Stalinist show trial of the Kraków Curia
Encyclopedia
The Stalinist show trial of the Kraków
Curia
was a public trial
of four Roman Catholic priests – members of the Kraków diocesan
Curia – including three lay persons, accused by the Communist authorities in the People's Republic of Poland
of subversion and spying for the United States
. The staged trial, based on the Soviet
formula
, was held before the Military District Court of Kraków
from January 21 to 26, 1953 at a public-event-hall of the Szadkowski Plant. The court, headed by the hardline Stalinist judge Mieczysław Widaj, announced its verdict on January 27, 1953 sentencing to death: Father
Józef Lelito, Fr. Michał Kowalik, and Fr. Edward Chachlica. The priests were stripped of all civil and constitutional rights, but their death penalties were subsequently not enforced. The remaining defendants were sentenced from 6 years in prison, to life (Fr. Franciszek Szymonek). The fear-inspiring court judgments were endorsed politically by the Resolution of the Polish Writers Union in Kraków on February 8, 1953, signed by a slew of prominent members. A series of similar trials followed.
and its infamous 5th Department created in July 1946 specifically for that purpose. Since the late 1940s, it was headed by interrogator Julia Brystiger
(née Prajs) who personally directed the operation to arrest and detain the Primate of Poland, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. The department specialized in the persecution and torture of Polish religious personalities. Brystygier, born to a Jewish family in Stryj (now Ukraine), dedicated herself to ideological struggle against all forms of religion. Nicknamed Bloody Luna by the victims of her Gestapo-like torture techniques, Brystygier was responsible for the apprehension and punishment of 2,000 Jehovah's Witnesses
for their religious beliefs.
The trial was a key element in the subsequent wave of repressions against the Church. First, on February 9, 1953, the communist government issued The decree on appointments of clergy to church positions, assuming total control over the way in which positions in the Church were filled. A month later, on March 8, 1953 the authorities stopped publication of the Catholic weekly Tygodnik Powszechny
in reprisal for its alleged refusal to include a eulogy commemorating the death of Stalin
. The magazine was taken over (until October 1956) by a pro-government secular group PAX Association
. Finally, on September 14, 1953, the communist apparatus launched a separate show-trial of Bishop Czesław Kaczmarek, coupled with a series of the so called splinter trials of various "informants" sentenced to an average of 12–15 years. Kaczmarek, tortured in custody before being forced to sign a confession and admit his "guilt", was sentenced to 12 years in prison on September 22, 1953. On September 25, 1953, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski was arrested. Three days later, on September 28, 1953, a deeply intimidated Catholic Bishops' Conference issued an official condemnation of sabotage against the state. In parallel, the Office of the Council of Ministers (Urząd Rady Ministrów) organized its own ceremony on December 17, 1953, welcoming the government-approved Bishops, Diocesan administrators (Vicar capitulars), and Suffragans
.
partisan Jan Szponder, was sentenced by the court to 13 years in prison on 13 May 1953. He died two years later in unexplained circumstances during his detention, probably on January 30, 1955. Helena Budziaszek received 15 years. Adam Kowalik, 10 years, while his wife Stanisława (sister of Jan Szponder) received 5 years. Irena Haber, 12 years in prison. Piotr Kamieniarz, 15 years. His son, Andrzej, 12 years, and his other son Józef, also 12 years. Władysław Meus, 12 years in prison. Mieczysław Steczko, 15 years; and, Tadeusz Mirota, 12 years in prison.
All trials were highly publicized, with daily radio broadcasts, and articles in national newspapers by prominent writers, such as the full-page attack in support of the verdict, by Mrożek, comparing death-row priests to the degenerate SS-men and Ku-Klux-Klan. Due to wartime annihilation of Warsaw
, a large number of Polish writers resided in Kraków in those years.
The Union of Polish Writers' Resolution in Kraków, of February 8, 1953, was signed by the following:
The Kraków trial, on the one hand, was the culmination of the Stalinist anti-ecclesiastical offensive; on the other hand, it was also the highest point in an attack led by MBP against the Polish emigration circles. In December 1952, two major operations were concluded by the security forces: one against the remnants of the anti-communist underground
("Cezary"), and the other, against its own political opponents ("Ośrodek").
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
Curia
Curia (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholicism, a curia consists of a group of officials who assist in the governance of a particular Church. These curias range from the relatively simple diocesan curia, to the larger patriarchal curias, to the Roman Curia, which is the central government of the Catholic Church.Other...
was a public trial
Public trial
Public trial or open trial is a trial open to public, as opposed to the secret trial. The term should not be confused with show trial.-United States:...
of four Roman Catholic priests – members of the Kraków diocesan
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
Curia – including three lay persons, accused by the Communist authorities in the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
of subversion and spying for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The staged trial, based on the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
formula
Moscow Trials
The Moscow Trials were a series of show trials conducted in the Soviet Union and orchestrated by Joseph Stalin during the Great Purge of the 1930s. The victims included most of the surviving Old Bolsheviks, as well as the leadership of the Soviet secret police...
