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
KOWNACKI
forename(s)
Martin Stanislav (pl. Marcin Stanisław)
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]
date and place
of death
18.05.1942
KL Dachau ‐ MunichGermany (Bavaria) ‐ Austria
alt. dates and places
of death
17.06.1942 (KL Dachau „death certificate” date)
details of death
During the German occupation (Prussian partition of Poland) — while studying at the Germ. Königliches Kaiser Wilhelm–Gymnasium (Eng. Emperor William Royal Gymnasium) in Ostróda, expelled from school for Polish „clandestine independence activities”. Completed his education in Metz in France and in Baden–Baden in Germany.
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 on 26.10.1939.
After jail in Golub moved to VSH Obory internment camp.
Next on 02.11.1939 transferred to VSH Graudenz camp in Grudziądż.
From there on 22.02.1940 transported to KL Stutthof concentration camp.
On 09‐10.04.1940 transported to KL Sachsenhausen concentration camp and next on 14.12.1939 to KL Dachau concentration camp.
Finally from there — totally exhausted — transported in a so‐called Germ. „Invalidentransport” (Eng. „Invalids' transport”) towards TA Hartheim Euthanasia Center where was to be murdered in a gas chamber.
Did not reach the destination — prob. died during the first stage of the trip to TA Hartheim, on the way to Munich, and there dragged out of the truck and incinerated in city crematorium.
alt. details of death
According to some sources after arrest held in the VSH Dembowalonka camp in Dębowa Łąka.
Then, from 06.12.1939 held in the VSH Culm camp in monastery in Chełmno, from where transported to the KL Stutthof concentration camp.
prisoner camp's numbers
22431Click to display source page (KL DachauClick to display the description)
cause of death
extermination: gassing in a gas chamber
perpetrators
Germans
sites and events
TA HartheimClick to display the description, «Aktion T4»Click to display the description, KL DachauClick to display the description, KL SachsenhausenClick to display the description, KL StutthofClick to display the description, VSH GraudenzClick to display the description, VSH OboryClick to display the description, VSH CulmClick to display the description, VSH DembowalonkaClick 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
05.11.1886
Wąbrzeźnotoday: Wąbrzeźno urban gm., Wąbrzeźno pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
alt. dates and places
of birth
15.11.1886
presbyter (holy orders)
ordination
29.03.1914 (Pelpin cathedralmore on
pl.wikipedia.org
[access: 2014.11.14])
positions held
1935 – 1939
parish priest — Wrockitoday: Golub‐Dobrzyń gm., Golub‐Dobrzyń pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02] ⋄ St Martin, the Bishop and Confessor RC parish ⋄ Golubtoday: district of Golub‐Dobrzyń, Golub‐Dobrzyń gm., Golub‐Dobrzyń pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02] RC deanery
1923 – 1935
curatus/rector/expositus — Lipnicatoday: Szamotuły gm., Szamotuły pov., Greater Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18] ⋄ St Michael the Archangel RC church ⋄ Golubtoday: district of Golub‐Dobrzyń, Golub‐Dobrzyń gm., Golub‐Dobrzyń pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02], St Catherine of Alexandria the Virgin and Martyr RC parish ⋄ Golubtoday: district of Golub‐Dobrzyń, Golub‐Dobrzyń gm., Golub‐Dobrzyń pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02] RC deanery
1921 – 1923
curatus/rector/expositus — Grudziądztoday: Grudziądz city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02] ⋄ Penitentiary Institute ⋄ Exaltation of the Holy Cross RC church ⋄ St Nicholas the Bishop and Confessor RC parish (main parish) ⋄ Grudziądztoday: Grudziądz city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02] RC deanery
1918 – 1921
curatus/rector/expositus — Chełmnotoday: Chełmno urban gm., Chełmno pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.25] ⋄ Congregation's house and hospital, Daughters of Charity FdlC ⋄ St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist RC church ⋄ Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary RC parish ⋄ Chełmnotoday: Chełmno urban gm., Chełmno pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.25] RC deanery — also: chaplain of the Daughters of Charity FdlC and prefect of the boarding school for boys, in 1920‐1921 director of the Municipal Secondary School for Girls (prob. Girls' Secondary School for Refugees from the Borderlands)
