• OUR LADY of CZĘSTOCHOWA: st Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionOUR LADY of CZĘSTOCHOWA
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
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Roman Catholic
St Sigismund parish
05-507 Słomczyn
85 Wiślana Str.
Konstancin deanery
Warsaw archdiocese, Poland

  • St SIGISMUND: St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
  • St SIGISMUND: XIX c., feretory, St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    XIX c., feretory
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
  • St SIGISMUND: XIX c., feretory, St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    XIX c., feretory
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
  • St SIGISMUND: XIX c., feretory, St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    XIX c., feretory
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
  • St SIGISMUND: XIX c., feretory, St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    XIX c., feretory
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
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Martyrology of the clergy — Poland

XX century (1914 – 1989)

personal data

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  • GRABOWSKI Silvester, source: www.facebook.com, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOGRABOWSKI Silvester
    source: www.facebook.com
    own collection
  • GRABOWSKI Silvester, source: pliki.divart.pl, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOGRABOWSKI Silvester
    source: pliki.divart.pl
    own collection

surname

GRABOWSKI

surname
versions/aliases

GRABOWSKI-CIEMLADA

forename(s)

Silvester (pl. Sylwester)

  • GRABOWSKI Silvester - Commemorative plaque, porch, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven cathedral, Pelplin, source: own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOGRABOWSKI Silvester
    Commemorative plaque, porch, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven cathedral, Pelplin
    source: own collection

function

diocesan priest

creed

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

diocese / province

Culm (Chełmno) diocesemore on
pl.wikipedia.org
[access: 2012.11.23]

Military Ordinariate of Polandmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2014.12.20]

honorary titles

Cross of Valourmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2019.04.16]

date and place
of death

10.1939

VSH Karlshoftemporary custody
today: Karolewo, Więcbork gm., Sępólno Krajeńskie pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland

more on
pl.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.07.31]

alt. dates and places
of death

VSH Resmintemporary custody
today: Radzim, Kamień Krajeński gm., Sępólno Krajeńskie pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland

more on
pl.wikipedia.org
[access: 2017.01.21]

KL Stutthofconcentration camp
today: Sztutowo, Sztutowo gm., Nowy Dwór Gdański pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland

more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.09]

details of death

During German occupation (Prussian partition of Poland), while studying at the Germ. Königliches Gymnasium (Eng. Royal Gymnasium) in Wejherowo, member of the Polish clandestine student self–education organization Pomeranian Philomaths.

In 1914, after start of the World War I drafted into German army as a chaplain. Among others was the parish priest of the garrison parish in Grudziądz.

After the rebirth of the Poland in 11.1918 became the chaplain of the newly established Pomeranian Rifle Division of the Polish Army (in 03.1920 renamed the 16th Pomeranian Infantry Division). Took part with it in the Polish–Russian war of 1919‐1921 (units of the division took part in the Kiev expedition in 05.1920, defense of the village of Borujki in 06.1920, in the so‐called Warsaw Battle — Miracle on the Vistula — started on c. 15.08.1920, in pursuit of the retreating Russians, in the middle section of the front — n. Drohiczyn, Chomsk, Nyasvizh — in 09.1920).

In 1921 left the army in the rank of lieutenant colonel.

After German and Russian invasion of Poland in 09.1939 and start of the World War II, after start of German occupation, arrested by the Germans in 09.1939 (or on c. 28.10.1939).

Held in VSH Karlshof custody.

Murdered there, in a nearby forest or gravel pit.

alt. details of death

According to some sources murdered in VSH Resmin custody, according to some others in KL Stutthof concentration camp.

cause of death

mass murder

perpetrators

Germans

sites and events

VSH KarlshofClick to display the description, VSH ResminClick to display the description, KL StutthofClick 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, Polish‐Russian war of 1919‐1921Click to display the description, Pomeranian PhilomathsClick to display the description

date and place
of birth

31.12.1887

Grabowo Parchowskietoday: Parchowo gm., Bytów pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.29]

presbyter (holy orders)
ordination

12.05.1912

positions held

1931 – 1939

parish priest — Sypniewotoday: Więcbork gm., Sępólno Krajeńskie pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
⋄ St Catherine of Alexandria the Virgin and Martyr RC parish ⋄ Kamień Pomorskitoday: Kamień Krajeński, Kamień Krajeński gm., Sępólno Krajeńskie pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
RC deanery

president — Sępólno Krajeńskietoday: Sępólno Krajeńskie gm., Sępólno Krajeńskie pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
⋄ County Board, National Party

membership — Toruńtoday: Toruń city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.20]
⋄ Pomeranian Provincial Council, i.e. Seymik

1922 – 1931

prefect — Toruńtoday: Toruń city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.20]
⋄ Municipal gymnasium for Women

from 1925

vice president — Management Board, Pomeranian Prefect Priests' Circle

1921 – 1922

parish priest — Toruńtoday: Toruń city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.20]
⋄ Command of the Corps District DOK No. VIII Toruń, Polish Armed Forces ⋄ St Catherine of Alexandria RC military parish ⋄ Toruńname/seat of military deanery
today: Toruń city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland

more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.20]
RC deanery

1919 – 1920

chaplain — 16th Pomeranian Infantry Division, Polish Armed Forces — during the Polish–Russian war of 1919‐1921

1918 – 1919

parish priest — Grudziądztoday: Grudziądz city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
⋄ RC military parish

