Major Sigismund Szendzierz “Łupaszka” was undoubtedly 1 of the most fiercely tracked by communist officers of the underground of independence. In his case, the expression “living or dead” did not apply. At all costs, he was to be taken alive to turn him into a criminal during the show trial.
Soldiers of 5 Vilnius AK Brigade. They're standing from the left: Lieutenant. Henryk Wieliczka ‘Lufa’, cf. Marian Pluciński “Mścisław”, Major Zygmunt Szendzielarz “Łupaszko”, in the camp Jerzy Lejkowski “Szpagat”, cf. Zdzisław Badocha ‘Iron’.
Already at the beginning of a military career Sigismund Szendzielar He was promising to be a prominent cavalry commander. He began his line service in the 4th Zaniemenian Ulan Regiment. In 1937, he said: “An officer full of initiative and service. Very mandatory, urgent and conscientious. In simple and honest conduct, at work energetic, independent and ambitious. Smart, clear and logical. The character is not rather yet developed, somewhat impetuous and violent. Physically strong and durable. Very lively and busy. A very good and loving rider. Excellent friend. Very popular. mostly and professionally gifted. Model commander and instructor. In training, he achieved excellent results. Made, knows the field very well."
Cavaliers and guerrillas
Two years later, erstwhile Germany and Soviet They hit Poland, Szendzierz proved that there was no exaggeration in this opinion. In the 1939 campaign, he commanded 2 squadrons of the 4th Zalemenian Ulan Regiment, which was part of the Vilnius Cavalry Brigade. Thanks to his skills, he managed to snatch 2 squadrons from the German boiler under Magnuszew, for which he received the order Virtuti Militari V grade. At the end of the campaign, he fought in the Cavalry Operations Group. General Władysław Anders. He went to Soviet captivityBut he escaped quickly. After the fiasco, you enter the West to join Polish Army in France, connected with the Vilnius conspiracy. Lt. Szendzielarz adopted the eloquent nickname “Łupaszka” which was worn before him by Colonel Jerzy Dąbrowski – the celebrated border runner from Polish-Bolshevik War 1919 and 1920.
In early 1943, the command of the Vilnius territory of the AK directed “Łupaszka” to the guerrilla branch of Lieutenant Antoni Burzyński “Kmicic” – the first Polish guerrilla branch in Vilnius. However, erstwhile he reached the forests over Naroča, it turned out that the “Kmicic” division had been cunningly disarmed by the Soviets and his commander was murdered. At this point, the military talents of a erstwhile cavalry officer again appeared. “The Lupaszka” collected the troops' survivors and rapidly organized a fresh branch, which he officially called V Vilnius AK BrigadeAnd unofficially, it was called the Death Brigade. Indeed, he bore the death of both the Germans and the Lithuanians and the Soviets, who tried to destruct the army at all costs, either by deceit or by force, which grew into an invincible legend.
The Soviets have even designated a monetary prize as the head of the Łupaka. The commander of the Vilnius territory of the AK, Colonel Aleksander Krzyżanowski "Wilk", already in January 1944 he agreed to the plan to decision west after entering Vilnius Red Army V Brigade. However, in the summertime of that year, prior to the start of Operation “The Sharp Gate”, or the liberation of Vilnius, Colonel “Wilk” changed his mind. The Death Brigade, with 550 highly trained and armed soldiers, proved to be besides valuable a unit to dispose of before the fight for Vilnius. To this day, there is simply a discussion of historians, why the brigade yet did not participate in the “Eight Gate”. any believe that the order “Wilk” to change plans did not scope “Łupazka” and any claim that it was the will of the commander of the 5th Brigade, who knew that the Soviets would not forgive either him or his soldiers. Anyway, on July 4, 1944, “Łupaszka” began withdrawing his brigade. It reached the Grodzieńska Forest in late July and was surrounded by the Red Army.
