• 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
link to OUR LADY of PERPETUAL HELP in SŁOMCZYN infoSITE LOGO

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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  • PEŁKA Leo, source: www.myheritage.pl, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPEŁKA Leo
    source: www.myheritage.pl
    own collection

surname

PEŁKA

forename(s)

Leo (pl. Leon)

  • PEŁKA Leo - Commemorative plaque, St Martin church, Świekatowo, source: commons.wikimedia.org, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPEŁKA Leo
    Commemorative plaque, St Martin church, Świekatowo
    source: commons.wikimedia.org
    own collection
  • PEŁKA Leo - Commemorative plaque, porch, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven cathedral, Pelplin, source: own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPEŁKA Leo
    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]

date and place
of death

08.11.1939

Mniszek ‐ Grupa foresttoday: Dragacz gm., Świecie pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18]

details of death

During German occupation (Prussian partition of Poland), while studying at the Germ. Königliches Katholisches Gymnasium (Eng. Royal Catholic Gymnasium) in Chełmno, member (1899‐1907) and leader (1901‐1903) of the school chapter of the Polish clandestine student self–education Pomeranian Philomaths organization.

During World War I drafted into German army as a chaplain. Ministered in Wałcz, Szczecin and on the Western Front in France. In 1918 demobilised in colonel rank.

After German invasion of Poland on 01.09.1939 (the Russians attacked Poland 17 days later) and the start of World War II, on 02.09.1939 a Polish–German battle took place near Świekatowo, where ministered, ending with the defeat of Polish troops. During it, c. 175 Polish soldiers lost their lives. The next day, after entering Świekatowo, German soldiers began to drive people out of their homes and burn houses. Carried out at least three executions of Poles in different parts of the village, murdering 22 people (according to some sources, 26 Poles). Administered last rites to the murdered Poles.

After start of German occupation arrested by the Germans on 22.10.1939.

Jailed in Luszkówek and Świecie on Vistula river.

From there transported to execution site and murdered.

cause of death

mass murder

perpetrators

Germans

sites and events

Mniszek / Grupa forestClick to display the description, ŚwiecieClick 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, Pomeranian PhilomathsClick to display the description

date and place
of birth

11.04.1886

Kruszynytoday: Bobrowo gm., Brodnica pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]

presbyter (holy orders)
ordination

02.04.1911 (St Barbara Theological Seminary chapel in Pelplin)

positions held

1939

parish priest — Świekatowotoday: Świekatowo gm., Świecie pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
⋄ St Martin, the Bishop and Confessor RC parish ⋄ Świecietoday: Świecie gm., Świecie pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
RC deanery

1928 – 1939

parish priest — Kurzętniktoday: Kurzętnik gm., Nowe Miasto Lubawskie pov., Warmia‐Masuria voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.28]
⋄ St Mary Magdalene RC parish ⋄ Nowe Miasto Lubawskietoday: Nowe Miasto Lubawskie urban gm., Nowe Miasto Lubawskie pov., Warmia‐Masuria voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
RC deanery

1928

administrator — Toruńtoday: Toruń city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.20]
⋄ St James the Apostle RC parish ⋄ Toruńtoday: Toruń city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.20]
RC deanery — acting („ad interim”)

1920 – 1928

director — Grudziądztoday: Grudziądz city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
⋄ Stanislav Staszic's State Teachers' Seminary for Men

activist — Grudziądztoday: Grudziądz city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]
⋄ People's University

1918 – 1919

director — Wałcztoday: Wałcz gm., Wałcz pov., West Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18]
⋄ Teachers' Seminary

c. 1915 – 1918

chaplain — German Imperial Army

from 1914

prefect — Wałcztoday: Wałcz gm., Wałcz pov., West Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18]
⋄ Teachers' Seminary — after passing the state examination obtained the right to teach in secondary schools

1914

prefect — Kościerzynatoday: Kościerzyna urban gm., Kościerzyna pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.08.20]
⋄ Teachers' Seminary

1913 – 1914

vicar — Kościerzynatoday: Kościerzyna urban gm., Kościerzyna pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.08.20]
⋄ Holy Trinity RC parish ⋄ Mirachowotoday: Kartuzy gm., Kartuzy pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.27]
RC deanery

1912 – 1913

vicar — GdańskWrzeszcz borough
today: Gdańsk city pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland

more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.28]
⋄ Sacred Heart of Jesus RC parish

