The Soviets did not peculiarly hide their dislike of the Polish Underground State, but were allies of our allies. That is why the National Army did not refrain from cooperating during the liberation of Lviv. The city was liberated in a fewer days. And then this “sojusznik” one more time showed his actual face.
Soviet tanks on the streets of Lviv. July 1944. photograph Wikipedia
There was a relaxed atmosphere in the room. Tables surrounded by maps and documents, against the wall of 30 russian officers. Talk noise, short laughter, cigaret smoke. individual asked the watermen to take their seats. individual else said that Gen. Ivanov would not arrive, unfortunately, due to the fact that he is busy, but the gathering will take place anyway. Major Kornel Stasiewicz “Prosper”, chief of staff of the Lviv AK district, nodded. Since the liberation of the city from the German occupation, relations with the Soviets have actually deteriorated overnight. Nevertheless, he hoped that there would be a way to work out further cooperation. Poles sat behind the table. And then the conversations stopped. An unknown colonel entered the room. He looked around, then his eyes were on “Prosper.” In brief words, he instructed him to report. "We are from the AK, we represent combat units of the now formed division. We want to proceed to fight Germany alongside the Red Army," he explained. It's quiet. "Please repeat," said the colonel unexpectedly. Stasiewicz's dead. After a second of silence, he began to throw out circular sentences again. He didn't finish. "Ah you... hands up," the officer roared. In his hand, he held a weapon grabbed from his desk...
National Army takes town
In the first months of 1944, the Lions were sipping from increasingly improbable rumors. The Polish street whispered that the UPA would come after the Germans and mass murders would begin. She was no little afraid of the city. Red Army. On the another hand, comforting news occasionally appeared. Like the 1 about English officers supposedly seen in close Kolomya. “So possibly it won’t be so bad? possibly the West won’t let us die?” – it carried like a mantra in apartments and streets.
Meanwhile, the Soviets were getting closer. By the beginning of the years, the Lions were actually at hand. In news of the fast advancement of the Red Army among local Germans panic broke out. On July 18, representatives of the civilian administration left the city, followed by Ukrainian police. The lions were to be taken over by the retreating from the front Wehrmacht. Meanwhile, soldiers of regular troops were inactive tied up in fighting on the outskirts of the city. “From July 19 to 21, Lviv was stray and constituted as if an enclave free from war, falling around it,” wrote historian Damian Markowski. All of this created a large chance for the Polish underground.
From January onwards it lasted “Burza” action. According to the assumptions of the Home Army Headquarters, Poles were to strike back on the backward Germans, liberate further pieces of territory, and act as hosts in front of the entering Red Army. In Lviv, the underground had almost 3 1000 soldiers grouped in the 14th Jazlowiecian Ulan Regiment and the 5th Infantry Division being played. The local command was headed by Colonel Władysław Filipkowski "Janka". On July 19, he placed his subordinates in the state of emergency. However, only 3 days later, after the first columns of russian tanks appeared in the suburbs of Lviv, they started fighting.
Street fights of the Red Army in Lviv. photograph IPN
Poles liberated the confederate part of the city comparatively quickly. Soon, too, the fierce fighting of the downtown area was heated. Meanwhile, the situation of the Red Army began to complicate. “... Germany, retreating to the Winnik–David line, cut off the 10th Armored defender Corps fighting in the city from the remainder of the army and the back. Already the first russian soldiers met on the morning of 22 July in Kwiatkówka by BIP chief Mirosław Żuławski believed that erstwhile entering Lviv without infantry support, they were going to die. small wonder, therefore, that the russian troops were very eager to receive the aid that the AK troops in the city began to give them," noted Jerzy Hungarian, author of the book about the Lviv AK. shortly allied flags began to appear on the German-backed buildings. Polish, Soviet, American and British banners were broken at the town hall, and Polish and russian banners were broken.
