[Posters which were made public by the German authorities in Warsaw during the occupation of Poland.]
[ITEM I]
PROCLAMATION
On 15 July 1943 at noon, a hand grenade was thrown by Polish criminals into a marching column of the Warsaw SA, by which a number of SA men were wounded, some seriously.
After all warnings of the German authorities have so far been in vain, as reprisals a large number of Poles in the hands of the police together with the caught criminals were shot to-day.
In future for every case of murder or injury to a German by political criminals or bandits a number of Poles will immediately be shot.
Warsaw, 16 July 1943
The SS and Police Leader in the Warsaw District
[ITEM II]
PROCLAMATION
The court martial of the Security Police, in accordance with Art. 1 or 2 of the decree of 2 Oct 1943, condemned the following persons to death for committed criminal acts:
[Here follow the 37 names of the condemned]
Out of those—
1. Kowalski Czeslaw, born 7.4.1911 .
2. Rosner Benno, born 5.11.1919
were already executed. The others are suggested for mercy. If, however, within the next 3 months attacks are made on Germans, nationals of the states allied with Greater Germany, or nonGermans working in the interest of the reconstruction work in the Government General, at least 10 of the above named people will be executed for each attack on such a person. In case of crimes of communistic elements, of members of communistic organizations and of the other resistance groups such persons will be executed who belong to these groups. It is now up to each individual Pole, through immediate apprehension of the culprits or by influencing misguided persons known to him or by denouncing of suspicious persons to save the lives of the above named, which they have already forfeited through their misdeeds but which will be spared through the clemency of the Government.
Warsaw, 30 October 1943
The SS and Police Leader Warsaw District
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[ITEM III]
PROCLAMATION
On November 22nd 1943, near the village of Szymanow within the prefectional district of Sochaczew, an attack with explosives has been carried out on the express-train coming from Warsaw. On this occasion the train was fired on and a member of the SS has been killed and other Germans were in part seriously injured. It could be ascertained with certainty that the deed was committed by Poles, belonging to the so-called National Resistance Movement, i.e., to the PZP. The perpetrators of the deed had come from Warsaw to the locality of the crime in order to carry out their malicious attack, and had returned there afterwards.
Therefore, as a retaliation for this cowardly deed, I had the following 20 criminals named publicly shot on January 1st 1943, all of them belonging to the so-called National Resistance Movement, i.e., to the PZP and were among the persons sentenced by the court martial of the Security Police and originally considered for reprieve.
[Here follow the 20 names of the persons shot]
The Chief of the SS and the Police in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 1st December 1943
[ITEM IV]
PROCLAMATION
On 2 December 1943 in the Feldherrn-Allee in Warsaw another treacherous attack was made on a personnel carrier of the municipal police. Hereby 5 policemen and 1 Waffen SS man were killed and some policemen injured. Through statements of an accomplice in the attack the Pole Wojciech Lesakowski born 1 February 1923 in Dublin resident of Warsaw Zurawia Street 26/9 it is established beyond a doubt that the attack was committed by a terror group of the England subservient resistance organization "PZP".
In reprisal hereto I had the following 100 criminals, who in accordance with Art. 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the checking of attacks on the German reconstruction work in the Government General of 2 February 1943 had been condemned to death, publicly executed on 3 December 1943.
[Here follow the 100 names of the executed]
The executed belonged to England subservient resistance move-
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ments, that is mainly a pardon.
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to the "PZP" and were partly intended for
The SS and Police Leader in the Warsaw District Warsaw, 3 December 1943
[ITEM V]
PROCLAMATION
On 4 December 1943, between the railway stations of Skruda and Debe-Wiefkie, an attempt with explosives was perpetrated against an Express train coming from Warsaw. The train was also tired on by the bandits. Three Germans were killed there and several seriously injured. Police investigations have established beyond any doubt that the act was committed by Poles who belong to the resistance group "PZP" subservient to England.
As reprisal for this cowardly act, I ordered on 7 December 1943 the 50 criminals mentioned below shot who, in accordance with Art. 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the checking of attacks on the German reconstruction work in the Government General of 2 February 1943 had been under death sentence by the court .martial of the Security Police but had partly been designated for an act of mercy.
The executed persons belonged entirely to resistance organizations hired by England that is to say mainly to the "PZP".
[Here follow the 50 names of the executed]
The SS and Police Leader in the Warsaw District Warsaw, 8 December 1943
[ITEM VI]
PROCLAMATION
. On 12 January 1944 a "Sonderfuehrer" [special leader] was attacked and wounded by bandits in Warsaw, Jasnastrasse. On 13 January 1944 a Polish Police corporal was attacked and wounded by armed bandits in Srodkowestrasse. On 16 January 1944 armed bandits attacked and mortally wounded a Reich German post office official in Warsaw, Torplatz. Of the persons sentenced by the drum-head court-martial of the Security Police who were first designated for an act of mercy, I, thereupon, had executed by shooting the following listed persons:
[Here follows list of names of the 30 executed]
Furthermore, the following were sentenced to death for co-
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operation with forbidden organizations by the drum-head court-martial of the Security Police, according to article 1 and 2 of the decree to combat attacks against German reconstruction work in the GG [Government General] of 2 October 1943:
[Here follows list of names of the 33 persons sentenced to death]
Of the above, the ones listed under numbers 1-3 have been executed because arms were found in their possession. The persons listed under numbers 4-33 are designated for an act of mercy.
