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
ŻEMŁO
forename(s)
Anthony (pl. Antoni)
function
diocesan priest
creed
Latin (Roman Catholic) Church RCmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2014.09.21]
diocese / province
Vilnius archdiocesemore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2013.05.19]
Vilnius diocesemore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2013.05.19]
RC Military Ordinariate of Polandmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2014.12.20]
date and place
of death
15.12.1942
Kostenevichitoday: Lyudvinovo ssov., Vileyka dist., Minsk reg., Belarus
more on
be.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.06]
alt. dates and places
of death
Vileykatoday: Vileyka dist., Minsk reg., Belarus
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.06]
details of death
Sources indicate that in 09.1920 volunteered and became a chaplain in the Polish Army. It is not clear, however, under what circumstances. At that time, his parish of Naujoji Vilnia was under Lithuanian occupation. In 07.1920, when the great Russian offensive began and Polish troops started to withdraw from the Dvina and Berezina rivers, from the so‐called Smolensk Gate, Lithuanians attacked the flank of the Polish forces, crossing the demarcation line between Poland and Lithuania, known as the Foch Line, established on 26.07.1919 by the Allies, based on the Treaty of Versailles of 28.06.1919, which ended World War I.
Not only did they cease to be neutral, but they made it more difficult for the Polish forces to withdraw by occupying one of the strategic railway lines. On 06.08.1920, the Lithuanians went further and signed a de facto alliance with the Russians, under which the Russians agreed to hand over Vilnius, inhabited mostly by Poles, to them. The Russians captured Vilnius on 14.08.1920, and the Lithuanians entered it on 26.08.1920, when it was already obvious that the Russians had been defeated in the Battle of Warsaw on c. 15.08.1920 (known as the „Miracle on the Vistula”). On 20‐28.09.1920, the second most important battle of the war took place, the Battle of the Neman, and in order to volunteer for the Polish Army, not only had to leave the zone around Vilnius controlled by the Lithuanians — Naujoji Vilnia is located c. 10 km to the east of that city — but also cross the front line, which does not seem likely. There are two possibilities. Could have left the parish with the retreating Polish army in 08.1920 and then joined one of its units as a chaplain. Could also have remained in the parish and joined the Polish army later, e.g. in 10.1918.
It seems certain, however, that his military ministry is connected with the so‐called Żeligowski rebellion, i.e. the capture of the Lithuanian–controlled territory by the so‐called irregular units of the Polish Army. They were recognized as „irregular” by the Polish Supreme Command earlier, on 29.08.1920 — in this way the Polish authorities could claim that the sortie of Żeligowski's troops took place without their knowledge. On 10.10.1920 these Polish troops entered Vilnius, and on 12.10.1920 the establishment of an entity called Central Lithuania was announced. Was a chaplain of one of those Polish units of Central Lithuania. That is why was formally released from the Polish Army in 03.1921, but in fact ministered as a chaplain until 18.04.1922, when Central Lithuania was annexed to Poland.
Possibly also in 1927 and 1929 appointed reserve chaplain of the Polish Army (each time for a statutory period of 2 years).
After German and Russian invasion of Poland in 09.1939 and start of the World War II, after German attack on 22.06.1941 of their erstwhile ally, Russians, and start of German occupation, murdered by the Germans in defense of the church in Kostenevichi.
Details are not clear.
Probably after deportation of the Jews to extermination sites Germans decided to use the church for military purposes.
When entered the church with dogs during the Holy Mass the priest commented upon the inappropriateness of such behavior.
In response was shot while at the altar.
According to some sources had his head smashed and was dragged on cobble stones towards cemetery.
According to other sources, the Germans entered the church looking for Jews. At the time, his village was in the occupational Germ. Generalbezirk Weißruthenien (Eng. General District of Belarus), part of the Germ. Reichskommissariat Ostland (Eng. Reich Commissariat of Eastland), and by the end of 1942, most of the Jews in that area had already been murdered by the Germans. Before the war, several dozen Jews lived in Kostenevichi, of whom a few were still alive in 12.1942. The Germans found a Jewish woman hiding in a closet in the church sacristy with a 4‐year‐old girl, who began to cry, revealing hiding place. Both were then shot outside the village, along with several other Jews.
alt. details of death
According to some sources after being massacred in his parish church in Kościeniewicze taken subsequently by the Germans — together with his mother and a woman catechist — to Vileyka prison and there murdered, possibly as part of «Polenaktion» special action.
