function

diocesan priest

creed

Latin (Roman Catholic) Church RCmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2014.09.21]

diocese / province

Gniezno and Poznań archdiocese (aeque principaliter)more on
www.archpoznan.pl
[access: 2012.11.23]

honorary titles

„Medal of Independence”more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2019.02.02]

date and place
of death

04.04.1940

KL Stutthofconcentration camp
today: Sztutowo, Sztutowo gm., Nowy Dwór Gdański pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.09]

alt. dates and places
of death

12.03.1940

details of death

prisoner camp's numbers

8821Click to display source page (KL StutthofClick to display the description)

cause of death

extermination: murder / exhaustion

perpetrators

Germans

sites and events

KL StutthofClick to display the description, ZL NeufahrwasserClick to display the description, IL Fort VII ThornClick to display the description, «Intelligenzaktion»Click to display the description, Reichsgau Danzig‐WestpreußenClick to display the description, Pius XI's encyclicalsClick to display the description, Pius XI's encyclicalsClick to display the description

date and place
of birth

13.09.1876

Wielkie Stwolnotoday: Dragacz gm., Świecie pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]

alt. dates and places
of birth

13.12.1876

Polskie Stwolnotoday: Dragacz gm., Świecie pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
pl.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.07.31]

presbyter (holy orders)
ordination

15.12.1901 (Gnieznotoday: Gniezno urban gm., Gniezno pov., Greater Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18])

positions held

others related
in death

BOLTClick to display biography Felix, BORKOWSKIClick to display biography Paul, BRUDNICKIClick to display biography Alexander, BRZEZIŃSKIClick to display biography Paul John, CZAPLEWSKIClick to display biography John Bruno, FARULEWSKIClick to display biography Thaddeus, GÓRECKIClick to display biography Marian, GRABOWSKI–WIDŁAKClick to display biography Casimir, GUMPERTClick to display biography Steven Edward, KALINOWSKIClick to display biography Anthony, KARBAUMClick to display biography Ernest, KOMOROWSKIClick to display biography Bronislav, KREFFTClick to display biography Constantine Francis, KUBICKIClick to display biography Telesphorus, LESIŃSKIClick to display biography Alex, LESIŃSKIClick to display biography John, ŁĘGOWSKIClick to display biography Vladislav Leonard, MALINOWSKIClick to display biography Thaddeus, MAŁKOWSKIClick to display biography Julius, MAŃKOWSKIClick to display biography Alphonse, MATERNICKIClick to display biography Vladislav, MAZELLAClick to display biography John, NIEMIRClick to display biography Joseph, OSSOWSKIClick to display biography Valerian, POŁOMSKIClick to display biography Leo, RODZIŃSKAClick to display biography Stanislava (Sr Mary Julia), ROGACZEWSKIClick to display biography Francis, RÓŻYCKIClick to display biography Mieczyslav, RYGLEWICZClick to display biography John, SĄDECKIClick to display biography Bernard, SARNOWSKIClick to display biography Joseph, SCHULZClick to display biography Alphonse Vaclav, SEPEŁOWSKIClick to display biography Vaclav, SMOLEŃSKIClick to display biography Bronislav, SROKAClick to display biography Leo Florian, SZWEDOWSKIClick to display biography Ignatius Mieczyslav, SZYMAŃSKIClick to display biography John Damasus, SZYMAŃSKIClick to display biography Vladislav, WIECKIClick to display biography Bernard Anthony, WILMOWSKIClick to display biography John

sites and events
descriptions

KL Stutthof: In German Germ. Konzentrationslager (Eng. concentration camp) KL Stutthof (then in Eastern Prussian belonging to Germany, today: Sztutowo village) concentration camp, that Germans started to build on 02.09.1939, a day after German invasion of Poland and start of the World War II, Germans held c. 110,000‐127,000 prisoners from 28 countries, including 49,000 women and children. C. 65,000 victims were murdered and exterminated. In the period of 25.01‐27.04.1945 in the face of approaching Russian army Germans evacuated the camp. When on 09.05.1945 Russians soldiers entered the camp only 100 prisoners were still there. In an initial period (1939‐1940) Polish Catholic priests from Pomerania were held captive there before being transported to KL Dachau concentration camp. Some of them were murdered in KL Stutthof or vicinity (for instance in Stegna forest). Also later some Catholic priests were held in KL Stutthof. (more on: stutthof.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2018.11.18], en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.07.06])