Should, however, outrages, particularly attacks on Germans, members of allied nations, or non-Germans working in the interest of reconstruction work in the GG, take place within the city of Warsaw or the district [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw-Land within the next three months, provided the culprit is not seized immediately, sentences of the above, designated for an act of mercy, will be executed in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the designated act of mercy becomes invalid for at least ten of the persons sentenced.
If the crime is committed by Communist elements, Communists selected from the above listed persons will be excluded from the act.of mercy; if the crime is committed by other misled elements, persons politically close to them will be selected from the above listed and excluded from the act of mercy.
Therefore, it is in the power of the non-German population to take care that the sentences of those designated for an act of mercy will not be executed by immediate arrest of or instigation of arrest of the culprits or by exercising influence on misled elements known to them or by report of suspicious persons.
Warsaw, 21 January 1944
The SS and Police Chief [SS und Polizeifuehrer]
District Warsaw.
[ITEM VII]
PROCLAMATION
Despite repeated warnings criminal elements of the English-Paid secret organization P. Z. P. have committed a dastardly treacherous attack on 1 February 1944 through which two Germans lost their lives. Therefore, from the group of people who have been sentenced to death for political crimes by the summary court of the Security Police and the SD and who had initially been
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considered for clemency, 100 members of the P. Z. P. have been executed in public in Warsaw on 2 February, 1944.
THE COMMANDER OF THE SECURITY POLICE AND OF THE SD FOR THE DISTRICT OF WARSAW Warsaw, 2 February 1944
[ITEM VIII]
ANNOUNCEMENT
During the past weeks frequent attacks have been made on Germans and on foreign nationals in German service by members of the so-called national resistance movement in the pay of England. Only in rare cases the Polish population actively participated in the seizure of these assassins. Through my proclamation of 10 February 1943 the entire population has been obliged to participate in the fight against criminal elements. The population has not fulfilled this obligation.
Therefore I hereby order:
1. According to the order of the Governor of the district of Warsaw payment of a fine of 100 million Zloty shall be imposed upon the Polish population residing in the city of Warsaw and vicinity. Payment of the fine shall be made by 1 March 1944 to the District Chief ["stadthauptmann"] in Warsaw. In the city of Warsaw the commissioned mayor, in the other communities the mayors are responsible for the collection of the fine. Exempted from payment of the fine are those persons who are directly in German employment or are working in the armament industry.
2. In the city of Warsaw all Polish performances in theatres, movie houses, variety theatres, and other places of entertainment are forbidden as of 2 February 1944 until further notice. All non-German restaurants in the city of Warsaw shall be closed until further notice.
3. For the city of Warsaw a curfew for the non-German population shall be instituted for the hours from 19 to 5 o'clock beginning 2 February 1944 until further notice. Night passes issued up to date remain valid.
4. Premeditated violation of this announcement will be punished according to the decree for the defense against attacks on German reconstruction work in the Government General of 2 October 1943,
Warsaw, 2 February 1944
The SS- and Police Chief [SS- und Polizeifuehrer] in the
District of Warsaw.
744400—47—51
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[ITEM IX]
PROCLAMATION
27 Polish murderers, members of the P.Z.P. and the P.P.R. have been sentenced to death by the summary court of the Security Police. The criminals have carried out malicious and treacherous attacks against Germans or persons in the German service or have been found to be in the possession of firearms or other murder tools. These criminals have been hanged today in public for their treachery and detestable attitude.
Warsaw, 11 February 1944
The Commander of the Security Police and of the SD
for the District Warsaw
[ITEM X]
PROCLAMATION
During the period from 29 January to 6 February 1944, 11 treacherous attacks against Germans and persons serving with the Germans were again perpetrated by cowardly Polish criminals in the city of Warsaw and in the District Captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw - Land. Thereby 5 Germans were killed, 7 Germans injured or robbed and 2 Poles serving with the Germans were injured or robbed. Thereupon 140 Polish criminals among the persons sentenced by the court martial of the Security Police [Sicherheitspolizei] for whom an act of clemency was at first contemplated and who as members of the PZP and PPR organizations were in the pay of England and Moscow, were publicly executed on 10 February 1944.
The population of Warsaw - Land is hereby again requested to do everything in their power to prevent further attacks directed against Germans or against Poles serving with the Germans, and to cooperate in the capture of the perpetrators, so that further executions will not take place and that the persons sentenced to death may be proposed for clemency.
Warsaw, 11 February 1944
The Commander of the Security Police and of the SD
for the Warsaw - district.
