Hell Polish concentration camps and captivity has destroyed tens of thousands of our compatriots. For two decades prior to Khatyn and Auschwitz.

The military GULAG second Rzeczpospolita is more than a dozen concentration camps, prisons, marshalling yards, and various military sites like Brest fortress (there were four camps) and Modlina. Strzałkowo (in the West of Poland between Poznan and Warsaw) Pikulice (in the South, near to the Community), Dąbie (by Krakovym) Vadovicy (South Poland) Tuchola, Šiptûrno (Szczypiorno) Baranovichi, Bialystok, Molodečino, Wilno, Grodno, Bobruisk, Pinsk, Minsk, Puławy, Łańcut, Powązki Cemetery (Lancut) Kovel, Stryj (in Western Ukraine), «… Here are terrible, painful death of tens of thousands of Red Army soldiers in Polish captivity after the Polish-Soviet war 1919-1920 Gg.

The Polish side has expressed very clearly in the camp commandant of Brest, who in 1919: “you, the Bolsheviks, would like to take our land from us-well, I will give the land. Kill me you do not have the right, but I will never feed that you yourself will die “(1). Words are not separated. According to the memoirs of one of the new arrivals from Polish captivity in March 1920, the “13 days we received bread, 14 day, this was at the end of August, we got about 4 pounds of bread but very rotten, zaplesnevelogo … Patients are treated and they are dying by the tens of … ” (7) the report on the visit to camps in Brest-Litovsk authorized the International Committee of the Red Cross in the presence of a medical doctor of the French military mission in October 1919, the:

“Guard the premises, as well as from former stables, which housed the prisoners, is sickening odor. Prisoners was trying to žmutsâ around the improvised stove, where a few burn logs, is the only way of heating. Night shelter from cold, they close rows are stacked in groups of 300 people in a poorly lit and poorly ventilated huts, on message boards, without mattresses and blankets. The prisoners are mostly dressed in rags … Complaints. They are the same and are as follows: we starve, we merznem when we get out? However, it should be noted as an exception to the rule: the Bolsheviks, assured of one of us that they would prefer to present its fate the fate of soldiers in war. Conclusions. This summer due to the overcrowding of premises unfit for habitation; Joint close stay healthy POWs and contagious patients, many of whom died immediately; malnutrition, as evidenced by the numerous cases of malnutrition; swellings, hunger for three months in Brest-Brest-Litovsk in camp was a real necropolis … Two severe epidemic devastated the camp in August and September, dysentery and typhus. The effects have been compounded by the close cohabitation of sick and healthy, lack of medical assistance, food and clothing … Record mortality was delivered in early August, when one day 180 people had died from dysentery … In the period from 27 July to 4 September, i.e. for 34 days, in the camp of Brest died 770 Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian internees. It should be recalled that the number of prisoners, prisoners in the fortress, in August reached gradually, if there are no errors, the 10000 people and 10 October was 3861 people. ” (1, 4).

Later “due to unsuitable conditions” camp in the Brest fortress was closed. However, in other camps, the situation was often worse. In particular, a member of the League of Nations, Professor Madsen, who visited the “usual” Polish camp for captured Red Army soldiers in Vadovicah at the end of November 1920, called it “one of the most terrible things that he saw in life.” In this camp, as recalled by former prisoner B. Kozerovskij, the prisoners, “beat the clock”. Remembers the witness: “long bars have always been ready. .. When I observed two soldiers caught in a neighbouring village … Suspicious are often translated into a special penalty Barack, thence was almost none. Fed “every day of broth from the dried vegetables and bread at 8 kg man”. There have been cases where ogolodavšie Red Army men ate carrion, offal and even hay (1, 11, 12). «”Prisoners of war in the camp are forced to carry own droppings instead of horses. They are pulling and ploughs and harrows “WUA. f. 0384. op. 8 d. 18921. p. 210 l. 54-59 (13).

