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
POTRZEBSKI
surname
versions/aliases
POTRZEBOWSKI
forename(s)
Victor Francis (pl. Wiktor Franciszek)
function
diocesan priest
creed
Latin (Roman Catholic) Church RCmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2014.09.21]
diocese / province
Warsaw archdiocesemore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2013.05.19]
Vilnius archdiocesemore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2013.05.19]
Lviv archdiocesemore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2013.05.19]
Włocławek diocesemore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2013.05.19]
RC Military Ordinariate of Polandmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2014.12.20]
honorary titles
Expositorii Canonicalis canonmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2014.11.14]
Officer's Cross „Polonia Restituta”more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2019.04.16]
„Cross of Valour”more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2019.04.16]
„Cross of Independence”more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2019.02.02]
date and place
of death
04.09.1944
Warsawtoday: Warsaw city pov., Masovia voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.10.09]
details of death
In 1907, expelled for his patriotic activities — according to some sources escaped threatend with an imminent arrest — from the Rus. Царство Польское (Eng. Kingdom of Poland), part of the partitioning Russian Empire. Prob. the reason was involvement in the activities of the National Workers' Union NZR, a clandestine Polish workers' party of a national–Christian nature, of which the Combat Union NZR was a part, describing itself as „a secret team with a military hue, whose goal is to actively defend the Polish population against all kinds of violence in the name of the fastest possible reconstruction of an independent, democratic Poland”. First reached the Germ. Provinz Posen (Eng. Province of Poznań) in the partitioning German Empire, i.e. Greater Poland. From there moved to the province and crown land of the Germ. Königreich Galizien und Lodomerien (Eng. Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria) in the partitioning Austro–Hungarian Empire, to Lviv.
During his ministry in Monasterzyska, was, among other things, the chaplain of the Bartosze Squads, Polish youth cultural–civic organisation, promulgating i.a. gymnastic prowess, and later military training — initially in the neighbouring, belonging to his parish, Folwarki village, supplying his squad with training weapons, and later of the Squads' entire Buchach district (was also a member of its commission of trustees).
In 1918 was temporarily imprisoned by the authorities of the Austro–Hungarian Empire.
After the end of World War I, after Poland regained its independence, participated — during the Polish–Russian War of 1919‐1921 — in the defense of Lviv against the Russians in 1920. From 06.1921, during the great Russian offensive, Lviv was threatened by attacks by the Rus. Первая Конная армия (Eng. 1st Horse Army) under the command of Semyon Budyonny, and in 07‐09.1920 it was basically besieged.
After German and Russian invasion of Poland in 09.1939 and start of the World War II took part on 20‐24.09.1939 in heroic defense of Grodno — from Russian barbarians, who resorted to tying captured Poles to their tanks and using them as shields — together with Fr Innocent Guz, Fr Francis Zakrzewski and Fr Henry Hlebowicz, among others.
After start of Russian occupation and ever increasing terror against Polish population, in danger of imminent arrest, in 12.1939 crossed over to Warsaw, to German–controlled Germ. Generalgouvernement (Eng. General Governorate), where was living as John Orłowski.
Ministered as chaplain to the Sisters of Loreto in Warsaw–Praga (1939‐1944).
Prefect, organiser and participant of clandestine education network on secondary level (part of Polish Clandestine State). Created a clandestine secondary school — primarily for the youth from Grodno, who were forced to leave their hometown, being a kind of attempt to reactivate the 1st Adam Mickiewicz Gymnasium and Lyceum in Grodno, russified by the Russian occupier, and after 22.06.1941 and the German attack on their erstwhile ally, the Russians, closed by the new occupier, the Germans — where taught Polish and history. Till the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, conducted secret secondary school leaving exams (matura) five times.
From 10.1942 chaplain to the clandestine resistance Home Army AK „Vistula” unit (later „Kiliński” battalion).
During Warsaw Uprising 08‐10.1944 chaplain of the Polish resistance AK IV Region of the I Warsaw Midtown Group (nom‐de‐guerre „Vladislav Orłowski”, „Corda”).
