Roman Catholic
St Sigismund parish
05-507 Słomczyn
85 Wiślana Str.
Konstancin deanery
Warsaw archdiocese, Poland
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Martyrology of the clergy — Poland
XX century (1914 – 1989)
personal data
surname
GEPPERT
forename(s)
Ignatius (pl. Ignacy)
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]
RC Military Ordinariate of Polandmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2014.12.20]
date and place
of death
21.07.1942
KL Dachauconcentration camp
today: Dachau, Upper Bavaria reg., Bavaria state, Germany
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2016.05.30]
details of death
After the abdication on 09.11.1918 of the German Emperor William II Hohenzollern; after the armistice and ceasefire between the Allies and Germany, signed on 11.11.1918 in the staff wagon in Compiègne, at the headquarters of French Marshal Ferdinand Foch — which de facto meant the end of World War I; after the handover on 11.11.1918 by the Regency Council, established by the Germans, operating in the territory occupied by Germany and Austria–Hungary, of the so‐called Germ. Königreich Polen (Eng. Kingdom of Poland), supreme authority over the army to Brigadier Joseph Piłsudski and appointing him Commander‐in‐Chief of the Polish Army — which de facto meant the rebirth of the Polish state, encompassing only the area of Germ. Königreich Polen, i.e. the Polish territory which had been under Russian rule until 1915, and did not include the lands of the Prussian partition, which were still under German control; prob. co‐founder and activist of the Polish District People's Council in Mogilno (the parish priest of his parish, Fr Joseph Kurzawski, became its chairman). In 1919, liaison officer of the Supreme People's Council in Poznań — during the Polish District Parliament (Seym) in Poznań on 03‐05.12.1918, whose participants were representatives of the Polish lands in the Prussian partition and who expressed the will to create a united Polish state with access to the sea, the Supreme People's Council was recognised as the legal Polish state authority — at the Supreme Command of the Polish Army in Warsaw, established on 13.02.1919, when the Greater Poland Uprising of 1918‐1919 was at its peak. Prob. remained at the Polish Army Bishop's Curia also after 19.08.1919, when the Supreme People's Council ceased its activity — the armistice in Trier on 16.02.1919, which ended the Uprising, forced by the victorious Entente states, recognized the Polish insurgent Greater Poland Army as an allied army and set a border that „German troops were forbidden to cross”, leaving Greater Poland (including Mogilno and the surrounding area) beyond their influence; however, it was only the Treaty of Versailles, concluded on 28.06.1919 (after ratifications it came into force on 10.01.1920), that formally awarded Greater Poland to Poland — recognizing the Polish government in Warsaw as its continuation.
From 30.07.1920, during the Polish–Russian War of 1919‐1921, formally a chaplain of the Polish Army — became the head of the pastoral service of the 8th Infantry Division. The Division was retreating from Belarus at that time, under pressure from the Russian offensive, on the line Ciechanowiec – Małkinia near Ostrów Mazowiecka – Rembertów near Warsaw. During the decisive Battle of Warsaw on c. 15.08.1920 (known as the „Miracle on the Vistula”), the Division defended the Warsaw bridgehead — it took part in the Battle of Radzymin, stopping the Russian attack near Ossów. The Polish counter–offensive began, during which on 17‐25.08.1920 the Division covered c. 160 km, chasing the Russians north, towards the Liwiec River, Ostrołęka (recaptured on 23.08.1920) and Łomża, and then the border with German East Prussia, where a large part of the Russian units escaped and were interned.
After the Russian defeat, the Division was transferred to Eastern Lesser Poland, to the Swirzh – Halych section. From there, it began pushing the Russians out of Eastern Galicia to the east. During the battle, the 3rd Battalion of the 13th Infantry Regiment, part of the 8th Division, took part in the Battle of Dytiatyn on 16.09.1920, which became to be known as the Polish Thermopylae — 600 Polish soldiers repelled 5 attacks in a day, engaging two Russian brigades with 1,800 soldiers.
After German invasion of Poland on 01.09.1939 (Russians invaded Poland 17 days later) and start of the World War II arrested by the Germans on 15.09.1939 (according to other sources already on 02.09.1939).
Held in Albatros transit camp in Piła.
Next on 21‐23.09.1939 transported to KL Dachau concentration camp.
Three days later, on 26/27.09.1939 transported to KL Buchenwald concentration camp slaved in quarries.