cause of death
mass murder
perpetrators
Germans
sites and events
Help to the JewsClick to display the description, «Polenaktion» 1942Click 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
20.12.1894
Naujoji Vilniatoday: district of Vilnius, Vilnius city dist., Vilnius Cou., Lithuania
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18]
alt. dates and places
of birth
01.01.1895
presbyter (holy orders)
ordination
24.12.1917
positions held
1931 – 1942
parish priest — Kostenevichitoday: Lyudvinovo ssov., Vileyka dist., Minsk reg., Belarus
more on
be.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.06] ⋄ Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary RC parish ⋄ Vileykatoday: Vileyka dist., Minsk reg., Belarus
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.06] RC deanery
1925 – 1931
parish priest — Olkovichitoday: Ilya ssov., Vileyka dist., Minsk reg., Belarus
more on
be.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.06] ⋄ Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary RC parish ⋄ Vileykatoday: Vileyka dist., Minsk reg., Belarus
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.06] RC deanery
1922 – 1925
parish priest — Aslavyanyatytoday: Koreni ssov., Smarhon dist., Vitebsk reg., Belarus
more on
be.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.06] ⋄ St John the Baptist RC parish ⋄ Ashmyanytoday: Ashmyany dist., Grodno reg., Belarus
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.27] RC deanery
1919 – 1922
vicar — Naujoji Vilniatoday: district of Vilnius, Vilnius city dist., Vilnius Cou., Lithuania
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18] ⋄ St Casimir the Prince and Confessor RC parish ⋄ Vilniustoday: Vilnius city dist., Vilnius Cou., Lithuania
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.06] RC deanery — also: prefect of elementary schools
c. 10.1920 – 18.04.1922
RC military chaplain — Central Lithuania Army, Polish Armed Forces — formally, by L. 2683 decree of the Commander‐in‐Chief of 14.04.1921, at the request of the Bishop's Curia of the Polish Army, demobilised from the Polish Army; verified with seniority from 01.06.1919, in the rank of captain
1918 – 1919
administrator — Sužionystoday: Sužionys eld., Vilnius dist., Vilnius Cou., Lithuania
more on
lt.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.06.29] ⋄ St Felix of Valois RC parish ⋄ Vilniustoday: Vilnius city dist., Vilnius Cou., Lithuania
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.06] RC deanery — also: prefect of elementary schools
1918
vicar — Lidatoday: Lida dist., Grodno reg., Belarus
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.29] ⋄ Exaltation of the Holy Cross RC parish (main parish) ⋄ Lidatoday: Lida dist., Grodno reg., Belarus
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.29] RC deanery
1917 – 1918
student — Sankt Petersburgtoday: Saint Petersburg city, Russia
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.07.31] ⋄ dogmatics, Imperial Roman Catholic Spiritual Academy (1842‐1918) — postgraduate specialised studies
1914 – 1917
student — Sankt Petersburgtoday: Saint Petersburg city, Russia
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.07.31] ⋄ philosophy and theology, Metropolitan Theological Seminary
1912 – 1914
student — Kievtoday: Kiev city rai., Kiev city obl., Ukraine
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2023.03.02] ⋄ natural sciences, St Vladimir Imperial University
sites and events
descriptions
Help to the Jews: During World War II on the Polish occupied territories Germans forbid to give any support to the Jews under penalty of death. Hundreds of Polish priests and religious helped the Jews despite this official sanction. Many of them were caught and murdered.
«Polenaktion» 1942: In the summer of 1942 in German‐occupied Germ. Generalbezirk Weißruthenien (Eng. General Region of Belarus) — in Nowogródek region among others — Germans carried out «Polenaktion» initiative: the name introduced in a special resolution drafted by Reichssicherheitshauptamt RSHA (Eng. Reich Main Security Office). The action included sacking of all Poles from civilian regional apparatus and police and replacing them with Belarusians. Thousands of Poles were also forcibly deported to Germany as slave labourers. On 26‐30.06.1942 in all counties of the region more than 1,000 representatives of Polish intelligentsia were arrested and subsequently murdered. In Lida region 16 Polish priests were arrested among others. 5 Polish parish priests from Hlybokaye and Pastavy deanery were murdered as well. At the same time Germans set up KL Koldichevo concentration camp n. Baranavichy. The implementation of this genocide project was entrusted to Belarusian collaborationist formations, political, administrative — responsible for preparation of proscription lists — and police, i.e. niem. Weißruthenische Hilfspolizei (Eng. Belarusian Auxiliary Police), supported by Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Latvian and Russian (RONA) collaborators. The action was coordinated with the liquidation of the Jewish ghettos in the Germ. Generalbezirk Weißruthenien.
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:
www.wsm.archibial.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.12.28], ordynariat.wp.mil.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2024.12.13], pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2024.12.13]
bibliographical:
„Vilnius archdiocese clergy martyrology 1939‐1945”, Fr Thaddeus Krahel, Białystok, 2017
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