Not the best conditions for forwards and in prisons, which were also political prisoners. Very eloquently described the situation soldiers ‘ Chief power distribution station in Pulawy Mayor Hlebovskij“nesnosnye prisoners in order to spread unrest and enzymes in Poland” constantly eat potato clean out manure heap. Only for 6 months of the autumn-winter period 1920-1921, the 900 prisoners of war died in Pulawy from 1100 (11, 12). That was a Polish concentration camp at team station in Belarusian Molodečino, symbolized by the said Deputy Chief warden front Mayor B. Hakbejl“Camp prisoners in the national stations for prisoners-it was real Khutor. None of those unfortunate didn’t care, so surprising that people unwashed, stripped, bad kormlennyj and placed in unsuitable conditions as a result of infection was doomed to die “(2). In Babrujsk “was up to 1600 prisoners (soldiers ‘as well as the death of Belarusian peasants of Babrujsk district. N. M), the majority of which is totally naked “… (13).

According to Soviet writer, officer of the KGB in the 20-ies N. Ravich, arrested poles in 1919, and visits in the prisons of Minsk, Grodno, Povonzkah and camp Dąbie, Chambers was so close that only the lucky guests slept on bunk beds. In Minsk prison death everywhere have lice, especially felt cold as outer clothing was selected. “Os′muški bread (50 grams), morning and evening relied in hot water 12:0 the same water, flour and salt added with”. Holding in Povonzkah “was beaten by Russian prisoners of war, most of which were crippled with artificial arms and legs”. The German Revolution, says h. Rawicz, released them from the camps and they spontaneously went through Poland to their homeland. But in Poland, they were arrested by special barriers and herded into camps, and some for forced labour “(5).

The majority of Polish concentration camps were constructed in a very short period of time, some date back the Germans and Austro-Hungarians. For long-term prisoners were totally inadequate. For example, the camp at Dombe in Krakow was a town with numerous streets and squares. Instead of BARAKI neplotnymi houses with wooden walls, many with wooden floors. All this is surrounded by rows of barbed wire. Conditions of detention of prisoners in the winter: “most without shoes is quite bare … Beds and benches almost no … No straw or hay. Sleeping on the ground or message boards. Blankets are very few “(1, 9). From the letter of the Chairman of the Russian-Ukrainian delegation in peace negotiations with Poland A. Ioffe Chairman of the Polish delegation I Dombrovskomu. from January 9, 1921,: “most of the prisoners in Dombe, bare and camp 18 at the headquarters of the 2nd Division, most have no clothes” (1).

On the situation in Bialystok show preserved in the central military archives and chapter letter military physician Department of Interior Ministry of health General Zdzislaw Gordyn′skogo-Ûhnoviča. In December 1919, he reported to the Chief doctor in desperation, Polish Army on his visit at the train station in Bialystok: “I visited the camp prisoners in Białystok, below the first impression, dared to ask the Lord to General as head physician of Polish troops, describing the terrible picture, which appears before the eyes of everyone who enters the camp … Once again the same criminal neglect their responsibilities of all actors in the camp authorities have brought shame to our name, the Polish Army in the same way as in Brest-Litovsk … In the camp there is unimaginable dirt and clutter. At the door of the barracks of the heap of human wastes and are posted around violently trampled dignity is regarded the camp of thousands of feet. Patients are so weakened that they were unable to reach the latrines. Those in turn are in such a condition that it is not possible to move closer to the seats because the entire floor is covered with a thick layer of human excreta. Barracks are overcrowded, among healthy full of sick. According to my data, among 1.400 prisoners no healthy. Lohmot′âmi-accessory, they are to each other, trying to get warm. A stench emanating from patients with dysentery and gangrene, opuhših from hunger. Two particularly seriously ill were their own stools, emerged from the torn pants. They did not have the force to move to a dry place. And what a terrible picture “(4, 6, 14). A former prisoner of the Polish camp in Bialystok Andrey Matskevich later recollected that the prisoner, who had received a day “a small portion of the black bread weighing about 1/2 pound (200 gr.), one a crock of soup, similar to pomoi, and scalding water” (11).

