Sonderaktion Krakau
Sonderaktion Krakau | |
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Part of Anti-polonism, Nazi racist doctrines |
Sonderaktion Krakau was a German operation against professors and academics of the Jagiellonian University and other universities in German-occupied Kraków, Poland, at the beginning of World War II.[1] It was carried out as part of the much broader action plan, the Intelligenzaktion, to eradicate the Polish intellectual elite, especially in those centers (such as Kraków) that were intended by the Germans to become culturally German.
It is not clear if Sonderaktion Krakau (special operation Kraków) was the actual German codename. The reason for the detention was communicated to professors in the concentration camp.[2]
Course of operation
Soon after the establishment of the
The academics filled the hall but no Vortrag (lecture) on education was given. Instead, they were told by Müller that the university did not have permission to start a new academic year and that Poles were hostile toward German science and acted in bad faith. They were arrested on the spot by armed policemen, frisked, and escorted out. Some senior professors were kicked, slapped in the face (Stanisław Estreicher) and hit with rifle butts. An additional 13–15 university employees and students who were on site were also arrested, as well as the President of Kraków, Dr Stanisław Klimecki who was apprehended at home that afternoon.[6]
All 184 persons were transported first to prison at Montelupich Street,
Release
Following loud international protest by prominent Italians including Benito Mussolini and the Vatican,[9] 101 professors who were older than 40 were released from Sachsenhausen on 8 February 1940. Additional academics were released later. Some elderly professors did not survive the roll-calls, held three times a day even in ice and snow, and the grim living conditions where dysentery was common, warm clothes rare and food rations scarce.[10] Twelve died in the camp within three months, and another five within weeks of release.[11][12] Three professors of Jewish origin were separated and later were murdered or died of other causes: (Leon Sternbach, Wiktor Ormicki and Joachim Metallmann ).[12] Among the notable professors who died in the camp were Ignacy Chrzanowski (UJ; 19 January 1940), Stanisław Estreicher (UJ; 29 December 1939), Kazimierz Kostanecki (UJ; 11 January 1940), Antoni Meyer (AGH; 24 December 1939) and Michał Siedlecki (UJ; 11 January 1940, after roll-call). In March 1940, the able prisoners from Kraków who remained alive were sent to Dachau concentration camp and most released in January 1941 on intervention.[6] The last one, Kazimierz Piwarski, was released in late 1941.[12]
Many of those who went through Sonderaktion Krakau and the internment formed an
Today there is a plaque commemorating the events of Sonderaktion Krakau in front of Collegium Novum in Kraków. Every 6 November, black flags are hung outside all Jagiellonian University buildings, and the Rector of the university lays wreaths to honor those who suffered.[citation needed]
Prominent personalities arrested during Sonderaktion Krakau
Below is a partial list of selected prominent academics and university graduates arrested on 6 November 1939.[14]
- Tadeusz Banachiewicz
- Aleksander Birkenmajer
- Ignacy Chrzanowski
- Stanisław Estreicher
- Tadeusz Estreicher
- Stanisław Gołąb
- Zdzisław Jachimecki
- Stanisław Klimecki
- Aleksander Kocwa
- Władysław Konopczyński
- Kazimierz Kostanecki
- Tadeusz Jan Kowalski
- Stanisław Kutrzeba
- Tadeusz Lehr-Spławiński
- Bogusław Leśnodorski
- Mieczysław Małecki
- Wiktor Ormicki
- Kazimierz Piwarski
- Jan Stanisławski (lexicographer)
- Leon Tochowicz
- Tadeusz Ważewski
In popular culture
- Sonderaktion Krakau is depicted in the 2005 miniseries Best Foreign Language Film at the 80th Academy Awardsceremony.
See also
- Intelligenzaktion
- Aktion Krakau
- German AB-Aktion operation in Poland
- Invasion of Poland
- Massacre of Lviv professors
- Operation Tannenberg
- Treatment of Polish citizens by occupiers
- Generalplan Ost
References
- ^ Grażyna Zawada (November 15, 2007). "Anniversary of "Operation Sonderaktion Krakau"". Krakow Post – Poland News, Events, Lifestyle. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
- ^ Gwiazdomorski (1975), p. 147
- ^ a b Gwiazdomorski (1975), pp. 11–15
- ^ Sonderaktion Krakau Muzeum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego newsletter 1/10/2015
- ^ a b c Paweł Rozmus (November 2006). "Kto Ty jesteś… czyli rozważania w rocznicę Soderaktion Krakau" (PDF). BIP 159. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Mateusz Łabuz. "Sonderaktion Krakau. Uniwersytecka wojna". (with complete list of 184 detainees by name). Druga Wojna Swiatowa. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
- ^ Gwiazdomorski (1975), pp. 19–20
- ^ "Więźniowie Sonderaktion Krakau" (PDF). Alma Mater. Jagiellonian University. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ^ Von Uwe von Seltmann. "Jagd auf die Besten". Zweiter Weltkrieg (in German). Spiegel Online. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- ^ Gwiazdomorski (1975), pp. 126–127
- ^ Gwiazdomorski (1975), pp. 211–216, 224, 245
- ^ a b c Gwiazdomorski (1975), pp. 252–253
- ^ "Najważniejsze fakty z życia Karola Wojtyły." Biografia. Archidiecezja Krakowska. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
- ^ "Prisoners of Sonderaktion Krakau" [Więźniowie Sonderaktion Krakau] (PDF). Alma Mater (118). Jagiellonian University. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
Sources
- Banach, A.K., Dybiec, J. & Stopka, K. The History of the Jagiellonian University. Kraków: Jagiellonian University Press, 2000.
- Burek, Edward (ed.) “Sonderaktion Krakau” in Encyklopedia Krakowa. Kraków: PWM, 2000.
- Gawęda, Stanisław. Uniwersytet Jagielloński w okresie II wojny światowej 1939–1945. Kraków: WLK, 1986.
- Gwiazdomorski, Jan (in Polish). Wspomnienia z Sachsenhausen [Memoiries from Sachsenhausen]. Kraków: Wydawnictow Literackie, 1975.