After the end of planet War II, Poland did not regain full sovereignty. Although the fight against the German occupier ceased, a fresh phase of conflict began – an armed confrontation of the Polish underground of independency with the russian communist government imposed by the russian Union. 1 clear example of this fight was the conflict of the Cats, which took place at the turn of May and June 1945.
It was a skirmish that crossed the local dimension – it symbolized the clash of ideological opposition to the strategy with the brutal reality of folk power. The National Armed Forces (NSZ) Brigade was at the centre of these events.
The National Armed Forces were formed in 1942 as an armed formation of the national camp, part associated with ONR. They were an alternate to structures subordinate to the London government. Their goal was to fight for independent Poland, but besides to defend the nation against the Bolshevik threat. The most celebrated unit of the NSZ was the Świętokrzyska Brigade, formed in 1944. It consisted of initially about 850 soldiers who crossed the conflict way through confederate Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. This formation was unique – not only resisted Germany, but besides treated the russian Union as a major threat to Poland's independence.
In January 1945, the Świętokrzyska Brigade set out to the West, avoiding direct clashes with the Red Army. However, in Kielce there remained smaller NSZ troops, which continued partisan activity. 1 of them was the branch of Lieutenant Stanisław Sikorski "Jaremy", who became a associate in the conflict of Kotki.
Stanisław Sikorski, born 1 September 1921 in Rynarzew, was an NSZ officer and formerly a associate of the Lizard Union. In 1944, he joined the Świętokrzyska Brigade, where he served as the adjutant of the commander. After the departure of the main forces of the Brigade to the West, he remained in Kielce, where he organized the guerrilla unit himself. Among his best-known actions was the disarmament without the usage of weapons of the company of bomb squads of the People's Army of Poland and diversion actions in the territory of graduated district. His squad counted about 200 soldiers. The intent of their presence in the Pińczów area was to break up the local UB prison.
Sikorski was killed on 1 June 1945 during the described fight in the kitten forests. Circumstances of his death, according to witnesses, were of the character of execution – after taking the wounded prisoner he was shot in the back of the head. His burial remains unknown to this day.
The conflict took place on 28 May – 2 June 1945 in the vicinity of the village of Kotki and Palonki in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. A branch of NSZ under ‘Jarema’, with about 200 soldiers, headed for Pinczów with the intention of breaking up the safety Office (UB) prison there. The first attack was carried out by an operational group of PUBP from Buska-Zdrój, commanded by Lieutenant Stanislaw Jabłoński, at the office in the village of Palonka guerrillas of the NSZ. The attack ended in failure – a UB officer was killed and his squad withdrew and called for reinforcements.
From Kielce came the operation group WUBP, supported by a 30-member Red Army branch. They moved to the village of Młyny, from where the soldiers moved on ft to the kitten forests. The clash had a bloody run – 10 UB officers were killed and 9 killed and 3 wounded on the guerrilla side.
An injured NSZ commander – Lieutenant Sikorski – was taken prisoner and, as mentioned, was murdered.
In view of the enemy's advantage and the danger of a lap, the NSZ branch decided to retreat. He left the kitten forests last night without losing his own. Unfortunately, in the Pińczowa area, the guerrillas were re-detected and further fighting took place in the forests between the villages of Italy and Khrushice. Despite the losses suffered, the NSZ branch managed to retreat and disperse.
The conflict of Kotki was of no strategical importance in the country, but from the point of view of the past of the struggles for Poland's independency was highly meaningful. She showed the determination of Polish guerrillas in defence of sovereignty and their tenacity towards communist dominance.
In the times of the Polish People's Republic, these events were presented only by the prism of the victims on the side of the “persistent folk power”. A monument dedicated to MO and SB officers was erected at the site of the battle. Their names were carved in stone, silenced by the presence and sacrifice of partisans of the NSZ.
It was not until 1989 that the fact about these events came to light. The monument was removed, and in its place appeared a birch cross, and then an obelisk dedicated to fallen NSZ soldiers. Local patriotic celebrations are held there all year. In 2023, the monument was demolished, causing outrage to the public and local communist communities.
