Murder on the Makowieckis and Widerszal. Old Case, New Questions, New Doubt

• Authors: Marszalec J.
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

This article deals with the most notorious political crime committed by the Germans on independence-oriented underground in German-occupied Poland. On 13 July 1944, Ludwik Widerszal and Jerzy Makowiecki with his wife were killed by a patrol of Andrzej Sudeczko's sabotage group. Both were prominent officers of the Information and Propaganda Bureau (BiP) of Home Army High Command, who exerted a powerful influence on the ideology of the key agency of the Polish underground army. Both assassinated men were also political activists involved in the left-wing 'Stronnictwo Demokratyczne' (Democratic Party), which was accused of pro-Soviet sympathies and crypto communism. The author demonstrates that allegations of treason or communist influences levelled at Makowiecki and Widerszal have no foundation in sources. They originated from prejudice and misunderstanding, easily begotten in the stuffy air of conspiracy, when no open political discussion was possible due to the terror of German occupation authorities. Since Andrzej Krzysztof Kunert several years ago finally dismissed the thesis that this murder was inspired by 'Narodowe Sily Zbrojne' (National Armed Forces, NSZ), and demonstrates the involvement of a 'conspiratorial mafia group' which used a few high-ranking conspirators, we know that this group was made up of three men. It is also certain that at least two of them: Witold Bienkowski and Wladyslaw Jamontt (both brave and distinguished conspirators with big political ambitions) acted purposely, carrying out a political plan, which, in their opinion, was to block the political influence of the BiP in the underground and bring them some profit. Finding the culprits and the potential supporters of the plot is impossible. The author analyses in detail the circumstances of the investaigation carried out by underground authorities and considers the actual motive behind the crime. He dismisses the thesis that the murder was ideologically inspired by the NSZ. The death of Makowiecki and Widerszal, veteran conspirators and patriots shot in infamy as traitors was a hopeless attempt by Bienkowski and Jamontt to get involved, identifying a threat where there was none. The real enemy - Moscow's agents, concealed within the 'Delegatura' (Government Delegate's Office at Home) and the Home Army, remained undetected, patiently waiting for the Red Army to arrive.

Keywords

EN

MAKOWIECKIS & WIDERSZAL POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS (1944)

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY

• Publisher: Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Zaglada Zydów. Studia i Materialy (Holocaust. Studies and Materials)
• Year: 2006
• Volume: 2
• Pages: 23-53
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Marszalec J.

• J. Marszalec, no address given, contact the journal editor

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

07PLAAAA03066302