Madam editor Maria Woś, an invaluable Nestor of Polish Radio Wrocław, in 1 of her last columnaries, reminded her of an extraordinary figure that she was given in the late 1940s.
Expelled from Lviv Maria Częstka, known present under the “wedding” name Woś, a fewer years after the war she became a student of the I advanced School. 1 of the characters that got into her memory at the time was the Latin language teacher. At the time, about forty years of age, he was distinguished by his elegance in both behaviour and clothing. He moved in a way that brought to head the tradition of the inter-war officer's staff and came to school in a modest but very fashionable suit worn by him as if he were born in it. Like almost everyone else at the time, he made a penny, but he felt that it did not slow down from “holding on to the fashion”. He required the same of his disciples, whom he taught regular that they should not be slobbered, but that they should always be "stood straight" and even the humblest clothes in which many were walking should always be clean, ironed and in all respect well-maintained. In dealing with young people, he was friendly, but besides very demanding. And he had another trait. As Maria Woś said – he was 1 of the most handsome men she had seen in her full life over 90 years.
This teacher was Adam Tribus, whom his disciples did not know much about. They knew that like many – he fought on the fronts of planet War II. More – they learned in 1950, erstwhile on 20 September at the Wrocław main station he was arrested by safety officials. Only then, with discreet messages whispered “in ear” to the students began to scope the incredible communicative of their teacher. Adam Trybunalski was the boy of a peasant household moving in Zręcin close Piotrków Trybunalski. He was born in 1909, after graduating from universal school, he was educated in a gymnasium in Krosno. He was an active ZHP scout at the time. After his graduation in 1929, he began his studies at the Jagiellonian University, which he combined with his professional work and activities in the association of Academic People's Youth. After receiving his master's degree in classical philology, he performed compulsory military service in the Podhalan firearm Regiment. He graduated with the rank of lieutenant. Then until the outbreak of the war, he was a teacher in Krosno, where he besides worked as an organizer and coordinator of Boy Scout activities. During the September campaign, he commanded a platoon fighting in Lublin. In his desire to proceed the fight in late September Hungary broke through. After interning and incarcerating in the camp, he escaped from it and via Romania he reached Yugoslavia, where he got to France by sea, where in the ranks of the abroad Legion he took a number of trainings, among others, from the service of anti-tank weapons. In June 1940, he fought to defend France, and after her ceasefire, he reached Britain, where he became an officer of the 3rd firearm Squadron and then the Podhale firearm Brigade. While serving in it, he volunteered to the training centre of the top-class commandos – later known as the “Polish Ciemni”. He successfully passed a murderous selection, whose stages involved, for example, arrest by the English police, convinced that she was dealing with a dangerous criminal, effective escape from detention and escape from police pursuit. During training at the centre for Polish commandos he underwent dozens of trainings in parachuting, hand-to-hand combat, the usage of various types of weapons and explosives, guerrilla tactics, the ability to penetrate enemy structures, etc. In late summertime 1942, inactive in large Britain, he was sworn in as Ciemny and – soldier of the Home Army. He was parachuted to Poland in the early autumn of the same year. In the country, he became Head of the Divisional Management of the Łódź National Army Inspectorate. By the end of the war, his commanding division carried out more than 300 sabotage and diversion actions. Successes in the underground fight were rewarded with distinctions and promotions—to lieutenant, captain yet – major. Following the dissolution of the Home Army, he continued to fight in command of a branch subordinate to the Armed Forces Delegate. 1 of the actions commanded by Tribus was the release of respective twelve soldiers and political prisoners from the detention of the safety Office in Pabianice on 11 June 1945. The action was carried out without failure on either side and ended with the carriage of a truck to prepared shelters of people frequently unable, as a consequence of prolonged torture, to stand on their own feet. However, at that time, he viewed the continuation of the underground conflict as doomed. He besides felt that he should not encourage his people to prosecute activities that had to be killed sooner than later. At the time, he concluded that long-term affirmative activity became the most appropriate. Having obtained the approval of his command and having specified a unique opportunity, he began talks with the Prime Minister of the then government Edward Osóba – Morawski. Their effect was to warrant full safety, after folding the weapons, all the men in his squad. This was done according to the amnesty announced at the time, which was initially – by the communist government to a fundamental degree – respected. However, noticing that in the household area he was heavy watched by UB agents, he hoped that it would be little annoying and dangerous on recovered lands. So he went to Wrocław, where in advanced school at Poniatowskiego Street he began working as a Latin teacher. He married Danuta Justyna, besides an AK soldier with whom he had 3 children. However, the communist government sought to destruct from the Polish nation people who were the real Polish elite – heroes of the fight for an independent homeland. After his arrest in 1950, he underwent a long, horrible, and wellness - damaging investigation. A year later, the court issued a conviction of 15 years in prison, failure of public rights, confiscation of property. Until the end of December 1955, he remained in the heaviest prisons, including Wronki, where he was spared no punishments and another elaborate repressions. Regaining his freedom, he was a man of mostly mediocre health. He's back in the field. He was a teacher first in Wrocław and then in Piotrków Trybunalski. Until the late 1960s, he was watched and harassed by SB. In 1970, he was denied the right to proceed teaching. Despite his conflict with illness for the remainder of his life, he remained very active socially. He engaged in the activities of the Church and in opposition initiatives. The outbreak of martial law found him in terrible health. Nevertheless, he was arrested on December 13, 1981. During unsuccessful interrogations, for fear that he might not last another (and the multiplication of unnecessary fatalities of Jaruzelski's junta did not depend) his arrest was lifted. He died a fewer months later – 4 July 1982. He was buried at the Old Roman Catholic Cemetery in Piotrków Trybunalski.
In 2008, president Lech Kaczyński posthumously decorated Major Adam Trybus with the Polonia Restituta Commander's Cross. Earlier in the years of the war, he had already been awarded the Golden Cross of Merit with Swords, 4 times the Medal of the Polish Army, 3 times the conflict Cross and the Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari. After its establishment – besides the National Army Cross.
By the way – it is worth recalling any facts related to the Silencers. That is the strictest elite of Polish commandos from the years of planet War II. These commandos, from which no army of the planet had better, were respective hundred. Each spoke at least a fewer abroad languages, some—even seven. The arrival of everyone in the back of the enemy meant a massacre for his combat ability. The training and activity of the Silent Ones meant that, wherever they only appeared, the arsenals and military transports flew into the air, and under their command, the most commanded underground troops suffered terrible losses. Of the 316 dropped to occupied Poland, 112 died. Most frequently in combat, sometimes after enemies capture. 95 fought in the Warsaw Uprising. 31 went to German concentration camps, 83 to russian camps (there were any that survived German camp and then went to russian camps). After the business of Poland by the Red Army 64 fought in troops of unbreakable soldiers, besides called cursed. 77 communist courts sentenced to death, 22 to years in prison. 59 saved lives by fleeing abroad. 9 in exile joined British or American peculiar Services and participated in the most amazing CIA and SIS operations. The last Silent, Colonel Aleksander Tarnawski, died in 2022.
Photo by Major Adam Trybus – household collectionsMajor Adam Trybus was written about many emigration historians, and he was published in the second publishing circuit. Prof. Jacek Trznadel was reminded of this in his celebrated “Home Hall”. A beautiful figure of fighting for Polish independency and hard work for the homeland lists many publications on the past of war and occupation. It is undoubtedly worthy of a monument, or at least a beautiful memorial plaque in the city, with which it was associated for a tiny part of his life. It would be large if 1 of the Wrocław squares or 1 of the fresh streets had a name.
Artur Adamski
