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{{Infobox civilian attack
⚫ ]
| title = Przyszowice massacre
⚫ The '''Przyszowice massacre''' ({{lang-pl|Zbrodnia przyszowicka}} or {{lang-pl|tragedia przyszowicka}}) was a ] committed by ] on civilian inhabitants of ] village of ] in ] in the days of January 26 to January 28, 1945. During the events between 54<ref name="Hartman">{{pl icon}} {{cite web | author=Sebastian Hartman | title=Tragedia 27.01.1945r | publisher= | date=2007-01-23 | work=przyszowice.com | url=http://www.przyszowice.com/index.php?module=IPage&id=16 | accessdate=2007-04-13 }}</ref> to over 60<ref name="IPN"/> - possibly up to 69<ref name="Krzyk">{{pl icon}} {{cite journal | author =Józef Krzyk | date =2007-01-24 | title =Dokumenty z Moskwy pomogą w rozwikłaniu zbrodni z 1945 roku | journal =] | volume = | issue = | pages = | id = | url =http://miasta.gazeta.pl/katowice/1,35019,3874503.html | format = | accessdate =2007-04-13 }}</ref> men and women aged between 10 days and 78 years were killed (although most of the victims were adult men).<ref name="IPN"/> In addition, the Soviet soldiers burnt roughly 70 houses and raped several dozen women of all ages<ref name="Semik">{{pl icon}} {{cite journal | author =Teresa Semik | date =2005-10-06 | title =Zbrodnie wojenne Armii Czerwonej na Ślązakach - pierwsze śledztwa | journal =] | volume = | issue = | pages = | id = | url =http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/wiadomosc.html?wid=8022929&ticaid=138fb | format = | accessdate =2007-04-13 }}</ref>.
| image = Przyszowice - tablica na zbiorowej mogile pomordowanych przez żołnierzy sowieckich 4 (Nemo5576).jpg
⚫ | caption =Tombstone to the victims of Przyszowice massacre. It lists the victims with the statement: "Murdered by the Red Army." Placed during the 2005 commemorative event
| location = ], ], ]
| coordinates =
| target = ]
| motive = unknown
| date = January 26, 1945
| type = Shooting
| fatalities = 54 to 69
| perps = ]
| susperps =
| weapons =
}}
⚫ The '''Przyszowice massacre''' ({{langx|pl|Zbrodnia przyszowicka}} or ''tragedia przyszowicka'') was a ] perpetrated by the ] against civilian inhabitants of the ] village of ] in ] during the period January 26 to January 28, 1945. Sources vary on the number of victims, which range from 54<ref name="Hartman">{{cite web | author=Sebastian Hartman | title=Tragedia 27.01.1945r | date=2007-01-23 | work=przyszowice.com | url=http://www.przyszowice.com/index.php?module=IPage&id=16 | access-date=2007-04-13 | language=pl | archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526065431/https://www.webcitation.org/6AveTgd6a?url=http://www.przyszowice.com/index.php%3Fmodule=IPage | archive-date=2024-05-26 | url-status=dead }}</ref> to over 60<ref name="IPN"/> – and possibly as many as 69.<ref name="Krzyk">{{cite journal | author =Józef Krzyk | date =2007-01-24 | title =Dokumenty z Moskwy pomogą w rozwikłaniu zbrodni z 1945 roku | journal =] | url =http://miasta.gazeta.pl/katowice/1,35019,3874503.html | access-date =2007-04-13 |language=pl}}</ref> The ], a Polish organization that carried out research into these events, has declared that the Przyszowice massacre was a ].<ref name="IPN"/><ref name="Semik"/>