, was held before the Military District Court of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
from January 21 to 26, 1953 at a public-event-hall of the Szadkowski Plant. The court, headed by the hardline Stalinist judge Mieczysław Widaj, announced its verdict on January 27, 1953 sentencing to death: Father
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
Józef Lelito, Fr. Michał Kowalik, and Fr. Edward Chachlica. The priests were stripped of all civil and constitutional rights, but their death penalties were subsequently not enforced. The remaining defendants were sentenced from 6 years in prison, to life (Fr. Franciszek Szymonek). The fear-inspiring court judgments were endorsed politically by the Resolution of the Polish Writers Union in Kraków on February 8, 1953, signed by a slew of prominent members. A series of similar trials followed.
Stalinist repressions against the Catholic Church
The "war against religion" in which only in 1950 (in one year), a total of 123 Roman Catholic priests were thrown in jail, became the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Security of PolandMinistry of Public Security of Poland
The Ministry of Public Security of Poland was a Polish communist secret police, intelligence and counter-espionage service operating from 1945 to 1954 under Jakub Berman of the Politburo...
and its infamous 5th Department created in July 1946 specifically for that purpose. Since the late 1940s, it was headed by interrogator Julia Brystiger
Julia Brystiger
Julia Brystiger was a Polish Communist activist and member of the security apparatus in Stalinist Poland...
(née Prajs) who personally directed the operation to arrest and detain the Primate of Poland, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. The department specialized in the persecution and torture of Polish religious personalities. Brystygier, born to a Jewish family in Stryj (now Ukraine), dedicated herself to ideological struggle against all forms of religion. Nicknamed Bloody Luna by the victims of her Gestapo-like torture techniques, Brystygier was responsible for the apprehension and punishment of 2,000 Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
for their religious beliefs.
The trial was a key element in the subsequent wave of repressions against the Church. First, on February 9, 1953, the communist government issued The decree on appointments of clergy to church positions, assuming total control over the way in which positions in the Church were filled. A month later, on March 8, 1953 the authorities stopped publication of the Catholic weekly Tygodnik Powszechny
Tygodnik Powszechny
Tygodnik Powszechny is a Polish Roman Catholic weekly magazine, focusing on social and cultural issues. Established in 1945 under the auspices of Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, Jerzy Turowicz was its editor-in-chief until his death in 1999. He was succeeded by priest Adam Boniecki.-History:The...
in reprisal for its alleged refusal to include a eulogy commemorating the death of Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
. The magazine was taken over (until October 1956) by a pro-government secular group PAX Association
PAX Association
The PAX Association was a pro-communist secular Catholic organization created in 1947 in the People's Republic of Poland. In 1953, PAX gave its support to the Stalinist show trial of the Kraków Curia, and took over the publication of the Catholic weekly magazine Tygodnik Powszechny – until the...
. Finally, on September 14, 1953, the communist apparatus launched a separate show-trial of Bishop Czesław Kaczmarek, coupled with a series of the so called splinter trials of various "informants" sentenced to an average of 12–15 years. Kaczmarek, tortured in custody before being forced to sign a confession and admit his "guilt", was sentenced to 12 years in prison on September 22, 1953. On September 25, 1953, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski was arrested. Three days later, on September 28, 1953, a deeply intimidated Catholic Bishops' Conference issued an official condemnation of sabotage against the state. In parallel, the Office of the Council of Ministers (Urząd Rady Ministrów) organized its own ceremony on December 17, 1953, welcoming the government-approved Bishops, Diocesan administrators (Vicar capitulars), and Suffragans
Suffragan Diocese
A suffragan diocese is a diocese in the Catholic Church that is overseen not only by its own diocesan bishop but also by a metropolitan bishop. The metropolitan is always an archbishop who governs his own archdiocese...
.