Finally on 06‐08.12.1940 taken back to KL Dachau where perished at slave work toiling at Germ. „Die Plantage” (Eng. „herb garden”).
prisoner camp's numbers
35806,21861Click to display source page (KL DachauClick to display the description), 35806, 2630Click to display source page (KL BuchenwaldClick to display the description)
cause of death
extermination: exhaustion and starvation
perpetrators
Germans
sites and events
KL DachauClick to display the description, KL BuchenwaldClick to display the description, ZL AlbatrosClick to display the description, «Intelligenzaktion»Click to display the description, Ribbentrop‐MolotovClick to display the description, Pius XI's encyclicalsClick to display the description, Polish‐Russian war of 1919‐1921Click to display the description, Greater Poland UprisingClick to display the description
date and place
of birth
20.01.1884
Padniewotoday: Mogilno gm., Mogilno pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18]
presbyter (holy orders)
ordination
22.01.1911 (Gnieznotoday: Gniezno urban gm., Gniezno pov., Greater Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18])
positions held
1921 – 1939
parish priest — Nakło nad Noteciątoday: Nakło nad Notecią gm., Nakło nad Notecią pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.27] ⋄ St Lawrence the Deacon and Martyr RC parish ⋄ Nakło nad Noteciątoday: Nakło nad Notecią gm., Nakło nad Notecią pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.27] RC deanery — also: member of the Council of Parish Priests–Consultors of the Bishop's Curia in Gniezno (c. 1930‐ 1939), county inspector of religion classes in elementary schools (c. 1932 ‐1939), chairman of the Town Council in Nakło, member of the Town Council in Nakło (from c. 1924), chairman of the local Polish Red Cross PCK organization, deputy president of the Charles Marcinkowski's Scientific Aid Society
1925 – 1939
parish priest — Nakło nad Noteciątoday: Nakło nad Notecią gm., Nakło nad Notecią pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.27] ⋄ St Stanislav the Bishop and Martyr RC parish ⋄ Nakło nad Noteciątoday: Nakło nad Notecią gm., Nakło nad Notecią pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.27] RC deanery — acting („ad interim”)
chaplain — Bydgoszcztoday: Bydgoszcz city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.20] ⋄ prison
1920 – 1921
RC military chaplain — Polish Armed Forces — in 1919 liaison officer of the Supreme People's Council in Poznań at the Supreme Command of the Polish Army and the Polish Army's Bishop Curia in Warsaw; till c. 01.1921, head of the pastoral service of the 8th Infantry Division; formally accepted into the Polish Army as a chaplain by L. 2238 decree of the Commander‐in‐Chief of 30.07.1920; in 1921 transferred to the reserves of the Polish Army; verified as a senior chaplain with the rank of major
1915 – c. 1919
vicar — Pakośćtoday: Pakość gm., Inowrocław pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18] ⋄ St Bonaventure Bishop and Confessor RC parish ⋄ Żnintoday: Żnin gm., Żnin pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.20] RC deanery
1912 – 1915
vicar — Inowrocławtoday: Inowrocław gm., Inowrocław pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18] ⋄ St Nicholas the Bishop and Confessor RC parish (main parish) ⋄ Inowrocławtoday: Inowrocław gm., Inowrocław pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18] RC deanery — also: prefect of elementary schools, chaplain of the scouting movement
1912
vicar — Ostrowo nad Gopłemtakże: Ostrowo
today: Kruszwica gm., Inowrocław pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
pl.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.09.18] ⋄ St Matthew the Apostle RC parish ⋄ Kruszwicatoday: Kruszwica gm., Inowrocław pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18] RC deanery
1911 – 1912
vicar — Strzelnotoday: Strzelno gm., Mogilno pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18] ⋄ Holy Trinity RC parish ⋄ Kruszwicatoday: Kruszwica gm., Inowrocław pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18] RC deanery
1911
vicar — Ostrowo nad Gopłemtakże: Ostrowo
today: Kruszwica gm., Inowrocław pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
pl.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.09.18] ⋄ St Matthew the Apostle RC parish ⋄ Kruszwicatoday: Kruszwica gm., Inowrocław pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18] RC deanery
1911
vicar — Parchanietoday: Dąbrowa Biskupia gm., Inowrocław pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18] ⋄ St Adalbert the Bishop and Martyr RC parish ⋄ Gniewkowotoday: Gniewkowo gm., Inowrocław pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.27] RC deanery
till 1911
student — Gnieznotoday: Gniezno urban gm., Gniezno pov., Greater Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18] ⋄ philosophy and theology, Archbishop's Practical Theological Seminary (Lat. Seminarium Clericorum Practicum)
from 1907
student — Poznańtoday: Poznań city pov., Greater Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18] ⋄ philosophy and theology, Archbishop's Theological Seminary (Collegium Leoninum)
1906 – 1907