==History==
After the start of the Soviet ] in early 1945, the ] broke through from the line of the ] river well into German-held territory of occupied Poland. By late January the scattered forces of the ] were withdrawn to the line of the ] river, already on the pre-war territory of the ]. However, several units were ordered to prepare tactical counter-attacks, notably in the region of ], on the Polish-German borderland. On January 23rd the Soviet forces seized the town of ] (Gliwice), one of the major industrial centres of the area. However, the following day the Germans counter-attacked and a three days long battle for the area started. Eventually victorious, on January 26 the Russians entered the village of Przyszowice, the last Polish village before the Polish-German border. After the start of the Soviet ] in early 1945, the ] broke through from the line of the ] well into German-held territory in occupied Poland. By late January, the scattered forces of the ] were withdrawn to the line of the ], which was on the pre-war territory of the ]. However, several German units were ordered to prepare tactical counter-attacks, notably in the region of ], on the Polish-German borderland. On January 23, Soviet forces seized the town of ] (Gliwice), one of the major industrial centres of the area. On the following day, the Germans counter-attacked, precipitating a three-day-long battle for the area. Eventually victorious, on January 26 the Russians entered the village of Przyszowice, the last Polish village before the Polish-German border.


During the following two days a massacre of local inhabitants ensued. The Soviet soldiers set several dozen houses in flames and started shooting at the civilians trying to extinguish the flames. Over 60<ref name="IPN"/> and possibly up to 69 civilians lost their lives.<ref name="Krzyk"/> Among the victims were four former prisoners of the ] who had escaped from a ] the previous day.<ref name="IPN"/> Except for two of the escapees who were ] and ], the rest of the victims were Polish civilians - including two former soldiers of the ], recently freed by the Soviets from a ] camp.<ref name="Krzyk"/><ref name="IPN"/> In addition to the mass murder of civilians, the Soviet forces looted the village and raped numerous women.<ref name="Krzyk"/> During the following two days, a massacre of local inhabitants ensued. The Soviet soldiers set several dozen houses on fire and began shooting at the civilians trying to extinguish the flames. It is believed that over 60<ref name="IPN"/> civilians lost their lives, Polish newspapers gave the high-end number of 69.<ref name="Krzyk"/> Men, women and children aged between 10 days and 78 years were killed, although most of the victims were adult males.<ref name="IPN"/> Among the victims were four former prisoners of the ] who had escaped from a ] the previous day.<ref name="IPN"/> Except for two of the escapees who were ] and ], the rest of the victims were Polish civilians – including two former soldiers of the ], who had recently been freed by the Soviets from a ] camp.<ref name="IPN"/><ref name="Krzyk"/> According to Polish media, in addition to the mass murder of civilians, the Soviet forces looted the village and raped an unknown number of women.<ref name="Krzyk"/>


The reason for the massacre remains unknown. Some authors believe that the Soviet soldiers wanted to take revenge for the losses suffered by the Red Army in the skirmishes with the Wehrmacht in the area<ref name="Krzyk"/>. During the fights for Przyszowice, the Soviets suffered 101 casualties and lost roughly 40 tanks<ref name="Krzyk-Kutz">{{pl icon}} {{cite journal | author =Józef Krzyk, ] | date =2005-01-28 | title =Wieś w morzu krwi | journal =] | volume = | issue =23 | pages =1 | id = | url =http://szukaj.gazeta.pl/archiwum/1,0,4284728.html?kdl=20050128KAK&wyr=Przyszowice%2Bwe%2Bkrwi%2B | format = | accessdate =2007-04-13 }}</ref>. Moreover Soviet soldiers likely did not know they were still on Polish soil and instead believed they finally entered the territories of Nazi Germany; Przyszowice was one of the most westwards villages of the ], on the pre-war border between Poland and Germany<ref name="Krzyk"/><ref name="Semik"/><ref name="IPN"/>. The reason for the massacre remains unknown. Some authors believe that the Soviet soldiers wanted to take revenge for the losses suffered by the Red Army during the recent skirmishes with the Wehrmacht in the area.<ref name="Krzyk"/> During the fighting for Przyszowice, the Soviets suffered 101 casualties and lost roughly 40 tanks.<ref name="Krzyk-Kutz">{{cite journal | author =Józef Krzyk, ] | date =2005-01-28 | title =Wieś w morzu krwi | journal =] | issue =23 | pages =1 | url =http://szukaj.gazeta.pl/archiwum/1,0,4284728.html?kdl=20050128KAK&wyr=Przyszowice%2Bwe%2Bkrwi%2B | access-date =2007-04-13 |language=pl}}</ref> It is also likely that the Soviet soldiers did not know they were still on Polish soil and instead believed they had finally entered the territories of Nazi Germany; Przyszowice was one of the westernmost villages of the ], on the pre-war border between Poland and Germany.<ref name="IPN"/><ref name="Krzyk"/><ref name="Semik">{{cite journal | author =Teresa Semik | date =2005-10-06 | title =Zbrodnie wojenne Armii Czerwonej na Ślązakach - pierwsze śledztwa | journal =] | url =http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/wiadomosc.html?wid=8022929&ticaid=138fb | access-date =2007-04-13 |language=pl}}</ref>