Concentration camp in Strzałkowo (Strzalkowo), located between Poznan and Warsaw, was considered the most frightening. He appeared on the eve of 1914-1915 Gg. as the German camp for prisoners with the fronts of the first world war on the border between Germany and the Russian Empire, near the road connecting the two border areas with the Prussian part of Strzałkowo and Slupcy with the Russian. In the aftermath of the first world camp was eliminated. But instead, he switched from the Germans to poles and was used as a concentration camp for prisoners of war, Red Army soldiers. Once the camp was Polish (May 12, 1919) deaths of prisoners of war in it during the year increased more than 16 times. July 11, 1919, by order of the Ministry of defence of Poland he was given the name “POW camp No. 1 under Strzałkowo (Obóz Jeniecki Nr 1 pod Strzałkowem).

After the conclusion of the peace treaty of Riga concentration camp in Strzałkowo is also used for the maintenance of internees, including Russian soldiers, played a Ukrainian people’s army and the forces of the Belarusian “under escort”-Ataman C. Bulak-Bulahoviča. What happened in the concentration camp, not only documents, but also the publication of the press.

In particular, “Courier New”, dated January 4, 1921, described in the article then the much shocking fate detachment from hundreds of Latvians. The soldiers led by renegade commanders of the Red Army and transferred to the Polish side, in order to return to their homeland. The Polish military had been very cordially. Before they were sent to the camp, they were given a certificate that they voluntarily went to the poles. The robbery began on the way to camp. The Latvians have removed all the clothes, except for underwear. And for those who managed to hide some of their things, everything sorted out in Strzałkowo. They stayed in rags without shoes. But it’s a trifle compared to the systematic harassment of which they were put in a concentration camp. It all began with 50 attacks whips with barbed wire, while ethnic Latvians said they-Jewish mercenaries and living from the logs. More than 10 people have died from blood poisoning. After the prisoners left for three days without food by prohibiting outside water under penalty of death. Two shot dead for no apparent reason. Most likely, the threat would be carried out, and none of the Latvians had left the camp would be alive if his superiors, Captain Wagner and Lieutenant Malinowski -have not been arrested and brought to trial by a Commission of inquiry. (6, 14).

During the investigation, among other things, it became clear that walk around the camp, accompanied by corporals with wire whips and beatings of prisoners were loved Malinovsky. If one was moaning or requested mercy, it is. For killing prisoner Malinowski encouraged time 3 papiroskami and 25 Polish stamps (11). The Polish authorities tried to cause scandal and cover up quickly.

In November 1919, the military authorities of the Polish Sejm Commission reported that the biggest Polish prisoners of war camp No. 1 in Stšalkove “is very well equipped.” Actually the roof of camp barracks were dyrâvymi and it has been fitted with a bunk bed. Probably, it was felt that for the Bolsheviks, and it was good. The Representative Of The Red Cross Stefania Sempolovska wrote from camp: “Barack to the Communists so overcrowded that squeezed of prisoners have not been able to lie down and stood, podpiraâ one another.” The situation has not changed in Stšalkove, and in October 1920. “Little clothing and footwear, most go barefoot … Beds no-sleep on straw … Due to lack of food the prisoners held by cleaning the potatoes, sneak eating it raw “(11).

The report of the Russian-Ukrainian delegation stated that: “containing the prisoners in their underwear, the Poles did not treat them as human beings of equal race, as well as slaves. Beatings in/prisoners practiced at every turn … ” (1, p. 704). Eyewitnesses say: “daily arrested throw out and instead of walking, jogging, even ordering to fall in the mud … If a prisoner refuses to or cannot climb, dropping his beaten by batons obessilennyj “(9).

As the largest of the camps, Strzałkowo was 25 thousand prisoners. Actually, the number of prisoners at times exceeded 37 000. The figures have changed rapidly, as people like flies in frost Merli. Russian and Polish writers of army men in Polish captivity in 1919-1922. Sat. documents and materials “claim that” in Strzałkowo in 1919-1920 Gg. died about 8 thousand prisoners “(1, p. 13). At the same time, the Committee of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks), clandestinely acting camp Strzałkowo, in his report to the Soviet Commission on prisoners of war in April 1921, claimed that: “the last epidemic of typhoid and dysentery were dying for 300 people. on the day … serial number list for more buried 12-thousand … ” (1, p. 532). Such a claim on the great mortality in Strzałkowo isn’t the only one.

