Public execution in Debica (1946)
Encyclopedia
Public execution in Dębica refer to the execution of four Poles from the anti-communist Freedom and Independence (WiN) organization in Dębica
in 1946.
units captured it. However, the frontline remained on the Wisłoka river for a few months, until the beginning of 1945. Wehrmacht
artillery shelled Dębica, soldiers of the Armia Krajowa
, cooperating with the Soviets, fought the enemy. After some time, the Nazis, relentlessly pushed to the west, left their positions and the whole area of Dębica County was in Soviet hands.
However, Soviet advance was regarded by many as yet another occupation. Behavior of some Red Army units and the NKVD
confirmed this notion - they persecuted Polish patriots, arrested and imprisoned them. Thousands of members of the Home Army were either shot or sent to Siberia
. Under the circumstances, several members of the resistance movement decided to hide in the forests and to continue struggle for free Poland. After dissolution of the Home Army, a new organization, Freedom and Independence (Wolność i Niezawisłość - WiN) was created in mid-1945.
(MBP).
After this incident, the group moved towards Mielec
, where in the village of Przecław it attacked Communist forces which were staying at a palace of the Rey family, which had been nationalized. WiN members faced no resistance, they took jewelry and some paintings and left..
On Wednesday, July 10, 1946, Dębica's main square was full of people, as this was the market day. Two gallows were set - one in the square, another in the vicinity of the St. Jadwiga church. The purpose of the execution was obvious - to intimidate the population of the town.
The square was surrounded by the Communist agents who checked everything, making sure the execution was carried out without any obstacles. However, some witnesses claim that the head of one of the condemned men got out of the halter, but this was quickly fixed. Deaths were announced by doctor Roman Lic and Marian Stoklosa from Rzeszów
prosecutor's office. None of the killed had a trial, they were only allowed to confess to a priest.
Debica
Dębica is a town in southeastern Poland with 46,693 inhabitants, as of 2 June 2009. It is the capital of Dębica County. Since 1999 it has been situated in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship; it had previously been in the Tarnów Voivodeship .-Area:...
in 1946.
Introduction
On August 23, 1944 German soldiers left the town of Dębica, and the Red ArmyRed 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...
units captured it. However, the frontline remained on the Wisłoka river for a few months, until the beginning of 1945. 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:...
artillery shelled Dębica, soldiers of the Armia Krajowa
Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa , or Home Army, was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland. It was formed in February 1942 from the Związek Walki Zbrojnej . Over the next two years, it absorbed most other Polish underground forces...
, cooperating with the Soviets, fought the enemy. After some time, the Nazis, relentlessly pushed to the west, left their positions and the whole area of Dębica County was in Soviet hands.
However, Soviet advance was regarded by many as yet another occupation. Behavior of some Red Army units and the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
confirmed this notion - they persecuted Polish patriots, arrested and imprisoned them. Thousands of members of the Home Army were either shot or sent to Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. Under the circumstances, several members of the resistance movement decided to hide in the forests and to continue struggle for free Poland. After dissolution of the Home Army, a new organization, Freedom and Independence (Wolność i Niezawisłość - WiN) was created in mid-1945.
WiN in Dębica area
WiN was an anti-Communist organization, whose purpose was to rid Poland of Soviet occupiers. Among numerous units across the country, one was a group led by Jan Stefko (aka "Msciciel" - "The Avenger"). In the spring of 1946 Stefko's unit, with some 30 members, was staying in the area of Sędziszów Małopolski. There, an exchange of fire occurred between them and agents of the Communist secret services from the Ministry of Public SecurityMinistry of Public Security of Poland
The Ministry of Public Security of Poland was a Polish communist secret police, intelligence and counter-espionage service operating from 1945 to 1954 under Jakub Berman of the Politburo...
(MBP).
After this incident, the group moved towards Mielec
Mielec
Mielec is a city in south-eastern Poland with a population of 60,979 inhabitants, as of June 2009. It is located in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship ; previously it was in Rzeszów Voivodeship...
, where in the village of Przecław it attacked Communist forces which were staying at a palace of the Rey family, which had been nationalized. WiN members faced no resistance, they took jewelry and some paintings and left..
Capture of the group
On the way towards Jasło, the unit was caught in a trap set by soldiers of the Polish Army, militiamen and agents of UB. Four persons were killed, 16 captured and 10 managed to flee, together with Jan Stefko. The caught WiN members were charged and three of them were sentenced to death.On Wednesday, July 10, 1946, Dębica's main square was full of people, as this was the market day. Two gallows were set - one in the square, another in the vicinity of the St. Jadwiga church. The purpose of the execution was obvious - to intimidate the population of the town.
The execution
It is difficult to establish how many people witnessed the event. At some point a truck entered the square, carrying three young men, members of WiN. The hangman, whose name probably was Stanisław Swieca, haltered all of them and soon afterward the truck drove off, leaving the condemned in the air.The square was surrounded by the Communist agents who checked everything, making sure the execution was carried out without any obstacles. However, some witnesses claim that the head of one of the condemned men got out of the halter, but this was quickly fixed. Deaths were announced by doctor Roman Lic and Marian Stoklosa from Rzeszów
Rzeszów
Rzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley...
prosecutor's office. None of the killed had a trial, they were only allowed to confess to a priest.
A legendary photo
Most probably, the whole incident would have been forgotten, had it not been for a photo, taken by a gentleman named Józef Stec. The snapshot was taken from a window of a building, delivered to London and published in several newspapers in the West. Stec was quickly nailed and imprisoned, he spent many years behind bars.Sources
- http://www.debica.org.pl/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5765
- http://www.ipn.gov.pl/wai.php?serwis=pl&dzial=31&id=220&poz=4
- http://www.senat.gov.pl/K4/DOK/DR/750/773-2.htm
- http://www.zhwin.pl/zeszyty/spis15.htm
- egzekucja w debicy.jpg A unique photograph of the execution, taken by Jozef Stec and then delivered to London