Perished during Warsaw Uprising as a result of a heavy German high–explosive–incendiary shell hitting the building at 4 Szpitalna Str., together with c. 100 people.
cause of death
mass murder
perpetrators
Germans
sites and events
Warsaw UprisingClick to display the description, GeneralgouvernementClick 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
date and place
of birth
30.07.1880
Ślesintoday: Ślesin gm., Konin pov., Greater Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.12.16]
alt. dates and places
of birth
30.08.1880
presbyter (holy orders)
ordination
06.1904 (Włocławektoday: Włocławek city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18])
positions held
1939 – 1944
chaplain — WarsawPraga district on the right bank of Vistula
today: Warsaw city pov., Masovia voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.28] ⋄ Congregation's house, Loretto Nuns CSL ⋄ Our Lady of Loreto RC parish ⋄ St Michael the Archangel and St Florian RC church ⋄ Warsaw‐Praskideanery name
today: Warsaw city pov., Masovia voiv., Poland RC deanery — also: director of teaching at the school run by the Felician Sisters CSSF at the Provincial House in Wawer near Warsaw
1937 – 1939
director — Grodnotoday: Grodno dist., Grodno reg., Belarus
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2023.01.18] ⋄ Adam Mickiewicz's gymnasium ⋄ St Francis Xavier RC parish (main parish) ⋄ Grodnotoday: Grodno dist., Grodno reg., Belarus
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2023.01.18] RC deanery
1928 – 1937
prefect — Trakaitoday: Trakai eld., Trakai dist., Vilnius Cou., Lithuania
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.06] ⋄ State Teachers' Seminary ⋄ Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary RC parish ⋄ Trakaitoday: Trakai eld., Trakai dist., Vilnius Cou., Lithuania
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.06] RC deanery — also: in 1932 auxiliary chaplain of the Polish Army — „Trakai” („New Trakai”) battalion of the Border Protection Corps KOP
1927 – 1928
curatus/rector/expositus — Piotrków Trybunalskitoday: Piotrków Trybunalski city pov., Łódź voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.29] ⋄ St Francis Xavier RC church ⋄ St James the Apostle RC parish ⋄ Piotrków Trybunalskitoday: Piotrków Trybunalski city pov., Łódź voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.29] RC deanery — also: c. 1928 chaplain of the Volunteer Fire Department
1922 – 1927
curatus/rector/expositus — Piotrków Trybunalskitoday: Piotrków Trybunalski city pov., Łódź voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.29] ⋄ Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary RC church (i.e. the church of the Maidens, today dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows) ⋄ St Jack and St Dorothy RC parish ⋄ Piotrków Trybunalskitoday: Piotrków Trybunalski city pov., Łódź voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.29] RC deanery
1922 – 1928
prefect — Piotrków Trybunalskitoday: Piotrków Trybunalski city pov., Łódź voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.29] — at i.a. c. 1926‐1928 Boleslav the Brave's Royal Polish State Gymnasium; c. 1922‐1926 State Teachers' Seminary for Girls (from 1925 named after Queen Hedwig); c. 1923–1925 Helene Trzcińska's Private Gymnasium for Girls — in the latter two was also a teacher of introduction to philosophy
1921 – 1922
prefect — Bełchatówtoday: Bełchatów urban gm., Bełchatów pov., Łódź voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18] ⋄ Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary RC parish ⋄ Bełchatówtoday: Bełchatów urban gm., Bełchatów pov., Łódź voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18] RC deanery — i.a. In gymnasium and elementary school
1916 – 1921
administrator — Sokolivkatoday: Bibrka urban hrom., Lviv rai., Lviv obl., Ukraine
more on
uk.wikipedia.org
[access: 2023.03.02] ⋄ Holy Trinity RC parish ⋄ Svirzhtoday: Bibrka urban hrom., Lviv rai., Lviv obl., Ukraine
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.10.15] RC deanery
1913 – 1916
prefect — Monastyryskatoday: Monastyryska urban hrom., Chortkiv rai., Ternopil obl., Ukraine
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.17] ⋄ Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary RC parish ⋄ Buchachtoday: Buchach urban hrom., Chortkiv rai., Ternopil obl., Ukraine
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.15] RC deanery — i.a. in an elementary and secondary school for boys
1909 – 1913
prefect — Dolynatoday: Dolyna urban hrom., Kalush rai., Stanislaviv/Ivano‐Frankivsk obl., Ukraine
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.20] ⋄ Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary RC parish ⋄ Dolynatoday: Dolyna urban hrom., Kalush rai., Stanislaviv/Ivano‐Frankivsk obl., Ukraine
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.20] RC deanery — i.a. in an elementary and secondary school for boys
1908 – 1909
vicar — Lvivtoday: Lviv urban hrom., Lviv rai., Lviv obl., Ukraine