The splinter trials
A wave of propaganda spin-offs called the splinter trials was launched against the people associated with the Rada Polityczna (Political Council) in Western Europe, composed of members of the Stronnictwo Narodowe active during World War II. All captives were accused of espionage, and sentenced to long prison terms. Fr. Józef Fudali who corresponded with former NOWNational Military Organization
Narodowa Organizacja Wojskowa was one of the Polish resistance movements in World War II. Created in 1939, it did not agree to merge with the Service for Poland's Victory /Union of Armed Struggle /Armia Krajowa but recognized the Polish government in exile. Politically related to the National Party...
partisan Jan Szponder, was sentenced by the court to 13 years in prison on 13 May 1953. He died two years later in unexplained circumstances during his detention, probably on January 30, 1955. Helena Budziaszek received 15 years. Adam Kowalik, 10 years, while his wife Stanisława (sister of Jan Szponder) received 5 years. Irena Haber, 12 years in prison. Piotr Kamieniarz, 15 years. His son, Andrzej, 12 years, and his other son Józef, also 12 years. Władysław Meus, 12 years in prison. Mieczysław Steczko, 15 years; and, Tadeusz Mirota, 12 years in prison.
All trials were highly publicized, with daily radio broadcasts, and articles in national newspapers by prominent writers, such as the full-page attack in support of the verdict, by Mrożek, comparing death-row priests to the degenerate SS-men and Ku-Klux-Klan. Due to wartime annihilation of Warsaw
Planned destruction of Warsaw
The planned destruction of Warsaw refers to the largely realised plans by Nazi Germany to completely raze the city. The plan was put into full motion after the Warsaw Uprising in 1944...
, a large number of Polish writers resided in Kraków in those years.
Resolution of the Union of Polish Writers
The Union of Polish Writers gathering of February 8, 1953 in Kraków, produced a damning statement regarding the Trial of the Curia. The Resolution was signed by 53 members, some of whom went on to become leading figures in Polish literary circles bestowed with medals and awards.| Resoluti>n of the Union of Polish Writers in Kraków regarding the Kraków trial | Rezolucja>Związku Literatów Polskich w Krakowie w sprawie procesu krakowskiego |
The Union of Polish Writers' Resolution in Kraków, of February 8, 1953, was signed by the following:
- Karol Bunsch, Jan Błoński, Władysław DobrowolskiWładysław DobrowolskiWładysław Dobrowolski was a Polish fencer and athlete. He won a bronze medal in the team sabre event at the 1932 Summer Olympics....
, Kornel Filipowicz (future husband of Szymborska), Andrzej KijowskiAndrzej KijowskiAndrzej Kijowski was a Polish literary critic, essayist, prose and screenwriter. His son is poet and critic Andrzej Tadeusz Kijowski....
(in 2008 given the medal of Polonia Restituta by Pres. Lech Kaczyński), Jalu KurekJalu KurekJalu Kurek was a Polish poet and prose writer, one of the figures of the so-called Kraków avant-garde...
, Władysław Machejek, W. Maciąg, Sławomir Mrożek, Tadeusz Nowak, Julian PrzybośJulian PrzybosJulian Przyboś was a Polish poet, essayist and translator, one of the most important poets of Kraków Avantgarde....
, Tadeusz Śliwiak, Maciej Słomczyński (a.k.a. Joe Alex), Wisława Szymborska, Olgierd Terlecki, H. Vogler, Adam Włodek (first husband of Szymborska), K. Barnaś, Wł. Błachut, J. Bober, Wł. Bodnicki, A. Brosz, B. Brzeziński, B. M. Długoszewski, Ludwik Flaszen, J. A. Frasik, Z. Groń, Leszek Herdegen, B. Husarski, J. Janowski, J. Jaźwiec, R. Kłyś, W. Krzemiński, J. Kurczab, T, Kwiatkowski, J. Lowell, J. Łabuz, H. Markiewicz, Bruno Miecugow, Hanna Mortkowicz-Olczakowa, Stefan Otwinowski, A. Polewka, M. Promiński, E. Rączkowski, E. Sicińska, St. Skoneczny, A. ŚwirszczyńskaAnna SwirszczynskaAnna Świrszczyńska was a Polish poet whose works deal with themes, including her experiences during World War II, motherhood, the female body, and sensuality.-Background:...
, K. Szpalski, Jan Wiktor, Jerzy ZagórskiJerzy ZagórskiJerzy Zagórski was a Polish poet, essayist and translator. Member of literary group Żagary. Awarded the Righteous Among the Nations together with his wife Maria Zagórska, translator of belles-lettres....
, Marian Załucki, Witold Zechenter, A. Zuzmierowski, and K. Żejmo.
The Kraków trial, on the one hand, was the culmination of the Stalinist anti-ecclesiastical offensive; on the other hand, it was also the highest point in an attack led by MBP against the Polish emigration circles. In December 1952, two major operations were concluded by the security forces: one against the remnants of the anti-communist underground
Cursed soldiers
The cursed soldiers is a name applied to a variety of Polish resistance movements formed in the later stages of World War II and afterwards. Created by some members of the Polish Secret State, these clandestine organizations continued their armed struggle against the Stalinist government of Poland...
("Cezary"), and the other, against its own political opponents ("Ośrodek").