vicar — Nowa Cerkiewtoday: Chojnice gm., Chojnice pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02] ⋄ St Mary Magdalene RC parish ⋄ Tuchola / Chojnicedeanery names/seats
today: Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland RC deanery
vicar — Kamień Pomorskitoday: Kamień Krajeński, Kamień Krajeński gm., Sępólno Krajeńskie pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02] ⋄ Blessed Virgin Mary and St Peter and St Paul the Apostles 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
vicar — Radawnicatoday: Złotów gm., Złotów pov., Greater Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18] ⋄ St Barbara the Virgin and Martyr RC parish
vicar — Grodzicznotoday: Grodziczno gm., Nowe Miasto Lubawskie pov., Warmia‐Masuria voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02] ⋄ St Peter and St Paul the Apostles RC parish
vicar — Skarlintoday: Nowe Miasto Lubawskie gm., Nowe Miasto Lubawskie pov., Warmia‐Masuria voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02] ⋄ St Bartholomew the Apostle RC parish
1916 – 1921
membership — Toruńtoday: Toruń city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.20] ⋄ scientific society
1910 – 1914
student — Pelplintoday: Pelplin gm., Tczew pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.05.06] ⋄ philosophy and theology, Theological Seminary
comments
The urn containing the ashes of the victim — the body was prob. cremated at Germ. Ostfriedhof (Eng. Eastern cemetery) in Munich — is being kept in Am Perlacher Forst cemetery, at place known as Germ. Ehrenhain I (Eng. „Remembrance Grove nr 1”), in Munich (marked as urn no K4007)
others related
in death
KOWNACKIClick to display biography Bronislav, KOMARClick to display biography Stanislav, KONIECZNYClick to display biography Julian, KOTLICKIClick to display biography Ignatius, KOTTClick to display biography Valentine, KOWALEWSKIClick to display biography Stanislav, KOWALSKIClick to display biography John (Abp Mary Michael), KOZANECKIClick to display biography Adam, KOŹBIAŁClick to display biography Michael, KRAWCZYŃSKIClick to display biography Roman, KROPLEWSKIClick to display biography Albin John, KRUKOWSKIClick to display biography Joseph, KRUPCZYŃSKIClick to display biography Casimir Stanislav, KUBIŃSKIClick to display biography Stanislav, KUKLAClick to display biography Stanislav, KULIŃSKIClick to display biography Steven, KUTZNERClick to display biography Leo, KWAŚKIEWICZClick to display biography Leo Henry, KWIATKOWSKIClick to display biography Boleslav, LEWANDOWSKIClick to display biography Francis, LUDWICZAKClick to display biography Anthony John, LUDWIKClick to display biography Joseph, LUDWIKIEWICZClick to display biography Steven Ignatius, ŁABENTOWICZClick to display biography Sigismund Peter, ŁASZKIEWICZClick to display biography Stanislav, MAJKOWSKIClick to display biography Hillary, MAKOWSKIClick to display biography Alexander, MARUSARZClick to display biography Stanislav, MATEUSZCZYKClick to display biography Theodore, MAZALONClick to display biography Benjamin Louis, MICHALEWSKIClick to display biography John, MICKIEWICZClick to display biography Leo, MIJAKOWSKIClick to display biography Bogdan Joseph, MOKSClick to display biography Steven Andrew, MOSZCZEŃSKIClick to display biography Stanislav, MREŁAClick to display biography Francis Xavier (Fr Sigismund), MŚCICHOWSKIClick to display biography Anthony, MULLERClick to display biography Joseph Stanislav Kostka, MUSZYŃSKIClick to display biography Sigismund, NAPIERAŁAClick to display biography Francis, NIEDZIELAClick to display biography Joseph, NITECKIClick to display biography Anthony, NOAKClick to display biography Theodore, NOWAKClick to display biography Vincent, NOWICKIClick to display biography Felician, NOWICKIClick to display biography Joseph Henry, OGŁAZAClick to display biography Joseph Stanislav, OPRZĄDEKClick to display biography John (Bro. Martin), ORYNTClick to display biography Peter, OSIŃSKIClick to display biography Henry, PABICHClick to display biography Stanislav, PACEWSKIClick to display biography Anthony, BĄCZKOWSKIClick to display