Following the massacre the victims were buried in a ] on a local cemetery<ref name="Krzyk-Kutz"/>. Two people were also killed in the summer that year, alredy after the end of the war, when Red Army troops were returning from Germany: a men by a Soviet plane in June; and a women in July by a group of Soviet soldiers stealing a cow.<ref name="Hartman"/><ref name="Semik"/> During the years of Communist rule in Poland factual knowledge of the events was censored by propaganda of the ]. Until 1989 all mentions of the tragedy were censored<ref name="Krzyk-Kutz"/>, while the mass grave was kept anonymous<ref name="Krzyk"/>. It was not until the 60th anniversary of the event in 2005 that a memorial stone was erected on the cemetery<ref name="Krzyk"/>. The ceremony was held by ] of ] ], personally an eye-witness of the massacre and a relative of one of the victims<ref name="Krzyk"/><ref name="Hartman"/> Following the massacre, the victims were buried in a ] in a local cemetery.<ref name="Krzyk-Kutz"/> Polish newspapers also note that two more civilians were killed in the summer of that year, after the end of the war, when Red Army troops were returning from Germany. A man was strafed by a Soviet plane in June, and a woman killed in July by a group of Soviet soldiers stealing a cow.<ref name="Hartman"/><ref name="Semik"/> During the years of Communist rule in Poland (which lasted until 1989), factual knowledge of these events was censored by the ],<ref name="Krzyk-Kutz"/> and the mass grave was kept anonymous.<ref name="Krzyk"/> It was not until the 60th anniversary of the event in 2005 that a memorial stone was erected at the cemetery.<ref name="Krzyk"/> The commemorative ceremony was performed by the ] of ], ], who was personally an eye-witness to the events, as well as a relative of one of the victims.<ref name="Hartman"/><ref name="Krzyk"/>


Around that time the ] branch of the ] (IPN) started an investigation on the events, as well as on similar massacres carried out in ] and ]-]<ref name="Krzyk"/>. During the investigation various documents provided by the ] were examined<ref name="Krzyk"/>, however no people responsible for the killings could be identified. It is salso till unknown which units of the Red Army were responsible for the massacre.<ref name="Krzyk"/> In the effect of the investigation the 1945 events in Przyszowice were declared a ] by IPN<ref name="Semik"/>;<ref name="IPN"> Case S 15/04/Zk; page 83. Last accessed 11 April 2007</ref> it is estimated that at least a thousand civilians were killed in Silesia by the Soviets, many of them etnic Poles and Silesians; most of them, about 800, in the ].<ref name="Semik"/> Around that time, the ] branch of the ] (IPN) started an investigation into the events,<ref name="IPN"/> as well as on similar massacres carried out in ] and ]-].<ref name="Krzyk"/> During the investigation, various documents provided by the ] were examined,<ref name="Krzyk"/> however, there was insufficient information to determine which units of the Red Army participated in the massacre or who was responsible for the killings.<ref name="Krzyk"/> In reporting the results of its investigation, the IPN declared the 1945 events in Przyszowice a ].<ref name="IPN"> ], Case S 15/04/Zk; page 83. Last accessed 11 April 2007</ref><ref name="Semik"/> It is estimated that at least a thousand civilians were killed by the Soviets in Silesia, many of whom were ethnic Poles and Silesians; most of these deaths, about 800, occurred in the ].<ref name="Semik"/><ref name="IPN-Gliwice"> ], Case S 2/04/Zk; page 82. Last accessed 8 May 2007</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]
⚫ * ]
* ] * ]


