Ludwik Malinowski
Encyclopedia
Ludwik Malinowski as born in 1887 in the village of Ksawerow
near Lodz
, was a Polish Resistance
fighter. As a teenager he worked in a textile factory in Lodz. In 1910, drafted to the Imperial Russian Army, went to Yaroslavl
on the Volga river, where he served in the 181st Regiment.
During World War I
, Malinowski was wounded, then voluntarily joined the 1st Polish Regiment of the Krechowce Uhlans. In 1919 he settled in the Volhynian village of Przebraze, where worked as a farmer, but also was an activist of the Polish Socialist Party
.
In the fall of 1939, following German and Soviet aggression on Poland, Volhynia was incorporated into the Soviet Union
. Thousands of Poles were forcibly deported to Siberia and other areas of the empire. Malinowski was spared.
On June 22, 1941, Germany attacked Soviet Union. New wave of terror in Volhynia began, this time the Soviets were replaced by the Nazis and Ukrainian nationalists. In mid-1942 a group of young Poles were taken away to Germany, where they worked in factories. In this group were two Malinowski’s sons.
In October 1942 first Ukrainian attacks on Polish settlements started (see: Massacres of Poles in Volhynia
). In January 1943, Poles from Przebraze decided to organize their own defence, headed by Ludwik Malinowski, whose military experience would prove priceless in the future.
Under skillful leadership, the Poles quickly organized themselves and Przebraże Defence
became a symbol of Polish resistance against Ukrainian nationalists, who were pitilessly murdering all Poles, regardless of sex and age. As Poles were not allowed to have weapons, Malinowski bribed local German civil servant in Kiwerce, who gave him 15 guns. Then, he bought weapons from Hungarian soldiers, stationed in Volhynia.
In the summer of 1943 Ukrainian attacks on Poles in Volhynia became very frequent, thousands were murdered. Malinowski knew about this, and, together with Henryk Cybulski
, he turned Przebraze into an improvised fortress, which covered neighboring Polish settlements with the area of some 30 km2. In June 1943 Malinowski ordered that inhabitants of all Polish villages in the area should move to Przebraze. Some Poles disobeyed, soon afterwards they were murdered by the Ukrainians.
On July 4, 1943, Przebraze was attacked. Malinowski gave an outstanding example, fighting on the front line. After the attack, more Poles came to the fortress, whose population grew to 20,000. Malinowski took care of all those who needed help, and when on August 30, the Ukrainians attacked again, his stance, courage and faith in victory boosted the morale of defenders and the Ukrainians were repelled.
Soon afterwards, Malinowski was arrested by the Gestapo
. The Germans found out that Poles had been helped by Soviet partisan units, that were stationing in the Volhynian forests. Incarcerated in the Lutsk
prison, Malinowski did not break down and during the investigation, German authorities did not find enough evidence to support their claim and - to the surprise of all, Malinowski was released. Unfortunately, after release, the Pole was caught by the Ukrainians, who wanted him for commanding the defence of Przebraze.
Polish units made a quick decision. A group of Home Army soldiers attacked a Ukrainian police quarters in Lutsk and after a bitter fight, they rescued severely beaten, unconscious Malinowski, who was then taken to Kiwerce and treated by a doctor.
When Red Army
pushed Wehrmacht
out of Volhynia (early 1944), Malinowski joined Ludowe Wojsko Polskie, and fought as a sergeant in Kolobrzeg
and Berlin
. After the war, he settled in Niemodlin
. Communist authorities treated him with suspicion, he was imprisoned and tortured, after 1956 his fate got better. He died in 1962 in Niemodlin.
http://malinowski.masaz-lomilomi.pl/
Ksawerów
Ksawerów may refer to the following places in Poland:*Ksawerów, Warsaw, a neighborhood in the Mokotów district of Warsaw*Ksawerów, Kalisz County in Greater Poland Voivodeship...
near Lodz
Lódz
Łódź is the third-largest city in Poland. Located in the central part of the country, it had a population of 742,387 in December 2009. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is approximately south-west of Warsaw...
, was a Polish Resistance
Polish resistance movement in World War II
The Polish resistance movement in World War II, with the Home Army at its forefront, was the largest underground resistance in all of Nazi-occupied Europe, covering both German and Soviet zones of occupation. The Polish defence against the Nazi occupation was an important part of the European...
fighter. As a teenager he worked in a textile factory in Lodz. In 1910, drafted to the Imperial Russian Army, went to Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl is a city and the administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, located northeast of Moscow. The historical part of the city, a World Heritage Site, is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Kotorosl Rivers. It is one of the Golden Ring cities, a group of historic cities...
on the Volga river, where he served in the 181st Regiment.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Malinowski was wounded, then voluntarily joined the 1st Polish Regiment of the Krechowce Uhlans. In 1919 he settled in the Volhynian village of Przebraze, where worked as a farmer, but also was an activist of the Polish Socialist Party
Polish Socialist Party
The Polish Socialist Party was one of the most important Polish left-wing political parties from its inception in 1892 until 1948...