Despite claims of Polish historians, that the situation in the Polish concentration camps once again improved to 1921, documents indicate otherwise. In the minutes of the meeting of the mixed (Polish-Russian-Ukrainian) Commission on repatriation from July 28, 1921 noted that in Stšalkove “command as if in revenge after the first visit of our delegation has reinforced its repression … Red Army beat and mutilate on every occasion and without reason … the beatings have taken the form of epidemics “. In November 1921, which, according to the Polish historians, “the situation in the camps had improved dramatically,” so described the staff RUDE accommodations for prisoners in Stšalkove: “most of the underground shelters, damp, dark, cold, with pobitymi glass, broken floors and with thin roof. Holes in the roof let you freely admire the starry sky. Fit in them moknut and zâbnut day and night … There is no lighting (11).

That “Russian Bolshevik prisoners” by the Polish authorities did not consider the people said such fact: in the biggest Polish prisoner-of-war camp in Strzałkowo for 3 (three) years have failed to resolve the issue of the administration of prisoner bathroom at night. There were no toilets in barracks and camp administration to ban the shooting pain after 6:0 night of the barracks. Therefore prisoners “were forced to send in cauldrons of whom then is is” (1, n. 696, 8).

The second largest Polish concentration camp, located near the town of Tuchola (Tucheln, Tuchola, Tuholi, Tuhol, Tuhola, Tuhol′) by the right can challenge for the title of most scary Strzałkowo. Or at least the wrong people. It was built by the Germans during the first world war in 1914. Initially, the camp contained mostly Russians, later joined by Romanian, French, English, and Italian prisoners of war. In 1919, the camp has been used Polish soldiers and commanders there koncentrirovavših Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian militia and civilians, Soviet sympathizers (15). In December 1920, the representative of the Polish Red Cross Natalia Creutz-Veležin′skaâ the Camp wrote: “Tuholi is a TN pit, which include climbing, going down. On both sides there are Nara, where prisoners slept. There are no senniki, straw, blankets. No heat due to irregular supplies of fuel. Shortage of linen, clothes in all offices. Most tragically of all conditions of newcomers, which transported in unheated wagons, without clothes, cold, hungry and tired … After this trip, many of them being sent to hospital, and a weak die “(1).

PISMO belogvardejca (10): “…”Detainees are housed in huts and dugouts. Those are not suited for the winter time. A couple of thick iron from the inside covered with humphead thin wooden filënkami that polopalis′ in many places. Door and window in part-too bad of them desperately blowing … Internees do not give even the bedding under the pretext of “malnutrition of horses”. With extreme concern, think of future winter “(Letter of Tuholi, October 22, 1921).

The State archive of the Russian Federation there are recollections of Lt Kalikina, held through concentration camp in Tuholi. Lieutenant, who was lucky to survive, says: “back in Tuhol′ told all about Turne horrors but the reality exceeded expectations. Imagine a sandy plain near the River, President Putin has two rows of barbed wire, inside of which the correct rows have dilapidated mud huts. No trees anywhere, no reeds, one sand. Near the main gate of BARAKI corrugated iron. When you pass by them at night, get some strange, ŝemâŝij soul sound, someone quietly sobs. During the day the Sun is hot, oppressively in barracks at night-cold … When our army internirovalas′, the Polish Minister for Sapieha Family asked what it would be. “It will be postupleno, as required by the honour and dignity of Poland,” he answered proudly. Does this “honour” was a Tuhol′? So, we come to Tuhol′ and settled on iron barracks. Come cold and furnace not topilis′ for lack of firewood. A year later, 50 per cent were women and 40% men fell ill, mainly tuberculosis. Many of them died. Most of my friends were killed and povesivšiesâ “.

Army Man Vladimir Valuev, telling that at the end of August 1920, he with the other prisoners, “were sent to camp Tuholi. There were casualties, not perevâzannye on a week, their wounds wound up worms. Many of the wounded are dying every day buried on 30-35 persons. The wounded were lying in cold barracks without food and medicine “(1, p. 426).

