NSZ guerrillas in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains

asnews.pl 1 week ago

National Armed Forces (NSZ) formed in September 1942 by a merger of parts of the National Military Organization (NOW) and the Lizard Union (ZJ). It's the largest military organization in the national camp.

The first NSZ commander was Colonel Ignacy Oziewicz “Czesław” (from September 1942 until arrest in June 1943), next Colonel Tadeusz Kurcyusz “Morski”, “Mars”, “Żegota” (August 1943 until his death in April 1944).

NSZ belonged to the largest underground organizations in occupied Poland. In September 1943, they had about 73,000 officers and soldiers, in April 1944 – over 90 thousand.

No money from London

NSZ did not receive a penny from the Polish government in London or its facilities in the country. It was different from the AK. They were forced to base their financial activities on funds acquired in expansion shares on the institutions of business and on donations of members of organizations and sympathizers.

Świętokrzyska NSZ Brigade

The largest guerrilla unit of the NSZ was the Świętokrzyska Brigade formed in Kielce on 11 August 1944. It included previously existing troops, concentrated since June 1944 in the territory of the Opatów County. 2 regiments of infantry were formed – 204th pp. Kielce Land and 202nd pp. Sandomierz Land. Grouping command entrusted Major/Col AntoniemSackie’s “Bohun Dąbrowski”.

In December 1944, the unit had 822 people. She fought against both Germany (including Czarnocin, Oleszn, Wodzisław, Zagnański, Radoszyc) and the russian partisan and the People's Army (under Fanisławice, Rąbce, Węgrzyn). As a consequence of the offensive of russian troops in January 1945, the Brigade began its march to the West (through Silesia, Protectorate of the Czech Republic and Moravia).

‘I believed – wrote Antoni Szacki after years – that I will lead you out of the home of captivity and death. People's Poland dug graves for us, opened fresh prisons, placed gallows, with hatred and a desire for revenge over all associate of the Świętokrzyska Brigade. It didn't work. We came out happily.”

The march was initially possible thanks to arrangements with local Wehrmacht commanders. The German side urged the Brigade to jointly address the Red Army front. Poles argued that the guerrilla unit was not adapted to front fights.

After sending the group to the hotel in Rozstání (Czech Republic), the Brigade commander sent respective diversion groups to Poland. At the same time he established contacts with the Czech underground and sent emissaries to Allied troops.

During the march to the West, the Brigade's numbers increased to 1,417 soldiers. The unit was joined by Polish prisoners of war and stalags and escaped forced workers.

Saving a 1000 women

One of the most glorious acts of the soldiers of the Świętokrzyska NSZ Brigade was the liberation of the German concentration camp for women in Holiszów (the Flossenbürg KL subsidiary) (5 May 1945). As a result, she was released close 1,000 women (Polish, Jewish, French, Czech, Romanian, Yugoslav). In this action, 200 SS men were taken prisoner.

The Brigade Saves judaic Women

The Świętokrzyska NSZ Brigade saved about 300 judaic women, which were in the top danger since in separate wooden barracks entangled with barbed wire, were to be burned before the U.S. troops arrived. The barracks where the women were staying were covered with petrol by German torturers and only a bravado military action by soldiers The brigade saved them from being burned alive.

After saving the life of the Jews, they were rapidly transported by cars by civilian judaic officials. Unlike women of another nationalities released, they did not even thank the Brigade for saving their lives.

Jewish historical institutes do not mention the heroism of the Brigade. judaic propaganda after the war only attacked NSZ.

In addition to the camp in Holiszów, many facilities of the German arms manufacture were located. Thousands of slaves – forced workers, including Jews, worked there. They were besides released as a consequence of this action.

U.S. Ally NSZ

The NSZ Świętokrzyska Brigade fought Germany alongside American units. She was favored by General Patton. As a consequence of British opposition (pushed by Stalin), the units were not included in the 2nd Polish Armed Forces Corps in the West. The brigade was formed and incorporated into the defender Company at the U.S. Army in the U.S. business region in Germany.

Soviets request the release of the Świętokrzyska NSZ Brigade

The Soviets were hunting NSZ soldiers. Stalin did not quit and demanded the release of the Brigade. Gen. Zukov personally pressed General Eisenhower in Potsdam. Fortunately, without success. erstwhile the commander-in-chief of the Allies refused, Żukov wanted to at least bid on the release of the commander of the Świętokrzyska NSZ Brigade Colonel AnthonySzacki ps. “Bohun Dabrowski”. That was rejected, too.

After the Soviets entered

The Świętokrzyska Brigade made it to the West, but most, that is 90 1000 NSZ soldiers stayed in Poland After the Soviets entered. They fought, died, suffered...

The biggest successes of the NSZ include the conflict with the NKVD operating group under Kotki in the territory of Busko Zdrój, which was fought on 28 May 1945 by the NSZ branch under the command of Lieutenant Stanisław Sikorski "Jaremy".

The longest operating NSZ group was the alleged 7th territory of Captain Henry Flame "Grot", "Bartka". As a consequence of the provocation of UB, about 200 of his soldiers were insidiously captured in September 1946 and then murdered in the area of Łambinovice in Silesia.

The symbolic termination and end of NSZ-ZJ is the arrest of February 15, 1947 Colonel Stanislaw Kashnica, the last NSZ-ZJ commander (lost in Warsaw on 12 May 1948).

To be continued...