1911 – 1912

vicar — GdańskŚródmieście district
today: Gdańsk city pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland

more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.02.24]
⋄ Holy Spirit RC chapel (King's) ⋄ St Nicholas RC parish

1909 – 1911

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

1907 – 1909

student — Würzburgtoday: Würzburg urban dist., Lower Franconia reg., Bavaria state, Germany
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.08.05]
⋄ philosophy and theology, Julius–Maximilian University [i.e. Germ. Julius–Maximilians–Universität (Eng. Julius–Maximilian University) (from 1918) / Germ. Königlich Bayerische Julius–Maximilians–Universität (Eng. Royal Bavarian Julius–Maximilian University)]

1906 – 1907

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

1911 – 1927

membership — Toruńtoday: Toruń city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.20]
⋄ scientific society

others related
in death

BERTELClick to display biography Ceslav, BORUCKIClick to display biography, BRZÓSKOWSKIClick to display biography Vladislav, BURDYNClick to display biography Bernard Frederick, BUSSClick to display biography Casimir, CZOGAŁAClick to display biography Ignatius, ZNANIECKIClick to display biography Sebastian, ECHAUSTClick to display biography Bruno, HOŁUBOWSKIClick to display biography Bonaventure, JAKUBIAKClick to display biography Boleslav, KNEBLEWSKIClick to display biography Vaclav, KOTEWICZClick to display biography Stanislav, KOWALClick to display biography Henry Stanislav, KUCZYŃSKIClick to display biography Marian, MAKOWSKIClick to display biography Roman, MALORNYClick to display biography Francis, MAŃKIEWICZClick to display biography Henry, MEGGERClick to display biography Vladislav, MIKUCZEWSKIClick to display biography Louis, NODZYŃSKIClick to display biography Andrew, REPIŃSKIClick to display biography Sigismund Louis, ROGALSKIClick to display biography John, SOŁTYSIAKClick to display biography John, WALECKIClick to display biography Vaclav, WOJTASZEWSKIClick to display biography Casimir, ŻUKOWSKIClick to display biography Vincent, BOKClick to display biography Francis, KĄDZIELAClick to display biography Alphonse, SZYBOWSKIClick to display biography Francis, ZIELIŃSKIClick to display biography Heliodorus

sites and events
descriptions

Mniszek / Grupa forest: From 10.1939 till approx. 04.1940 in the complex of forests by villages of Mniszek (in a former gravel mine) and Grupa (on the former Polish military training ground), c. 16 km to the north‐east of Świecie and c. 10 km to the west of Grudziądz, Germans murdered in mass executions approx. 10,000 Poles, brought from prison in Świecie, from Psychiatric Hospital in Świecie (c. 1,000 patients — the patients were brought in parties 60‐strong, having been given sedatives prior to dispatch), prison in Grudziądz, internment camp in Nowe on Vistula, from Divine Word Missionaries SVD missionary house in Górna Grupa — mainly intelligentsia, from Świecie, Bydgoszcz, Chełmno, Grudziądz and Starogard Gdański counties in Pomerania. Among the victims were c. 120 children brought out under a school trip guise. Murders were perpetrated by Germans from Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz and SS genocidal organisations. Wehrmacht soldiers served as truck drivers. The victims were being killed of with shovels, sticks, sometimes buried alive. Those who attempted to defend themselves were hung. In 1944 Germand dug out most of the bodies and burnt them. (more on: groby.radaopwim.gov.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.01.13]
, pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2021.12.19]
)

Świecie: Detention centre run by Germans. Many of the prisoners were prob. also held in the buildings of the National Pomeranian Psychiatric Institute in Świecie, particulary after 22.10.1939 when Germans murdered most of its patients. Most of the prisoners in 1939 Germans took to Mniszek‐Grupa and executed. (more on: pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2021.12.19]
)

«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]
)

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:
groby.radaopwim.gov.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.01.13]
, www.niedziela.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30]
, www.myheritage.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.01.13]
, pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2021.12.19]

bibliographical:
Biographical dictionary of priests of the Chełmno diocese ordained in the years 1821‐1920”, Henry Mross, Pelplin, 1995
original images:
www.myheritage.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2018.03.25]
, commons.wikimedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2018.11.18]

LETTER to CUSTODIAN/ADMINISTRATOR

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MARTYROLOGY: PEŁKA Leo

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