In November 1920, frosty Tucholsky hospital resembled a conveyor of death: “hospital buildings are huge barracks, in most cases, like hangars. All the buildings are dilapidated and spoiled, within the walls of the hole through which you can get hand … A cold usually awful. Talking during a night-time frosts walls are covered by ice. Patients lie on the terrible beds … All the filthy mattresses without bedding, only 1/4 has some quilts are all dirty rags or paper sheets (1, p. 376).

In charge of the Russian Red Cross Society, Stefania Sempolovska of November (1920) inspection in Tuhol′: “Patients lie on the terrible beds, linen, only the fourth part of a Division. The injured are complaining of a terrible cold, which not only prevents healing, but according to doctors with pain when healing. Health staff complains about the absence of dressing, cotton wool and bandages. I saw bandages, somehow symbolize in the forest. The camp is widespread typhus and dysentery, which penetrated to the prisoners working in the district. The number of patients in the camp is so great that one of the barracks at the Communists turned into a hospital. 16 November, there was more than seventy patients. A large part of the Earth “(1, p. 585-586).

Mortality from injuries, illness and frostbite was such that, according to American officials, through 5-6 months in a camp in general no one should stay (3, p. 234). Similarly, the estimated death rate among prisoners in charge of the Russian Red Cross Society, Stefania Sempolovskaâ, “…Tuchola: mortality in the camp is so great that it is estimated that I made with one of the officers, the mortality rate, which was in October (1920), the entire camp would be extinct for 4-5 months (1, p. 586).

Emigrant’s English press, published in Poland and, to put it mildly, not battling the sympathy for the Bolsheviks directly written about Tuholi as “camp of death” for the Red Army. In particular, the emigrant newspaper “freedom” released in Warsaw and fully dependent of the Polish authorities, in October 1921, reported that at that time in the camp of Tuchola died in General 22nd. man. A similar figure of the dead leads, and the Chief of general staff Division of the II Polish Army (military intelligence and counter-intelligence) Lieutenant-Colonel Ignacyj Matuszewski.

In his report of February 1, 1922 in the Cabinet of military Minister of Poland General K. Sosnkovskomu I. Matuszewski asserts: “Of the II Division of materials … the conclusion to be drawn from these facts shoots-camps are not limited to Stšalkovom, and also occur in all other camps, both the Communists and the internment of white. These shoots are caused by the conditions of the Communists and internees (lack of fuel, clothing, poor nutrition, and a long wait for departure to Russia). Especially famous for the camp at Tuholi, which is called “a death camp internees” (in the camp died about 22000 captured Red Army soldiers) (1, p. 701).

Analyzing the content of the document, signed by Matuševskogo, and Russian researchers, first, emphasize that it “was not a personal message of a private person, and the official response to the military Minister of Poland dated 22/65 # January 12, 1922, with a categorical listing Chief of general staff: Division II …to explain under what conditions an escape from camp prisoners 33 Communists Strzałkowo and who is responsible. ” These orders typically have special services when required with absolute certainty establish a record of facts. The Minister did not accidentally instructed and. Matuševskomu to investigate the circumstances of the Communists escape Strzałkowo. Chief of the General staff in the Division II 1920-23 was the most informed man in Poland regarding the actual situation in the camps, prisoners of war and civilian internees. His subordinate officers II Division, were not only “sort of” visiting prisoners of war, but also controlled the political situation in the camps. The reality of the situation in the camp in Tuholi and was just to know Matuszewski by virtue of their official position. Therefore, there can be no doubt that before writing his letter of February 1, 1922, i. Matuszewski had exhaustive, documented and verified information about the death of thousands of prisoners 22 army soldiers at Camp Tuholi. Otherwise, you have to be political suicide to on their own initiative to inform the leadership of the country unchecked facts, especially on an issue which is at the Centre of a diplomatic scandal loud! After all, at that time in Poland have not yet had time to cool passions after the famous Soviet Foreign Affairs RSFSR sheet music Chicherina from September 9, 1921, in which he in the harshest terms, accused the Polish authorities for the deaths of Soviet prisoners of war “60000 (8).