==Notes and references== ==Notes and references==
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==Further reading== ==Further reading==
:* {{pl icon}} {{cite book | author =Krystyna Gordoń | coauthors =Piotr Piątek | title =Trzy dni z dziejów Przyszowic | year =2005 | editor = | pages =104 | chapter = | chapterurl = | publisher =Towarzystwo Miłośników Przyszowic | location =Przyszowice | isbn= | url = | format = | accessdate = }} :* {{cite book | author =Krystyna Gordoń |author2=Piotr Piątek | title =Trzy dni z dziejów Przyszowic | year =2005 | pages =104 | publisher =Towarzystwo Miłośników Przyszowic | location =Przyszowice |language=pl}}


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Latest revision as of 13:20, 22 December 2024

Przyszowice massacre
Tombstone to the victims of Przyszowice massacre. It lists the victims with the statement: "Murdered by the Red Army." Placed during the 2005 commemorative event
LocationPrzyszowice, Upper Silesia, occupied Poland
DateJanuary 26, 1945
TargetPoles
Attack typeShooting
Deaths54 to 69
PerpetratorsRed Army
Motiveunknown

The Przyszowice massacre (Polish: Zbrodnia przyszowicka or tragedia przyszowicka) was a massacre perpetrated by the Red Army against civilian inhabitants of the Polish village of Przyszowice in Upper Silesia during the period January 26 to January 28, 1945. Sources vary on the number of victims, which range from 54 to over 60 – and possibly as many as 69. The Institute of National Remembrance, a Polish organization that carried out research into these events, has declared that the Przyszowice massacre was a crime against humanity.

History

After the start of the Soviet January offensive in early 1945, the Red Army broke through from the line of the Vistula River well into German-held territory in occupied Poland. By late January, the scattered forces of the Wehrmacht were withdrawn to the line of the Oder River, which was on the pre-war territory of the Third Reich. However, several German units were ordered to prepare tactical counter-attacks, notably in the region of Upper Silesia, on the Polish-German borderland. On January 23, Soviet forces seized the town of Gleiwitz (Gliwice), one of the major industrial centres of the area. On the following day, the Germans counter-attacked, precipitating a three-day-long battle for the area. Eventually victorious, on January 26 the Russians entered the village of Przyszowice, the last Polish village before the Polish-German border.

During the following two days, a massacre of local inhabitants ensued. The Soviet soldiers set several dozen houses on fire and began shooting at the civilians trying to extinguish the flames. It is believed that over 60 civilians lost their lives, Polish newspapers gave the high-end number of 69. Men, women and children aged between 10 days and 78 years were killed, although most of the victims were adult males. Among the victims were four former prisoners of the Auschwitz concentration camp who had escaped from a death march the previous day. Except for two of the escapees who were Italian and Hungarian, the rest of the victims were Polish civilians – including two former soldiers of the Polish Army, who had recently been freed by the Soviets from a prisoner of war camp. According to Polish media, in addition to the mass murder of civilians, the Soviet forces looted the village and raped an unknown number of women.