ZL Neufahrwasser: Germ. Zivilgefangenenlager (Eng. POW camp for civilians) organized by the Germans on the day of the outbreak of the war, on 01.09. 1939, in Gdańsk ‐ Nowy Port (New Port), in former artillery barracks belonging to Poland, for Poles from Pomerania arrested as part of the «Intelligenzaktion» action — extermination of Polish intelligentsia. Prisoners from ZL Neufahrwasser — 2,702 people were identified, but it is estimated that c. 10,000 arrestees passed through the camp — were sent to the KL Stutthof concentration camp or directly to the places of extermination. The camp operated till 01.04.1940 (more on: stutthof.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.08.10], ofiaromwojny.republika.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.12.04])

IL Fort VII Thorn: Germ. „Internierungslager” (Eng. „Internment camp”) organized by the Germans on c. 15.10.1939 in Toruń, in the Fort VII artillery fort built in the years 1879‐1883 on a pentagonal plan, the last main fort of the Toruń fortress. Initially managed by Wehrmacht soldiers, but on 26.10.1939, taken over by members of the genocidal German paramilitary organization Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz. As part of the «Intelligenzaktion» operation, the extermination of the Polish intelligentsia of Pomerania, Polish citizens of Toruń and the surrounding area, men and women, were detained there. At one time, from 700 to 1,500 people, considered „politically suspect Polish elements”, were held captive — 50‐80 prisoners in each cell intended for 6‐12 people. In total, c. 3,000 Poles were to pass through the camp. Detainees were tortured, physically and mentally. More than 1,500 people were shot in the Barbarka and Przysieka forests. The rest, c. 600 people, were in 01.1940 transported to the KL Stutthof concentration camp. At the end of 01.1940, the camp was moved to nearby Fort VIII, where it operated until 07.1940. (more on: pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.08.10])

«Intelligenzaktion»: (Eng. „Action Intelligentsia”) — extermination program of Polish elites, mainly intelligentsia, executed by the Germans right from the start of the occupation in 09.1939 till around 05.1940, mainly on the lands directly incorporated into Germany but also in the so‐called Germ. Generalgouvernement (Eng. General Governorate) where it was called «AB‐aktion». During the first phase right after start of German occupation of Poland implemented as Germ. Unternehmen „Tannenberg” (Eng. „Tannenberg operation”) — plan based on proscription lists of Poles worked out by (Germ. Sonderfahndungsbuch Polen), regarded by Germans as specially dangerous to the German Reich. List contained names of c. 61,000 Poles. Altogether during this genocide Germans methodically murdered c. 50,000 teachers, priests, landowners, social and political activists and retired military. Further 50,000 were sent to concentration camps where most of them perished. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2014.10.04])

Reichsgau Danzig‐Westpreußen: After the Polish defeat in the 09.1939 campaign, which was the result of the Ribbentrop‐Molotov Pact and constituted the first stage of World War II, and the beginning of German occupation in part of Poland (in the other, eastern part of Poland, the Russian occupation began), the Germans divided the occupied Polish territory into five main regions (and a few smaller). The largest one was transformed into Germ. Generalgouvernement (Eng. General Governorate), intended exclusively for Poles and Jews and constituting part of the so‐called Germ. Großdeutschland (Eng. Greater Germany). Two were added to existing German provinces. From two other separate new provinces were created. Vistula Pomerania region was one of them, incorporated into Germany on 08.10.1939, by decree of the German leader Adolf Hitler (formally came into force on 26.10.1939), and on 02.11.1939 transformed into the Germ. Reichsgau Danzig‐Westpreußen (Eng. Reich District of Gdańsk‐West Prussia) province, in which the law of the German state was to apply. The main axis of the policy of the new province, the territory of which the Germans recognized as the Germ. „Ursprünglich Deutsche” (Eng. „natively German”), despite the fact that 85% of its inhabitants were Poles, was Germ. „Entpolonisierung” (Eng. „Depolonisation”), i.e. forced Germanization. C. 60,000 Poles were murdered in 1939‐1940, as part of the Germ. „Intelligenzaktion”, i.e. extermination of Polish intelligentsia and ruling classes, in c. 432 places of mass executions — including c. 220 Polish Catholic priests. The same number were sent to German concentration camps, from where few returned (over 300 priests were arrested, of whom c. 130 died in concentration camps). C. 124,000‐170,000 were displaced, including c. 90,000 to the Germ. Generalgouvernement. Poles were forced en masse to sign the German nationality list, the Germ. Deutsche Volksliste DVL. Polish children could only learn in German. It was forbidden to use the Polish language during Catholic Holy Masses and during confession. Polish landed estates were confiscated..To further reduce the number of the Polish population, Poles were sent to forced labor deep inside Germany. The remaining Poles were treated as low‐skilled labor, isolated from the Germans and strictly controlled — legally, three or three of them could only meet together, even in their own apartments. Many were conscripted into the German Wehrmacht army. After the end of hostilities of World War II, the overseer of this province, the Germ. Reichsstatthalter (Eng. Reich Governor) and the Germ. Gauleiter (Eng. district head) of the German National Socialist Party, Albert Maria Forster, was executed. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2024.06.24])