biography Francis, BOLTClick to display biography Felix, BREJSKIClick to display biography John Casimir, CHARSZEWSKIClick to display biography Ignatius, DEKOWSKIClick to display biography Francis, DERKACZEWSKAClick to display biography Stanislava (Sr Raphaella of the Holy Face), GALIKOWSKIClick to display biography Roman John, GNILKAClick to display biography Pauline (Sr Junilla), JARZĘBSKIClick to display biography Stanislav, JONEKClick to display biography Martha (Sr Dygna), KUCZAClick to display biography Francesca (Sr Gorgonya), LICZNERSKIClick to display biography Constantine, ŁĘGOWSKIClick to display biography Vladislav Leonard, RUCIŃSKIClick to display biography Francis, WILEMSKIClick to display biography Joseph Louis, ZAREMBAClick to display biography Felix, ZIEMIAŁKOWSKAClick to display biography Hedwig (Sr Dominica of the Sacred Wounds of Jesus), MARCHLEWSKIClick to display biography Leonard, SZWEDOWSKIClick to display biography Ignatius Mieczyslav, ŚWIECZKOWSKIClick to display biography Alexander, ZIELIŃSKIClick to display biography Paul Nicholas, BATKOClick to display biography Alexander, BIELEŃClick to display biography Anthony, BOJUŁKAClick to display biography Bronislav Francis, BORZYSZKOWSKIClick to display biography Joseph, BROCKIClick to display biography Anthony, BUSZTAClick to display biography Anthony (Fr Simon), CZUBEKClick to display biography Joseph, FLACZYŃSKIClick to display biography Francis, GASIŃSKIClick to display biography Louis, GOŁĘBIEWSKIClick to display biography Joseph, GRABOWSKIClick to display biography Sigismund, GREGORKIEWICZClick to display biography Leo, HINZClick to display biography Thaddeus, KACZOROWSKIClick to display biography Michael, KĘDZIERSKIClick to display biography Francis, KLUNDERClick to display biography John, KOPAŃSKIClick to display biography Conrad, ŁUBIEŃSKIClick to display biography John, MAKOWSKIClick to display biography Paul (Fr Bruno), MALINOWSKIClick to display biography Constantine Peter, MAŃKOWSKIClick to display biography Alphonse, MARTENKAClick to display biography John, MIĘTKIClick to display biography Anthony, NAGÓRSKIClick to display biography Edmund, NIKLASClick to display biography Stanislav, NOWAKClick to display biography Stanislav Zeno, ODYAClick to display biography Joseph Florian, ODYAClick to display biography Lucyn Joseph, OLSZEWSKIClick to display biography Edward, OSSOWSKIClick to display biography John Anthony, OSTROWSKIClick to display biography Francis Xavier, PARTYKAClick to display biography Boleslav, PASTWAClick to display biography Anthony, PRABUCKIClick to display biography Boleslav Rock, PRYBAClick to display biography Leo Simon, PTACHClick to display biography Louis Paul, RADTKEClick to display biography Steven Boleslav, ROGALSKIClick to display biography John, SADOWSKIClick to display biography Anastasius, SOBISZClick to display biography Anthony, SOWIŃSKIClick to display biography Emil Bronislav, STELLAClick to display biography Joseph, TUSZYŃSKIClick to display biography Joseph, WILAMOWSKIClick to display biography Alexander, WILCZEWSKIClick to display biography Francis Joseph, WOLSKIClick to display biography Vaclav, ŻUCHOWSKIClick to display biography Vaclav
sites and events
descriptions
TA Hartheim: From 05.1940, in the Germ. Tötungsanstalt (Eng. Killing/Euthanasia Center) TA Hartheim, at the Schloss Hartheim castle in Alkoven in Upper Austria, belonging to KL Mauthausen‐Gusen complex of concentration camps, as part of «Aktion T4» program, the Germans murdered victims — people mentally retarded and disabled — in gas chambers with carbon monoxide. Till 24.08.1941 and the formal end of the «Aktion T4» program, c. 18,000 people were murdered in TA Hartheim. In 04.1941 the program was extended to include concentration camp prisoners. Most, if not all, of the murdered clergy from the KL Dachau concentration camp were taken to TA Hartheim in the so‐called Germ. „Invalidentransport” (Eng. „transport of invalids”), prisoners who were sick and, according to the Germans, „unable to work” (initially under the pretext of transfer to a better camp) — after the formal end of «Aktion T4» as part of the program codenamed «Aktion 14 f 13». It is estimated that at this stage — until 11.12.1944 — c. 12,000 prisoners were gassed at TA Hartheim.