1914 – 1918

chaplain — German Imperial Army — during the First World War

vicar — Chmielnotoday: Chmielno gm., Kartuzy pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
⋄ St Peter and St Paul the Apostles RC parish ⋄ Mirachowotoday: Kartuzy gm., Kartuzy pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.27]
RC deanery

vicar — Wąbrzeźnotoday: Wąbrzeźno urban gm., Wąbrzeźno pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
⋄ St Simon and St Judas Thaddaeus the Apostles RC parish

vicar — Koronowotoday: Koronowo gm., Bydgoszcz pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.19]
⋄ Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary RC parish ⋄ Fordontoday: district of Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
RC deanery

vicar — Czersktoday: Czersk gm., Chojnice pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
⋄ St Mary Magdalene RC parish ⋄ Tucholatoday: Tuchola gm., Tuchola pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
RC deanery

vicar — Czarnylastoday: Skórcz gm., Starogard Gdański pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
⋄ St Andrew the Apostle RC parish ⋄ Gniewtoday: Gniew gm., Tczew pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.29]
RC deanery

1908 – 1912

student — Pelplintoday: Pelplin gm., Tczew pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.05.06]
⋄ philosophy and theology, Theological Seminary

others related
in death

KOZŁOWSKIClick to display biography Anthony

sites and events
descriptions

VSH Karlshof: German Germ. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutzhaft (Eng. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz custody) VSH — established in Karolewo (today Sępólno Krajeńskie poviat) by the genocidal German paramilitary organization Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz — the decision to create Selbstschutz in the Polish lands occupied by German troops was made in Berlin on September 08‐10.09.1939 at a conference headed by Reichsführer‐SS Heinrich Himmler (the formal order bears the date 20.09.1939), and the chaotically formed units were directly subordinated to the officers of the genocidal SS organization — as part of the «Intelligenzaktion» action — the extermination of the Polish intelligentsia and leadership classes in Pomerania — for Poles from the Krayna region. By 12.1939, when the camp was closed, the Germans murdered, in Karolewo and the surrounding forests, most of the Poles held in the camp — the number of victims is sometimes estimated from 4,000 to 10,000 people, although contemporary estimates range from 1,781 to 2,643. (more on: pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.05.19]
, en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.07.06]
)

VSH Resmin: German Germ. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutzhaft (Eng. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz custody) VSH — established for the inhabitants of Krajna land by the genocidal German paramilitary organization Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz — the decision to create Selbstschutz in the Polish lands occupied by German troops was made in Berlin on September 08‐10.09.1939 at a conference headed by Reichsführer‐SS Heinrich Himmler (the formal order bears the date 20.09.1939), and the chaotically formed units were directly subordinated to the officers of the genocidal SS organization — on an estate in the village of Radzim, operating from 10.1939 till 12.1939. Germans held exclusively men in the camp; (some women and children who were accidently brought to the camp were murdered on the spot). Among others on c. 15.01.1939 Germans brought to it — and to a small Komierowo sub‐camp, c. 10 km away — all prisoners of a nearby — c. 10 km — VSH Drausnitz custody in Drożdzienica. As a part of «Intelligenzaktion» — aimed at extermination of Polish intelligentsia and ruling classes in Pomerania — Germans murdered in Radzim approx. 5,000 victims. They were murdered at the camp itself (mainly in the manor’s park) or executed outside, in a site of mass executions in Rudzki Most n. Tuchola among others. (more on: pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.05.19]
)

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]
)

«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 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]
)

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]
)

Pomeranian Philomaths: Secret societies of Polish youth, aiming at self‐education, patriotic in form and content, functioning 1830‐1920, mainly in secondary schools — gymnasia — in Pomerania around Vistula river (Gdańsk Pomerania and Chełmno county), in Prussian‐occupied Polish territories (one of the partitions of Poland). On 08.01.1901 Germans conducted a series of interrogations of students at Chełmno, Brodnica and Toruń gymnasiums. On 09‐12.09.1901 the first of court trials of Polish students from those gymnasiums and students of Theological Seminary in Pelplin was held in Toruń. 1 person was sentenced to 3 months in prison, 1 to 2 months, 3 to 6 weeks, 7 to 3 weeks, 2 to 2 weeks, 19 to a week, 2 to 1 day, 10 were reprimanded. 15 were cleared. More definitive penalties were relegations from the schools with so‐called wolf’s ticket, forbidding sentenced students to continue secondary and higher studies in Prussia (Germany). Among those penalized were a few future Catholic priests — those were able to continue their education for the Chełmno diocese bishop, Bp August Rosentreter, refused to relegate students from Theological Seminary. (more on: pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2018.11.18]
)

sources

personal:
www.wtg-gniazdo.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.11.23]
, pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.05.19]
, pliki.divart.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2014.10.04]
, pliki.divart.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2014.10.04]
, www.odznaka.kuj-pom.bydgoszcz.pttk.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.05.19]

bibliographical:
Biographical dictionary of priests of the Chełmno diocese ordained in the years 1821‐1920”, Henry Mross, Pelplin, 1995
original images:
www.facebook.comClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2021.07.29]
, pliki.divart.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2014.10.04]

LETTER to CUSTODIAN/ADMINISTRATOR

If you have an Email client on your communicator/computer — such as Mozilla Thunderbird, Windows Mail or Microsoft Outlook, described at WikipediaPatrz:
en.wikipedia.org
, among others  — try the link below, please:

LETTER to CUSTODIAN/ADMINISTRATORClick and try to call your own Email client

If however you do not run such a client or the above link is not active please send an email to the Custodian/Administrator using your account — in your customary email/correspondence engine — at the following address:

EMAIL ADDRESS

giving the following as the subject:

MARTYROLOGY: GRABOWSKI Silvester

To return to the biography press below:

Click to return to biographyClick to return to biography