Pius XI's encyclicals: Facing the creation of two totalitarian systems in Europe, which seemed to compete with each other, though there were more similarities than contradictions between them, Pope Pius XI issued in 03.1937 (within 5 days) two encyclicals. In the „Mit brennender Sorge” (Eng. „With Burning Concern”) published on 14.03.1938, condemned the national socialism prevailing in Germany. The Pope wrote: „Whoever, following the old Germanic‐pre‐Christian beliefs, puts various impersonal fate in the place of a personal God, denies the wisdom of God and Providence […], whoever exalts earthly values: race or nation, or state, or state system, representatives of state power or other fundamental values of human society, […] and makes them the highest standard of all values, including religious ones, and idolizes them, this one […] is far from true faith in God and from a worldview corresponding to such faith”. On 19.03.1937, published „Divini Redemptoris” (Eng. „Divine Redeemer”), in which criticized Russian communism, dialectical materialism and the class struggle theory. The Pope wrote: „Communism deprives man of freedom, and therefore the spiritual basis of all life norms. It deprives the human person of all his dignity and any moral support with which he could resist the onslaught of blind passions […] This is the new gospel that Bolshevik and godless communism preaches as a message of salvation and redemption of humanity”… Pius XI demanded that the established human law be subjected to the natural law of God , recommended the implementation of the ideal of a Christian state and society, and called on Catholics to resist. Two years later, National Socialist Germany and Communist Russia came together and started World War II. (more on: www.vatican.vaClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2023.05.28], www.vatican.vaClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2023.05.28])

Pius XI's encyclicals: Facing the creation of two totalitarian systems in Europe, which seemed to compete with each other, though there were more similarities than contradictions between them, Pope Pius XI issued in 03.1937 (within 5 days) two encyclicals. In the „Mit brennender Sorge” (Eng. „With Burning Concern”) published on 14.03.1938, condemned the national socialism prevailing in Germany. The Pope wrote: „Whoever, following the old Germanic‐pre‐Christian beliefs, puts various impersonal fate in the place of a personal God, denies the wisdom of God and Providence […], whoever exalts earthly values: race or nation, or state, or state system, representatives of state power or other fundamental values of human society, […] and makes them the highest standard of all values, including religious ones, and idolizes them, this one […] is far from true faith in God and from a worldview corresponding to such faith”. On 19.03.1937, published „Divini Redemptoris” (Eng. „Divine Redeemer”), in which criticized Russian communism, dialectical materialism and the class struggle theory. The Pope wrote: „Communism deprives man of freedom, and therefore the spiritual basis of all life norms. It deprives the human person of all his dignity and any moral support with which he could resist the onslaught of blind passions […] This is the new gospel that Bolshevik and godless communism preaches as a message of salvation and redemption of humanity”… Pius XI demanded that the established human law be subjected to the natural law of God , recommended the implementation of the ideal of a Christian state and society, and called on Catholics to resist. Two years later, National Socialist Germany and Communist Russia came together and started World War II. (more on: www.vatican.vaClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2023.05.28], www.vatican.vaClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2023.05.28])

sources

personal:
pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.11.23], www.opatrznosc.gda.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.01.13], www.niedziela.diecezja.torun.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.01.13], stutthof.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.10.05]
bibliographical:
„Martyrology of the Polish Roman Catholic clergy under nazi occupation in 1939‐1945”, Victor Jacewicz, John Woś, vol. I‐V, Warsaw Theological Academy, 1977‐1981
original images:
toruniarnia.blogspot.comClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30], toruniarnia.blogspot.comClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30], toruniarnia.blogspot.comClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30], www.panoramio.comClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2014.11.02], torunskiecmentarze.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30]