On 26 July, Colonel Filipkowski yet met with representatives of russian command. As agreed with his superiors, to add prestige, he was to usage the rank of Brigadier General during talks. March. Ivan Koniew, who headed the 1st Ukrainian Front, was represented by a certain General Ivanov. General Ivan Sierow, 1 of the most prominent figures of the NKVD, was most likely covered by this name. Filipkowski, in the presence of his co-workers, declared that the AK was able to form an infantry division within a week and decision on to further fighting in an alliance with the Red Army. "Why not," Ivanov said.
In reality, however, the days of the Lviv AK were already numbered.
“This is russian land...”
At night from 26 to 27 July The Germans yet withdrew. The lions were free. 1 of the AK officers recalled after years: “From 1 of the hills I saw that the city was simply drowning in the colours of the Polish state.” But enthusiasm didn't last long. A fewer hours later, Colonel Filipkowski, along with his closest associate Colonel Henry Pohoski, was called to the russian staff. The officers received Ivanov. He demanded that the AK lay down her weapon within six hours. “It is not like...” Filipkowski started, but the host abruptly interrupted him: “What does it mean?! If I want, the weapon will lay down the full russian front. And 2 hours is adequate for him to do so!"
From Ivanov's quarters, the akovists were confronted by Gen. Evgeny Gruszki, who was about to become chief of the Lviv NKVD. Col. Pohoski recalled: “Gen. Filipkowski [sic!]... expressed the hope that the 5th Lviv AK division could be organized. Our host smiled with knowing and said, “Here is russian land and russian people, you have nothing to look for.” Gruszko depreciated the meaning of the AK. "There is already a Polish army. It's your Gen. Zymierski. They're standing in the Żytomierz. You can talk to him. If you want, we will give you a plane.”
Filipkowski grasped this thought like razors. In agreement with the Home Army office and the territory Government Delegate, he decided to accept the russian offer. Counting the days to the departure, he saw the Lions become a different city in front of him. The white and red flags are gone. Red flags appeared in their place. On July 30, the Soviets spent their residents on a large rally, at which the first violin played the march. Koniew and Nikita Khrushchev, military polytruk and organization chief in russian Ukraine. The next day Filipkowski and Pohoski boarded the plane. They got to the Ryemeter happily. On the spot, they even managed to meet Michał Rola-Żymierzski, a pre-war officer demoted for corruption, who was already doing his career as a commander of the Soviet-dependent People's Army and Minister of Defence in the Polish National Liberation Committee. In the end, the aquifers did nothing. They were arrested by the NKVD and imprisoned in a camp close Riazian.
Worth of Kedywów territory of Lviv before entering the area of the Lviv University of Technology during the “Burza” action. photograph IPN
At that time in Lviv the Soviets detained members of the staff of the Lviv AK District, with Major Kornel Stasiewicz at the head. A local government typical was besides arrested at the emigration of Prof. Adam Ostrowski.
Commander of the National Army General Tadeusz Komorowski “Bór” He later recalled messages that seldom came to him from a Soviet-controlled town. “The prisons on Łąckiego Street overflowed with AK soldiers. There are rumours that they will shortly take the prisoners to Russia" she said on September 30. shortly the “Bora” received a radio transfer from the political representation of Lviv: “We call for an Allied Commission, we call for intervention in favour of imprisoned members of the AK and the Delegate”.
But it was besides late for that. During the Tehran conference, representatives of the powers agreed that the erstwhile Borders of the Republic of Poland would arrive after the war. Lviv slow became a russian city and nothing could change that.
While writing, I utilized the following publications: Damian Markowski, “Burning Ends. Operation “Burza” at the east Borders of the Second Republic”, Warsaw 2011; Jerzy Hungarian, “In the Lviv Home Army”, Warsaw 1989; Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski, “The Underground Army”, London 1989; Grzegorz Hryciuk, “Poles in Lviv 1939–1944. regular Life”, Warsaw 2000.