student — Wrocławtoday: Wrocław city pov., Lower Silesia voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.04.02] ⋄ University of Wrocław [i.e. University of Wrocław (since 1945) / Frederic Wilhelm University of Silesia (1911‐1945) / Royal University i.e. Breslau Academy (1816‐1911)] — prob.; one‐year history study
historian and writer, co‐founder and editor of „Bydgosz Review” (1933‐1939), author of several essays, including „Democratic–national party in the light of Catholic teaching”, „Life and deeds of St Adalbert”, „The history of the land of Nakło until the first partition of Poland”, Nakło 1926, collections of homilies „Died and was buried”, „Sketches from Lent reflections”; collaborator of „New Preaching Library”
membership — Poznańtoday: Poznań city pov., Greater Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18] ⋄ Friends of Sciences Society
sites and events
descriptions
KL Dachau: KL Dachau in German Bavaria, set up in 1933, became the main German Germ. Konzentrationslager (Eng. concentration camp) KL for Catholic priests and religious during World War II: On c. 09.11.1940, Reichsführer‐SS Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, Gestapo and German police, as a result of the Vatican's intervention, decided to transfer all clergymen detained in various concentration camps to KL Dachau camp. The first major transports took place on 08.12.1940. In KL Dachau Germans held approx. 3,000 priests, including 1,800 Poles. The priests were forced to slave labor in the Germ. „Die Plantage” — the largest herb garden in Europe, managed by the genocidal SS, consisting of many greenhouses, laboratory buildings and arable land, where experiments with new natural medicines were conducted — for many hours, without breaks, without protective clothing, no food. They slaved in construction, e.g. of camp's crematorium. In the barracks ruled hunger, freezing cold in the winter and suffocating heat during the summer, especially acute in 1941‐1942. Prisoners suffered from bouts of illnesses, including tuberculosis. Many were victims of murderous „medical experiments” — in 11.1942 c. 20 were given phlegmon injections; in 07.1942 to 05.1944 c. 120 were used by for malaria experiments. More than 750 Polish clerics where murdered by the Germans, some brought to Schloss Hartheim euthanasia centre and murdered in gas chambers. At its peak KL Dachau concentration camps’ system had nearly 100 slave labour sub‐camps located throughout southern Germany and Austria. There were c. 32,000 documented deaths at the camp, and thousands perished without a trace. C. 10,000 of the 30,000 inmates were found sick at the time of liberation, on 29.04.1945, by the USA troops… (more on: www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.deClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.08.10], en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2016.05.30])
KL Buchenwald: In German Germ. Konzentrationslager (Eng. concentration camp) KL Buchenwald concentration camp, founded in 1937 and operational till 1945, Germans held c. 238,380 prisoners and murdered approx. 56,000 of them, among them thousands of Poles. Prisoners were victims of pseudo‐scientific experiments, conducted among others by Behring‐Werke from Marburg and Robert Koch Institute from Berlin companies. They slaved for Gustloff in Weimar and Fritz‐Sauckel companies manufacturing armaments. To support Erla‐Maschinenwerk GmbH in Leipzig, Junkers in Schönebeck (airplanes) and Rautal in Wernigerode Germans organized special sub‐camps. In 1945 there were more than 100 such sub‐camps. Dora concentration camp was initially one of them, as well as KL Ravensbrück sub‐camps (from 08.1944). On 08.04.1945 Polish prisoner, Mr Guido Damazyn, used clandestinely constructed short wave transmitter to sent, together with a Russian prisoner, a short message begging for help. It was received and he got a reply: „KZ Bu. Hold out. Rushing to your aid. Staff of Third Army” (American). Three days later the camp was liberated. (more on: www.buchenwald.deClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.08.10], en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.08.10])
ZL Albatros: German transit Germ. Zivilgefangenenlager (Eng. camp for civilians) in Piła, operational in 09‐12.1939, mainly for Polish teachers and religious, who were treated especially rough, before transporting them to KL Sachsenhausen concentration camp, and for Jews. Prisoners were forced to slave in German manufacturing plants and local farms. Altogether more than 500 Poles were held captive there. (more on: pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.11.17])
«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])
