On 1 March 1951, 7 independency leaders of the 4th Board of the Main Association “Freedom and Independence” were killed in the Mokotów prison in Warsaw with a shot in the back of the head, headed by Colonel Łukasz Cieplinski. To this day, their burial place is unknown. The anniversary of this crime is celebrated as the National Day of Memory of the Cursed Soldiers.
"In these days I am to be murdered by the communists for the ideals which I give to you in my will. [...] In this hard time of life for me, knowing that my sacrifice will not go for nothing, that unfulfilled dreams and dreams will not shut the unknown grave, but that you will carry them out, is simply a large happiness for me” – he wrote to Andrew’s boy on death row. Colonel Łukasz Ciepliński "Plug", Head of the 4th Board of the Association “Freedom and Independence”.
Since the entry of russian troops into the pre-war territories of the Second Republic in Poland in 1944, anti-communist undergrounds have been active against the imposed force of the regime. 1 of the nationwide poakowski conspiracy organizations was Freedom and independency Association. It was formed on September 2, 1945, and its goal was to fight for democracy and the sovereignty of Poland. “The creators of the WiN besides postulated guarantees of freedom of speech, association and besides the cessation of repression against the opposition,” says Dr. Grzegorz Tracki, a historian who dealt with the period of planet War II and the communist regime. From 1945 to 1946, the Association had between 20 and 30,000 members.
Communist Security services have tracked and broken down 3 more boards of the organization and arrested their members. In January 1947, Colonel Cieplinski headed the 4th Board of the WiN Association. Since the spring of 1940, the officer has been active in the conspiracy, serving as chief of the Reichs Oblast of the Armed Combat Union and regional inspector of the Rzeszow National Army. Then “Plug” continued to fight in poakowski independency organizations: NO, Armed Forces Delegates at the Country and WiN, in which he, among others, headed the confederate Area.
– After taking the position of president of WiN, Colonel Ciepliński reconstructed the structure of the organization with broken arrests and developed an interview to collect information about the activities of communist authorities and russian forces in Poland, says the historian. Colonel Ciepliński fell into the hands of safety 27 November 1947, then UB officers arrested almost all members of the WiN board. They were transported to Warsaw and imprisoned in Mokotov prison, where they were subjected to cruel investigation. “Many times Luke Ciepliński was brought up on a blanket for interrogation, as he had broken bones of his arms and legs and later brought to an unconscious cell,” 1 of his fellow prisoners recalled.
On October 5, 1950, a proceeding of 10 members began before the Military territory Court in Warsaw WiN authorities. The jury was chaired by Colonel Aleksander Warecki. On the bench the defendants were seated: Colonel Cieplinski, Major Adam Lazarowicz, Vice president of the 4th Management Board of WiN, Captain Józef Batory, Head of External Communications, Lieutenant Karol Chmiel, Political Advisor, Major Mieczysław Kawalec, Head of Information Department, Lieutenant Franciszek Błażej, Head of Propaganda, Captain Józef Rzepka, Head of Political Department, Louis Kubik, Head of Organizational Department, and 2 liaisons Janina Czarnacka and Zofia Michałowska.
They were accused, among others, of cooperating with Germany during the business and actions aimed at communist power. After the show trial on October 14, the court handed down a sentence. “The president of WiN was sentenced to 5 death sentences, failure of public and civilian rights and failure of property,” says Dr. Tracki. The highest punishment was besides ruled against six of his closest associates. Kubik received a life conviction thanks to the efforts of the family, while Czarnack and Michałowska received a long-term prison. "This conviction should so be a informing to anyone who dares to rise his hand on the People's Authority in Poland and the capture of the working masses," Colonel Warecki wrote in the justification.
On death row, Colonel Cieplinski wrote in a flu to his wife: “Honey Bear! I'm inactive alive, though it's most likely the last fewer days. I'm sitting with a Gestapo officer. They get letters and I don't. And so I would like to receive at least a fewer words written with your hand.” president Bolesław Bierut refused the sentenced right of grace and 7 WiN activists were murdered by a shot in the back of the head on March 1, 1951. in a prison on Rakowiecka Street. The executions began at 20 p.m. and lasted until around 21.
– The bodies of the murdered have not been issued to families, and their burial place is unknown to this day – reminds the historian. In 1992, the Court of Warsaw Military territory annulled judgments issued on members of the 4th General Board of WiN. Since 2011, the anniversary of the crime committed on these 7 independency activists has been celebrated as National Day of Memory for the Cursed Soldiers.
