Bid to find partisans slain by communists

The guerrilla soldiers had fought under Captain Henryk Flame (codename Bartek) as part of the so-called National Armed Forces (NSZ).

According to research by the state-backed Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), which is leading the initiative, the men were betrayed by a mole in their unit in September 1946.

The partisans apparently believed that they were being transported over the border to the US-controlled zone in Germany. However, the action was a ruse, and the men were shot.

Captain Flame managed to escape after realising that something was amiss, but he himself was killed in December 1947, while dining in a restaurant in Zabrzeg.

The search in the woods near the village of Barut, Opole region. Photo: PAP/Andrzej Grygiel

Professor Krzysztof Szwagrzyk of IPN told reporters on Tuesday near the village of Barut, Opole region, that the site is undoubtedly a killing field, as fragments of bones with traces of gunshots were found there 3 years ago.

He noted however that not a single skull was found, indicating that the remains were buried elsewhere.

Work will take place both in Barut and in the village of Stary Grodków.

Flame's men represented the largest anti-communist partisan group functioning in Upper Silesia and the Beskid uplands. In October 2012, the remains of about 25 people were found in the village of Dworzysko. Work continues on trying to find DNA matches for the remains.

Post-war guerrillas, known in Poland as ''the Cursed Soldiers'' were a taboo subject in Poland during the communist era. Formations such as NSZ were rehabilitated after 1989. However, controversy remains over atrocities carried out by some units. President Bronisław Komorowski said this year on the annual 'Day of the Cursed Soldiers' (March 1) that memorials should be raised to both the fighters and in some cases their victims. (nh)

Source: PAP