Ribbentrop‐Molotov: Genocidal Russian‐German alliance pact between Russian leader Joseph Stalin and German leader Adolf Hitler signed on 23.08.1939 in Moscow by respective foreign ministers, Mr. Vyacheslav Molotov for Russia and Joachim von Ribbentrop for Germany. The pact sanctioned and was the direct cause of joint Russian and German invasion of Poland and the outbreak of the World War II in 09.1939. In a political sense, the pact was an attempt to restore the status quo ante before 1914, with one exception, namely the „commercial” exchange of the so‐called „Kingdom of Poland”, which in 1914 was part of the Russian Empire, fore Eastern Galicia (today's western Ukraine), in 1914 belonging to the Austro‐Hungarian Empire. Galicia, including Lviv, was to be taken over by the Russians, the „Kingdom of Poland” — under the name of the General Governorate — Germany. The resultant „war was one of the greatest calamities and dramas of humanity in history, for two atheistic and anti‐Christian ideologies — national and international socialism — rejected God and His fifth Decalogue commandment: Thou shall not kill!” (Abp Stanislav Gądecki, 01.09.2019). The decisions taken — backed up by the betrayal of the formal allies of Poland, France and Germany, which on 12.09.1939, at a joint conference in Abbeville, decided not to provide aid to attacked Poland and not to take military action against Germany (a clear breach of treaty obligations with Poland) — were on 28.09.1939 slightly altered and made more precise when a treaty on „German‐Russian boundaries and friendship” was agreed by the same murderous signatories. One of its findings was establishment of spheres of influence in Central and Eastern Europe and in consequence IV partition of Poland. In one of its secret annexes agreed, that: „the Signatories will not tolerate on its respective territories any Polish propaganda that affects the territory of the other Side. On their respective territories they will suppress all such propaganda and inform each other of the measures taken to accomplish it”. The agreements resulted in a series of meeting between two genocidal organization representing both sides — German Gestapo and Russian NKVD when coordination of efforts to exterminate Polish intelligentsia and Polish leading classes (in Germany called «Intelligenzaktion», in Russia took the form of Katyń massacres) where discussed. Resulted in deaths of hundreds of thousands of Polish intelligentsia, including thousands of priests presented here, and tens of millions of ordinary people,. The results of this Russian‐German pact lasted till 1989 and are still in evidence even today. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30])
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])
Polish‐Russian war of 1919‐1921: War for independence of Poland and its borders. Poland regained independence in 1918 but had to fight for its borders with former imperial powers, in particular Russia. Russia planned to incite Bolshevik‐like revolutions in the Western Europe and thus invaded Poland. Russian invaders were defeated in 08.1920 in a battle called Warsaw battle („Vistula river miracle”, one of the 10 most important battles in history, according to some historians). Thanks to this victory Poland recaptured part of the lands lost during partitions of Poland in XVIII century, and Europe was saved from the genocidal Communism. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2014.12.20])
Greater Poland Uprising: Military insurrection of Poles of former German Germ. Posen Provinz (Eng. Poznań province) launched against German Reich in 1918‐1919 — after the abdication on 09.11.1918 of the German Emperor William II Hohenzollern; after the armistice between the Allies and Germany signed on 11.1.1918 in the HQ wagon in Compiègne, the headquarters of Marshal of France Ferdinand Foch — which de facto meant the end of World War I — against the German Weimar Republic, established on the ruins of the German Empire, aiming to incorporate lands captured by Prussia during partitions of Poland in XVIII century into Poland. The Republic of Poland, reborn on 11.11.1918, initially formally included only the so‐called Germ. Königreich Polen (Eng. Kingdom of Poland), i.e. the territory that had been under Russian rule until 1915 and then under the control of Central States (Germany and Austria–Hungary), but did not include the Prussian partition. Started on 27.12.1918 in Poznań and ended on 16.02.1919 with the armistice pact in Trier, forced by the victorious Entente states, which included provisions ordering Germany to cease operations against Poland and, importantly, recognizing the Polish insurgent Greater Poland Army as an allied armed force of the Entente. De facto it turned out to be a Polish victory, confirmed in the main peace treaty after World War I, the Treaty of Versailles of 28.06.1919, which came into force on 10.01.1920 and in which most of the lands of the Prussian partition were recognized as Polish. Many Polish priests took part in the Uprising, both as chaplains of the insurgents units and members and leaders of the Polish agencies and councils set up in the areas covered by the Uprising. In 1939 after German invasion of Poland and start of the World War II those priests were particularly persecuted by the Germans and majority of them were murdered. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2016.08.14])
sources
personal:
www.wtg-gniazdo.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.11.23], www.eduteka.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.06.23], arolsen-archives.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.10.13], www.ipgs.usClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.11.23]
original images:
fotopolska.euClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.06.23], kujawyzachodnie.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30]
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