The reason for the massacre remains unknown. Some authors believe that the Soviet soldiers wanted to take revenge for the losses suffered by the Red Army during the recent skirmishes with the Wehrmacht in the area. During the fighting for Przyszowice, the Soviets suffered 101 casualties and lost roughly 40 tanks. It is also likely that the Soviet soldiers did not know they were still on Polish soil and instead believed they had finally entered the territories of Nazi Germany; Przyszowice was one of the westernmost villages of the Second Polish Republic, on the pre-war border between Poland and Germany.

Following the massacre, the victims were buried in a mass grave in a local cemetery. Polish newspapers also note that two more civilians were killed in the summer of that year, after the end of the war, when Red Army troops were returning from Germany. A man was strafed by a Soviet plane in June, and a woman killed in July by a group of Soviet soldiers stealing a cow. During the years of Communist rule in Poland (which lasted until 1989), factual knowledge of these events was censored by the communist government, and the mass grave was kept anonymous. It was not until the 60th anniversary of the event in 2005 that a memorial stone was erected at the cemetery. The commemorative ceremony was performed by the bishop of Legnica, Stefan Cichy, who was personally an eye-witness to the events, as well as a relative of one of the victims.

Around that time, the Katowice branch of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) started an investigation into the events, as well as on similar massacres carried out in Gliwice and Ruda Śląska-Halemba. During the investigation, various documents provided by the Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation were examined, however, there was insufficient information to determine which units of the Red Army participated in the massacre or who was responsible for the killings. In reporting the results of its investigation, the IPN declared the 1945 events in Przyszowice a crime against humanity. It is estimated that at least a thousand civilians were killed by the Soviets in Silesia, many of whom were ethnic Poles and Silesians; most of these deaths, about 800, occurred in the Gliwice massacre.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Sebastian Hartman (2007-01-23). "Tragedia 27.01.1945r". przyszowice.com (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2024-05-26. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  2. ^ Informacja o działalności Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej – Komisji Ścigania Zbrodni przeciwko Narodowi Polskiemu w okresie 1 lipca 2003 r.–30 czerwca 2004 r. Institute of National Remembrance, Case S 15/04/Zk; page 83. Last accessed 11 April 2007
  3. ^ Józef Krzyk (2007-01-24). "Dokumenty z Moskwy pomogą w rozwikłaniu zbrodni z 1945 roku". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  4. ^ Teresa Semik (2005-10-06). "Zbrodnie wojenne Armii Czerwonej na Ślązakach - pierwsze śledztwa". Dziennik Zachodni (in Polish). Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  5. ^ Józef Krzyk, Kazimierz Kutz (2005-01-28). "Wieś w morzu krwi". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish) (23): 1. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  6. Informacja o działalności Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej – Komisji Ścigania Zbrodni przeciwko Narodowi Polskiemu w okresie 1 lipca 2003 r.–30 czerwca 2004 r. Institute of National Remembrance, Case S 2/04/Zk; page 82. Last accessed 8 May 2007

Further reading

  • Krystyna Gordoń; Piotr Piątek (2005). Trzy dni z dziejów Przyszowic (in Polish). Przyszowice: Towarzystwo Miłośników Przyszowic. p. 104.

50°15′00″N 18°45′00″E / 50.250000°N 18.750000°E / 50.250000; 18.750000

Massacres of ethnic Poles in World War II
Present-day Poland
Pre-war Polish Volhynia
(Wołyń Voivodeship,
present-day Ukraine)
Pre-war Polish Eastern Galicia
(Stanisławów, Tarnopol
and eastern Lwów Voivodeships,
present-day Ukraine)
Polish self-defence centres in Volhynia
Remainder of present-day Ukraine
Pre-war Polish Nowogródek, Polesie
and eastern parts of Wilno and Białystok
Voivodeships (present-day Belarus)
Remainder of present-day Belarus
Wilno Region Proper
in the pre-war Polish Wilno Voivodeship
(present-day Lithuania)
Present-day Russia
Present-day Germany
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