Wola massacre
The Wola massacre (Polish: Rzeź Woli) refers to the mass murder of ethnic Poles by Nazi German troops in Warsaw, occupied Poland in August 1944.[1]
Background
In occupied Poland, the Nazi Germans saw Warsaw as the center of resistance.[1] The start of the Warsaw Uprising on August 1, 1944 made the Nazi Germans decide to destroy Warsaw.[1] Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler said:[1]
Every inhabitant is to be killed, and no prisoners are to be taken. Warsaw must be levelled to the ground to set a terrifying example to the rest of Europe.
Events
Beginning
Men formed the majority of the massacre's victims.[1] On August 5, 1944, thousands of soldiers from the Wehrmacht, "Dirlewanger" SS regiment, and the 608th infantry regiment started the mass murder by shooting civilians in their houses, and on the streets when they fled the houses being set on fire by the Nazi Germans.[1]
Mass executions
Mass executions happened near the railway workshop halls in Moczydło Street (as many as 12,000 were killed), in the "Ursus" plant (as many as 7,500 killed), in the Franaszek factory (as many as 6,000 killed), in Sowiński Park (about 1,500 killed), and the Orthodox Christian cemetery (hundreds killed).[1]
Later development
The massacre was scaled down General von dem Bach-Zelewski took charge and stopped the murder of women and children.[1] On August 6, more mass murders happened, especially in the Kirchmajer and Marczewski farming machinery store at 79/81 Wolska Street, where 2,000 deaths were recorded.[1]
Lieutenant Colonel Jan Mazurkiewicz, codenamed Radosław, wrote in an August 6 report to the Polish Home Army's Colonel Antoni Chruściel:[2]
The enemy is burning more houses and executing residents in Wola [...] Thousands of refugees from Wola have gathered in my sector. A massive tragedy is unfolding like the historical massacre of Praga. I am doing what I can to reduce this tragedy, sending people to the Old Town. If you can help, do so quickly, as there is little time left.
Casualties
The exact death toll remains unclear.[1] Experts put the toll at 38,000–65,000.[1]
Wola Massacre Media
Residents of Wola being expelled from their homes in August 1944
Building of a barricade on one of Wola's streets
SS-Gruppenführer Heinz Reinefarth with soldiers of the 3rd Cossack Regiment
II. Battalion "Kampfgruppe Steinhauer" from the SS-Sonderregiment Dirlewanger marching along Chłodna Street towards the city centre
Reinefarth's command post during the Wola battles (corner of Wolska and Syrena streets)
Wolska Street in the first days of August 1944
A column of Polish women with children being led by German troops along Wolska Street in early August 1944
Tram depot on Młynarska Street: foreground showing an insurgent barricade made of tram cars
Related pages
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10
- Cienciala, Anna M.. The Civilian Population and the Warsaw Uprising of 1944.. Military Affairs 48 (1) (January 1984). p. 49. doi:10.2307/1988362.
- Alfred Peszke, Michael. A Review of: "Norman Davies.Rising '44. The Battle For Warsaw.". The Journal of Slavic Military Studies 18 (4) (December 2005). p. 767–769. doi:10.1080/13518040500357003.
- Garliński, Jarek. Warsaw 1944: Hitler, Himmler, and the Warsaw Uprising. The Polish Review 60 (1) (2015-04-01). p. 111–115. doi:10.5406/polishreview.60.1.0111.
- Blejwas, Stanley. A Heroic Uprising in Poland. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- President of the Institute of National Remembrance Karol Nawrocki, Ph.D. paid tribute to the Polish civilian population of Warsaw ‒ victims of the German massacre in the Wola district, Warsaw, 5 August 2021. Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (August 5, 2021). Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ↑ Gursztyn, Piotr. Rzeź Woli. Zbrodnia nierozliczona (in pl) (2014). Warsaw, Poland: DEMART SA. ISBN 978-83-7427-869-0.