Note: The dates of death of victims murdered in Schloss Hartheim indicated in the „White Book” are the dates of deportations from the last concentration camp the victims where held in. The real dates of death are unknown — apart from c. 49 priests whose names were included in the niem. „Invalidentransports”, but who did not arrive at TA Hartheim. Prob. perished on the day of transport, somewhere between KL Dachau and Munich, and their bodies were thrown out of the transport and cremated in Munich. The investigation conducted by Polish Institute of National Remembrance IPN concluded, that the other victims were murdered immediately upon arrival in Schloss Hartheim, bodies cremated and the ashes spread over local fields and into Danube river. In order to hide details of the genocide Germans falsified both dates of death (for instance those entered into KL Dachau concentration camp books, which are presented in „White Book” as alternative dates of death) and their causes. (more on: ipn.gov.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.05.30], en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.05.30])
«Aktion T4»: German state euthanasia program, systematic murder of people mentally retarded, chronically, mentally and neurologically ill — „elimination of live not worth living” (Germ. „Vernichtung von lebensunwertem Leben”). At a peak, in 1940‐1941, c. 70,000 people were murdered, including patients of psychiatric hospitals in German occupied Poland — German formalists noted then that, among others, „performing disinfection [i.e. gassing] of 70,273 people with a life expectancy of up to 10 years saved food in the amount of 141,775,573.80 Deutschmark”. From 04.1941 also mentally ill and „disabled” (i.e. unable to work) prisoners held in German concentration camps were included in the program — denoted then as «Aktion 14 f 13». C. 20,000 inmates were then murdered, including Polish Catholic priests held in KL Dachau concentration camp, who were murdered in Hartheim gas chambers. The other „regional extension” of «Aktion T4» was «Aktion Brandt» program during which Germans murdered chronically ill patients in order to make space for wounded soldiers. It is estimated that at least 30,000 were murdered in this program. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2014.10.31])
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 Sachsenhausen: In Germ. Konzentrationslager (Eng. concentration camp) KL Sachsenhausen, set up in the former Olympic village in 07.1936, hundreds of Polish priests were held in 1940, before being transported to KL Dachau. Some of them perished in KL Sachsenhausen. Murderous medical experiments on prisoners were carried out in the camp. In 1942‐1944 c. 140 prisoners slaved at manufacturing false British pounds, passports, visas, stamps and other documents. Other prisoners also had to do slave work, for Heinkel aircraft manufacturer, AEG and Siemens among others. On average c. 50,000 prisoners were held at any time. Altogether more than 200,000 inmates were in jailed in KL Sachsenhausen and its branched, out of which tens of thousands perished. Prior to Russian arrival mass evacuation was ordered by the Germans and c. 80,000 prisoners were marched west in so‐called „death marches” to other camps, i.e. KL Mauthausen‐Gusen and KL Bergen‐Belsen. The camp got liberated on 22.04.1945. After end of armed hostilities Germans set up there secret camp for German prisoners and „suspicious” Russian soldiers. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2018.11.18])
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])
VSH Graudenz: As part of «Intelligenzaktion» — physical extermination of Polish intelligentsia from Pomerania — Germans initially in 09.1939 held Poles captive in investigative prison in Grudziądz. After it became too small 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 — organized the Germ. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutzhaft (Eng. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz custody) VSH in the building of the so‐called Borderlands Hostel building at Chopin Str. (on 31.03.1937, before German invasion, it housed 97 boys). In this building Germans held captive 4,000 to 5,000 Poles, including c. 150 local priests and c. 100 teachers and students of the local teachers' seminary. Most of them were subsequently murdered in local forests (Księże Góry, Mniszek‐Grupa), some were taken to concentration camps and 200 boys — residents of the Borderlands Hostel — were after some time deported as slave laborers to Germany. Everything was obviously done in accordance with „German law” — there was an ad hoc Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz kangaroo court in the camp, which „issued sentences” deciding on the fate of imprisoned Poles. (more on: pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.01.13])