In addition to the report and messages, Matuševskogo. Russian emigre press the huge number of deaths in Tuholi actually confirmed and records of hospital services. In particular, on a “clear picture regarding the death of Russian prisoners of war can be seen on the” camp of death “in Tuholi, which was the official statistics, but only in certain periods there prisoners. According to this, although not the full statistics, since the opening of the hospital in February 1921, (and most difficult for POWs were winter 1920-21) and before 11 May of the same year, the epidemic diseases 6491, camp was communicable-17294. Total-23785 diseases. The number of prisoners in the camp during this period should not exceed 10-11 thousand, so more than half of the prisoners were victims of epidemics, with each prisoner for 3 months to get sick at least twice. Officially during this period there were death case, i.e. 2561 to 3 months have killed at least 25% of the total number of prisoners of war “(5).

At Tuholi in the worst months in 1920/21. (November, December, January and February), the Russian researchers, “remains the only guess. You have to believe that it was no less than 2000 people a month “(8). When estimating mortality in Tuholi you must also bear in mind that the representative of the Polish Red Cross n. Creutz-Veležin′skaâ, in his report on the visit to the camp in December 1920, stated that: “most tragically of all conditions of newcomers, which transported in unheated wagons, without clothes, cold, hungry and tired … After this trip, many of them being sent to hospital, and a weak die “(1, p. 438). Mortality in such levels of the reaches 40% (1, p. 126). Died at echelons, although were assigned to camp zahoranivalis′ and camp in landfills, officially the obŝelagernoj statistics are not recorded. Their number could take into account only the officers who led the Division II reception and “sorting” prisoners of war. Also, does not seem to be reflected in the final reporting mortality deaths camp in quarantine newly arrived prisoners of war (8).

In this context, it is of particular interest not only quoted above evidence of the Polish General staff and Division II. Matuševskogo at a concentration camp, but also memories of local residents Tuholi. According to them back in the 1930 ‘s. Here there were many plots, “on which the Earth failed under the feet and from the stuck human remains” (14).

The military GULAG second Rzeczpospolita was relatively short-lived-about three years. But during this time, he managed to destroy tens of thousands of lives. The Polish side has acknowledged the deaths of “16-18 thousand.” According to Russian and Ukrainian scientists, researchers and policy makers, in reality this figure could be approximately five times more.

Nikolay Malishevskiy

LINKS

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2) about the number of prisoners Matveyev G.f. Red Army during Polish-Soviet war 1919-1920,//questions of history. 2001. No. 9. C. 120-126;

3 I.v. Mihutina) of the Polish-Soviet war 1919-1920 Gg. M., 1994.

4) Memorabilia a. Captured Red Army men in Polish camps: historians of the two countries, after studying the documents come to General conclusions//new Poland no. 10, 2005.

Paradise N.s. 5) of the Polish-Soviet war 1919-1920, and the fate of prisoners of war, civilian internees, hostages and refugees; RAS in-t in Russian history. with UN-Tom. Mellçna. Moscow 1999. -91.

6) Routchkin b. Hell behind the barbed wire//Red Star, 21.10.2009.

7) Simonova T.m. Field of white crosses. Russian POWs in the Polish POW//Home. 2001. # 4. S. 52-59.

Strygin c. 8), Swede b. Forgotten genocide//tomorrow # 24 (656), June 14, 2006.

Strygin c. 9), Swede in Auschwitz Baptist.//katyn.ru

10) Tûlâkov S.p. Polish death camp//Russian House, no. 10, 2005.

11) Swede V.n. treated as slaves. The death of Red Army soldiers in Polish captivity: 1919-1922//the Russian Federation today, no. 3, 2008.

12) Swede V.n. mystery of Katyn. M., 2007. S. 231-313.

13) n. Katynskoe retribution Stalin//Komsomolskaya Pravda, 22.01.2011.

14) Igor Miecik za drutami Pieklo t.//Newsweek Polska wrzesnia 27 2009. (Mečik Igor t. Hell behind the barbed wire//Newsweek Polska, October 27, 2009).

Tuchola: obóz 15) jeńców i internowanych 1914-1923. Cz. 1-2. Oprac. Alexandrowicz, Zbigniew Karpus Exiled King, Waldemar Rezmer. Toruń 1997. (Tuhol′: camp prisoners and internees 1914-1923, Toruń, 1997).