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.16] ⋄ St Anne RC parish ⋄ Lviv intra Urbemdeanery name
today: Lviv obl., Ukraine RC deanery
1904 – 1907
vicar — Kołotoday: Koło urban gm., Koło pov., Greater Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18] ⋄ Exaltation of the Holy Cross RC parish ⋄ Kołotoday: Koło urban gm., Koło pov., Greater Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18] RC deanery — also: activist of the National Workers' Union — head of party structures in four counties; 1905—1907 district president of the Polish School Association; 1905 founder of the first shoemaker cooperative in Poland
till 1904
student — Włocławektoday: Włocławek city pov., Kuyavia‐Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18] ⋄ philosophy and theology, Theological Seminary
others related
in death
GUZClick to display biography Joseph Adalbert (Fr Innocent), HLEBOWICZClick to display biography Henry, ZAKRZEWSKIClick to display biography Francis
sites and events
descriptions
Warsaw Uprising: Lasted from 01.08.1944 till 03.10.1944. Was an attempt to liberate Polish capital from occupying Germans by the Polish Clandestine State — a unique in the history of the world political structure on the territories occupied by the Germans, effectively governing clandestinely in Poland — and by fighting on its behalf underground military units, mainly of Home Army (former Armed Struggle Association ZWZ) and National Armed Forced (NSZ). At the same time Russians stopped on purpose the offensive on all front, halted on the other bank of Vistula river and watched calmly the annihilation of the city, refusing even the mid‐landing rights to the Allied planes carrying weapons and supplies to the insurgents from Italy. During the Uprising Germans murdered approx. 200,000 Poles, mainly civilians. Approx. 200 priests and nuns died in fighting or were murdered by the Germans, many in mass executions. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.08.17])
Generalgouvernement: 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. In two of them new German provinces were created, two other were incorporated into other provinces. However, the fifth part was treated separately, and in a political sense it was supposed to recreate the German idea from 1915 (during World War I, after the defeat of the Russians in the Battle of Gorlice in 05.1915) of creating a Polish enclave within Germany. Illegal in the sense of international law, i.e. Hague Convention, and public law, managed by the Germans according to separate laws — especially established for the Polish Germ. Untermenschen (Eng. subhumans) — till the Russian offensive in 1945 it constituted part of the Germ. Großdeutschland (Eng. Greater Germany). Till 31.07.1940 formally called Germ. Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete (Eng. General Government for the occupied Polish lands) — later simply Germ. Generalgouvernement (Eng. General Governorate), as in the years 1915‐1918. From 07.1941, i.e. after the German attack on 22.06.1941 against the erstwhile ally, the Russians, it also included the Galicia district, i.e. the Polish pre‐war south‐eastern voivodeships. A special criminal law was enacted and applied to Poles and Jews, allowing for the arbitrary administration of the death penalty regardless of the age of the „perpetrator”, and sanctioning the use of collective responsibility. After the end of the military conflict of the World War UU, the government of the Germ. Generalgouvernement was recognized as a criminal organization, and its leader, governor Hans Frank, guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity and executed. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2024.12.13])
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])
sources
personal:
pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.11.23], www.wsm.archibial.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.12.28], ordynariat.wp.mil.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30], www.1944.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2021.12.19]
bibliographical:
„Vilnius archdiocese clergy martyrology 1939‐1945”, Fr Thaddeus Krahel, Białystok, 2017
original images:
www.1944.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30], www.1944.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30], glosznadniemna.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2024.12.13], www.wsm.archibial.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.12.28], ziemiapiotrkowska.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30], ordynariat.wp.mil.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30], www.katedra.lodz.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2014.01.06], www.katedrapolowa.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2014.01.16]
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MARTYROLOGY: POTRZEBSKI Victor Francis
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