VSH Obory: German Germ. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutzhaft (Eng. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz custody) VSH for the clergy of the Dobrzyń region (in Płock diocese) and neighbouring parishes of Chełmno diocese, established on 30.10.1939 by Germans, members of the genocidal paramilitary Germ. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz formation — 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 — Germ. Geheime Staatspolizei (Eng. State Secret Police), i.e. Gestapo, in Carmelite Fathers OCarm monastery in Obory village c. 18 km form Golub–Dobrzyń. Till 22.02.1940 in a Carmelite fathers’ convent Germans held captive — in extremely difficult conditions, in the middle of a very hard winter, without heating or outer clothes, on unchanged straw in cold cells, without food (saved only by the local residents who shared with them their own food), forced to perform forced slave labor — 52 Catholic priest and 3 nuns. Almost all (apart from two, denounced by local German population, were driven out of the camp and murdered in public mass execution of Poles) were deported to concentration camps: initially KL Stutthof and KL Sachsenhausen. Most of them perished there. (more on: pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.08.17], www.obory.com.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.12.28])
VSH Culm: German Germ. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutzhaft (Eng. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz custody) VSH for i.a. the clergy of Chełmno region. Established in 10.1939 in the Daughters of Charity FdlC monastery in Chełmno. On 07.12.1939 the Germans, members of the genocidal paramilitary Germ. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz formation — 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 data 20.09.1939), and the chaotically formed units were directly subordinated to the officers of the genocidal SS organization ‐ as part of the «Intelligenzaktion» operation, i.e. the extermination of the Polish intelligentsia and leadership classes, interned there a dozen or so Polish priests, mainly brought from the VSH Dembowalonka internment camp. On 22.03.1940 all — with the addition of a few Catholic priests detained, among others, in prison in Chełmno — were transported to KL Stutthof concentration camp. Most were murdered in German concentration camps. (more on: pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2014.03.10])
VSH Dembowalonka: German Germ. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutzhaft (Eng. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz custody) VSH for the clergy of Wąbrzeźno county. Established on 24‐25.09.1939, when Germans, members of the genocidal paramilitary Germ. Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz formation — 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 ‐ in the Shepherd Sisters CSDP monastery–institute in Dębowa Łąka, c. 10 km from Wąbrzeźno, interned 30 Catholic priests from nearby parishes (on the same day, the Germans destroyed all roadside statues and crosses in Wąbrzeźno district). As part of the «Intelligenzaktion» operation — the extermination of the Polish intelligentsia (in Kurkocin, c. 4 km away, the Germans murdered then c. 500 Poles) — they were detained there till 06.12.1939, and then transported to another camp in Chełmno and next to KL Stutthof concentration camp. After the end of hostilities of World War II, in the years 1954‐1957, during the Russian occupation, one of the concentration and slave labor camps organized by Commie‐Nazi authorities in Russian republic prl for religious sisters and nuns during «Action X‐2». (more on: pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2014.10.31])
«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])
sources
personal:
www.niedziela.diecezja.torun.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.11.23], www.torun.opoka.org.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.11.23], www.ipgs.usClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.11.23], arolsen-archives.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.05.30]
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
„Urns kept at the Am Perlacher Forst cemetery — analysis”, Mr Gregory Wróbel, curator of the Museum of Independence Traditions in Łódź, private correspondence, 25.05.2020
„Biographical dictionary of priests of the Chełmno diocese ordained in the years 1821‐1920”, Henry Mross, Pelplin, 1995
original images:
archiwum.allegro.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2018.11.18], gdansk.ipn.gov.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2020.10.02]
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