.
In the fall of 1939, following German and Soviet aggression on Poland, Volhynia was incorporated into the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Thousands of Poles were forcibly deported to Siberia and other areas of the empire. Malinowski was spared.
On June 22, 1941, Germany attacked Soviet Union. New wave of terror in Volhynia began, this time the Soviets were replaced by the Nazis and Ukrainian nationalists. In mid-1942 a group of young Poles were taken away to Germany, where they worked in factories. In this group were two Malinowski’s sons.
In October 1942 first Ukrainian attacks on Polish settlements started (see: Massacres of Poles in Volhynia
Massacres of Poles in Volhynia
The Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia were part of an ethnic cleansing operation carried out by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army West in the Nazi occupied regions of the Eastern Galicia , and UPA North in Volhynia , beginning in March 1943 and lasting until the end of...
). In January 1943, Poles from Przebraze decided to organize their own defence, headed by Ludwik Malinowski, whose military experience would prove priceless in the future.
Under skillful leadership, the Poles quickly organized themselves and Przebraże Defence
Przebraze Defence
The Przebraże Defence was the World War II defence of Przebraże, a Polish settlement, located in Lutsk county, Volhynian Voivodeship, near the village of Troscianiec. Between 1919 and 1939, the settlement belonged to the Second Polish Republic; it exists no more.-Location:The Przebraże settlement...
became a symbol of Polish resistance against Ukrainian nationalists, who were pitilessly murdering all Poles, regardless of sex and age. As Poles were not allowed to have weapons, Malinowski bribed local German civil servant in Kiwerce, who gave him 15 guns. Then, he bought weapons from Hungarian soldiers, stationed in Volhynia.
In the summer of 1943 Ukrainian attacks on Poles in Volhynia became very frequent, thousands were murdered. Malinowski knew about this, and, together with Henryk Cybulski
Henryk Cybulski
Henryk Cybulski was born in 1910 in the village of Przebraze in Volhynia . He died in 1971.He worked as a forester, when in September 1939 the Red Army invaded Eastern Poland. Cybulski was forcibly deported by the Soviets to Siberia on February 10, 1940.In the summer of 1940 he managed to escape...
, he turned Przebraze into an improvised fortress, which covered neighboring Polish settlements with the area of some 30 km2. In June 1943 Malinowski ordered that inhabitants of all Polish villages in the area should move to Przebraze. Some Poles disobeyed, soon afterwards they were murdered by the Ukrainians.
On July 4, 1943, Przebraze was attacked. Malinowski gave an outstanding example, fighting on the front line. After the attack, more Poles came to the fortress, whose population grew to 20,000. Malinowski took care of all those who needed help, and when on August 30, the Ukrainians attacked again, his stance, courage and faith in victory boosted the morale of defenders and the Ukrainians were repelled.
Soon afterwards, Malinowski was arrested by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
. The Germans found out that Poles had been helped by Soviet partisan units, that were stationing in the Volhynian forests. Incarcerated in the Lutsk
Lutsk
Lutsk is a city located by the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Volyn Oblast and the administrative center of the surrounding Lutskyi Raion within the oblast...
prison, Malinowski did not break down and during the investigation, German authorities did not find enough evidence to support their claim and - to the surprise of all, Malinowski was released. Unfortunately, after release, the Pole was caught by the Ukrainians, who wanted him for commanding the defence of Przebraze.
Polish units made a quick decision. A group of Home Army soldiers attacked a Ukrainian police quarters in Lutsk and after a bitter fight, they rescued severely beaten, unconscious Malinowski, who was then taken to Kiwerce and treated by a doctor.
When Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
pushed Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
out of Volhynia (early 1944), Malinowski joined Ludowe Wojsko Polskie, and fought as a sergeant in Kolobrzeg
Kolobrzeg
Kołobrzeg is a city in Middle Pomerania in north-western Poland with some 50,000 inhabitants . Kołobrzeg is located on the Parsęta River on the south coast of the Baltic Sea...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. After the war, he settled in Niemodlin
Niemodlin
Niemodlin is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,911 inhabitants .It was first mentioned as Nemodlin in a 1224 deed and received town privileges in 1283. Originally a part of the Duchy of Opole, after the death of Duke Bolko I Niemodlin became the capital of a duchy in his...
. Communist authorities treated him with suspicion, he was imprisoned and tortured, after 1956 his fate got better. He died in 1962 in Niemodlin.
Source
- Władysław FilarWładysław FilarWładysław Filar - soldier of 27th Home Army Infantry Division, Polish historian, professor.Born in Iwanicze Nowe in Volhynia, Ukraine, then under Polish administration...
, Przebraże bastion polskiej samoobrony na Wołyniu, Rytm Oficyna Wydawnicza, 2007. ISBN: 83-7399-254-2
http://malinowski.masaz-lomilomi.pl/