przemyśl, there is a grave of 6 NN people who died at the hands of the UPA on January 7, 1946.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – January 1946”; in: „Borderlands Information Service” — web page: ksi.btx.pl [accessible: 2021.06.18]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

Excerpt from the situational report of the political clerk of the OUN 'Chłodny Jar' district, Petr Kawuza 'Taras', on the murder of bandits and soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces on Ukrainians in Dobrzanka:
„On January 8, 1946, a group of Polish civilians with the Polish Army, 50 people, arrived in the village of Dobrzanka. A gang fired machine guns at the entrance. Frightened people started to run into the forest. The Poles opened fire on the fleeing people, injuring Volodymyr Ilkiv, 52, and Vasyl Patir, 59. They took both wounded to Bircza, where Patir died as a result of a serious wound”.

source: „Wisti z terenu [za styczeń 1946]”; in: Poticzny P. J., Łyko I. (ed,), „Litopys UPA”, in: Toronto-Lviv 2002, vol. 34: „Lemkivshchyna and Peremyszczyna. Political reports (Documents)”, p. 451, in: orig. Ukrainian

source: Huk Bogdan with a group of friends, „Murders of the Ukrainian population 1944-1947”; in: portal: Ruthenian apocrypha — web page: www.apokryfruski.org [accessible: 2021.09.30]

In the town of Bircza, poviat Przemyśl, Polish Army soldier Wojciechowski Bolesław, born on 1924, who died at the hands of the UPA in defense of the Polish population, has a grave at the municipal cemetery.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – May 1946 and Spring of 1946”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.06.10]

Near the town of Bircza, poviat Przemyśl, Andrzej Sroka, b. 1912, policeman, was murdered by the UPA.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – June 1946”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.06.10]

In the town of Bircza, poviat Przemyśl, the UPA kidnapped a Pole who has gone missing; there is a grave in the cemetery of Jarocki Antoni, born 1901, who died at the hands of the UPA on June 30, 1946.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – June 1946”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.06.10]

In the town of Bircza, poviat Przemyśl, there is a grave of Kołacz Tadeusz b. 1923, who was murdered by the UPA in the spring of 1946.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – May 1946 and Spring of 1946”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2021.06.10]

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

A soldier of the Polish Army, Kulian Antoni, b. 1926, who died in defense of the Polish population on July 17, 1946, has a grave in the cemetery.

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – July 1946”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2022.02.24]

There is a grave of 12 Polish Army soldiers at the municipal cemetery: Adamski Władysław b. 1923, Jarzecki Henryk b. 1923, Jegier Marian b. 1923, Mika Jan b. 1922 Mizgier Jerzy b. 1924, Piętka Józef b. 1924, Purwin Józef b. 1924, Rynkiewicz Józef b. 1923, Wardak Jan b. 1925, Wojciechowski Stanisław b. 1923, Wojciuszkiewicz Józef b. 1924, Ziała Cezary b. 1924 who died in the defense of the Polish population on July 24, 1946.

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – July 1946”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2022.02.24]

In the local cemetery there are graves of 3 Polish Army soldiers murdered by the UPA on August 24, 1945: Dybalski Aleksander b. 1924, Gabrysałowicz Wacław b. 1925, Ziała Cezary b. 1924.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – August 1946”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2022.02.25]

Nachman Albin, b. 1921, murdered by the UPA, and an NN soldier of the Polish Army, who died at the hands of the UPA on November 8, 1946, have graves in Bircza.

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – November 1946 and Autumnof 1946”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2022.02.27]

[In the village] there is a grave of Pacławski Stanisław b. 1914, who was murdered by the UPA in 1946.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – December 1946 and in 1946”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2022.02.28]

The soldiers of the Polish Army have their graves in the cemetery: Bednarek Stanisław b. 1924, Matuszewski Tadeusz b.1925 and Pakuła Józef b. 1922, who died at the hands of the UPA on March 4, 1947.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – year 1947”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2022.03.02]

Bojanowski Zbigniew, b. 1926, a soldier of the Polish Army, has a grave at the cemetery, died at the hands of the UPA on April 5, 1947 (Holy Saturday).

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – year 1947”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2022.03.02]

At the municipal cemetery there are graves of two civilian Poles who died at the hands of the UPA on April 14, 1947; they are: Pietrzak Henryk b. 1924 and Sokołowski Stefan b. 1923.

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – year 1947”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2022.03.02]

[Here] there is a grave of a Polish Army soldier Węglicki Stefan, b. 1925, who died in defense of the Polish population.

source: web page: w.kki.com.pl [accessible: 2020.10.12]

source: Żurek Stanisław, „Calendar of the genocide – year 1947”; in: portal: Volhynia — web page: wolyn.org [accessible: 2022.03.02]