Elusive in mattnia
Szendzierz decided to disband the brigade and left the soldiers a choice: to return home to Vilnius or to break through the russian cordon and march to Augustowska Forest. “Łupaszka” with her orderly and partner Lidia Lwow “Lala” and respective soldiers, keying between russian patrols, yet reached Białystok and after establishing contact with the territory Command of Białystok AK began playing its brigade. In July 1945, it had already had about 300 guerrillas and re-entered the fight, this time primarily with the forces of NKVD, KBW and UB. In September, however, as part of the “forest unloading” of the Białystok Command, the Armed Forces Delegations for the Land of Łupaszka was ordered to disband the branch. Very reluctantly, but he made it, giving the soldiers the impression that the fight was not over yet.
Indeed, in early 1946 he set up 2 troops: in February the 6th Vilnius Brigade to operate in Białystok and Podlasie, in April the 5th Vilnius Brigade, which he personally took command of to fight in Pomerania and Warmia and Mazury. His unit counted about 80 men and had small chance of confronting an increasingly powerful apparatus of repression. The transition to Białystok and the merger with the 6th Brigade besides brought little. The election year 1947 was crucial for communists to take over the country. They even intensified the fight against the underworld and even “Lupaszka” had to accept the fact that staying in the forest meant the complete demolition of his people. He decided to return to “civil life”.
Commander to end
After leaving Białystok, “Łupaszka” first went to Warsaw, then to Krakow to yet settle with a fewer of his people in the Queen close Głubczyc in Opole. erstwhile guerrillas launched a German mill here and supplied flour throughout the area. But it did not last long, for only a month. A friend of the militiaman managed to inform them in time that UB was onto them. So they left Poland. Sigismund Szendzielarz and Lidia Lwow found themselves in Zakopane as a matrimony under a false name: Ryszard Zygmunt and Ewa Mańkowski. In the mountains they were constantly changing their place of residence: Jordans, Chabówka, Zakopane again and yet Osielec, where they were arrested by UB on June 30, 1948.
The safety officers completely amazed them, staging a round-up for any "killer" in the area. During the process “Lupaszka” did not effort to blame anyone for his actions and decisions. He stressed before the court: “For all the acts committed by the commanders I take responsibility, that is, I may not remember whether I gave specified an order, but if specified an accident occurred, I definitely gave this order.” The Major was so commander to the end, despite the torture and awareness of imminent death. The conviction came on November 2, 1950: an eighteen-fold death penalty. The last gathering with “Łupaszka” 2 weeks before his execution was mentioned by Lidia Lwow: “Someday in the afternoon, they call me out of my cell. I'm going in, I'm going in, and the Slutty is here. There were 3 military men at the table on 1 side and we were on the another side other each other. I didn't know what to say [...]. I was shocked [...]. I only remember that “Lupashko” said about his daughter that she did not know what she looked like, although not so long ago he saw her [...]. He was talking about his mother, whom he loved very much. [...] parent lived. At the time, she lived in Gdańsk with her daughter, but Lupaszko never met her. [...] I only remembered that I should survey and get married.”
Major Sigismund Szensdzielarz was murdered with a weapon shot in the back of the occipital in Mokotov prison on the evening of February 8, 1951. Together with him, his close associates were executed: Colonel Antoni Olechnowiec, Captain Henry Borowski and Lieutenant Lucjan Minkiewicz. The bodies were buried in nameless graves and found Only in 2013 at the Powązkowski Cemetery, on the alleged Link. Solemn funeral of Major Sigmund Szendzier Szupaszki It was held on 24 April 2016 at the Military Cemetery in Powązki.
Bibliography:
Mr Kozłowski, Zygmunt Szendzielarz “Łupaszka” 1910–1951, Warsaw 2011
Lydia Lwow-Eberle. She was a symbol of the conflict for freedom. https://www.polskieradio.pl/39/156/article/2652654,lidia-lwoweberle-was-symbol-fight-about-freedom-listen-to-her-memories
T. Łabuszewski, K. Krajewski, From “Łupaszka” to “Młota” 1944–1949. origin materials for the past of the V and VI Vilnius Brigade, Warsaw 1994