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[ITEM XI]
PROCLAMATION
During the time from 7 to 13 February 1944 six treacherous attacks on Germans and Poles employed by the German Government were again perpetrated in Warsaw by cowardly Polish criminals. There two Germans were killed, one German injured, two German employed Poles shot and two injured or robbed. As a consequence thereof, on 15 February 1944, sixty Polish criminals who as members of PZP and PPR were hirelings of England and Moscow, were selected from a number of persons under death sentence by the court martial of the security police but previously designated for an act of mercy, and publicly executed.
Furthermore, in accordance with Art. 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the checking of attacks on the German reconstruction work in the Government General of 2 February 1943 the following persons were sentenced to death by the Court martial of the security police for membership in illegal organizations and carrying of weapons:
[Here follow the 100 names of the condemned]1
It is intended to pardon the condemned. The population of Warsaw and of the district Warsaw Land is therefore called upon to do everything to prevent further attacks on German or German employed Poles or to assist in the apprehension of the culprits so that no further executions will take place and the condemned persons may be proposed for a pardon.
Warsaw, 19 February 1944
The Commander of the Security Police and the Security Service
for the district of Warsaw.
[ITEM XII]
PROCLAMATION
On 16 February 1944 the rails were blown up by cowardly Polish criminals on the Section Kutno - Warsaw near the Blonie railway station, District Captaincy Sochaczew. The locomotive and 10 cars of a freight train were derailed thereby and the station was closed for several hours. Thereupon 30 Polish Criminals among the persons sentenced by the court martial of the Security Police [Sicherheitspolizei] for whom an act of clemency was at first contemplated and who as members of the PZP and PPR organizations were in the pay of England and Moscow, were publicly executed on 22 February 1944.
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The population of the District-Captaincy Sochaczew-Blonie is again requested to do everything in their power in order to prevent further attacks and acts of sabotage and to cooperate in the capture of the perpetrators, so that further executions will not take place and that the persons sentenced to death may be pro- posed for clemency.
Warsaw 26 February 1944.
The commander of the Security Police and of the SD
for the Warsaw - District.
[ITEM XIII]
PROCLAMATION
During the period of January 13th to January 21st 1944 in the city of Warsaw seven malicious attacks on Germans and on Poles in their service have been perpetrated by cowardly Polish criminals. One German was injured, three Poles in German employ were shot, and one Polish police-agent was seriously wounded. Therefore, on February 22nd 1944, ninety Polish criminals from among the persons sentenced to death by the court-martial of the Security Police and considered originally for reprieve, who were members of the PZP and the PPR and paid by England and Moscow, were publicly executed.
Furthermore have been sentenced to death by the court-martial of the Security Police, for adherence to forbidden organizations and for other political aims according to paragraph 1 and 2 of the Ordinance of October 2nd 1943, concerning the suppression of attacks against the German construction work in the General Government :
[Follow the names of the 50 condemned persons]
The condemned persons have been considered for a reprieve. The population of Warsaw and of the prefectorial district of Warsaw - Land is therefore exhorted to do everything in order to prevent further attacks on Germans or Poles in their employ, or to collaborate in the arrest of the criminals in order that further executions may be avoided and the persons sentenced to death be nominated for reprieve.
Warsaw, 26 February 1944.
The Commander of the Security Police and of the
Security Service for the District of Warsaw
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[ITEM XIV]
PROCLAMATION
On 21 and 22 February 1944, in the city of Warsaw three treacherous attacks against Germans and Poles in German service have again been perpetrated by cowardly Polish criminals.
In these attacks four Germans were seriously injured, one Pole in German service was shot and two more Poles in German service were seriously injured. In addition a Polish woman who had absolutely nothing to do with the affair was so seriously injured by a bomb thrown by the Polish criminals that her death must be expected, and moreover an eleven year old Polish girl was killed. Consequently, 80 Polish criminals from among those persons who as members of the PZP and of the PPR were in the pay of England and Moscow and were sentenced to death by the court-martial of the security police, and who at first were considered for clemency, were publicly executed on 28 February 1944.
The population of Warsaw as well as of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] of Warsaw county is again requested to do everything to prevent further attacks against Germans, or Poles in German service, or to cooperate in the capture of the perpetrators so that further executions may be prevented and that persons subsequently sentenced to death may be proposed for clemency.
Warsaw 28 February 1944
The Commander of the Security Police and of the SD For the Warsaw District.
[ITEM XV]
PROCLAMATION
On 28 February 1944 an express-train was derailed and fired upon by Polish bandits in the neighborhood of the Skruda railway station, District Captaincy Warsaw-Land. Thereby 12 passengers were injured. During further treacherous attacks perpetrated by cowardly Polish criminals on 24, 25 and 29 February 1944 in the city of Warsaw, two Poles serving with the Germans were shot and robbed and another Pole serving with the Germans was severely injured through shots in the head. Thereupon 80
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Polish criminals among the persons sentenced by the court martial of the Security Police [Sicherheitspolizei] for whom clemency had at first been contemplated and who as members of the PZP and PPR organizations were in the pay of England and Moscow, were publicly executed on 4 March 1944.
The population of Warsaw as well as the District Captaincy Warsaw-Land is again requested to do everything in their power to prevent further attacks against Germans or against Poles serving with the Germans, and to cooperate in the capture of the perpetrators, so that further executions will not take place and that the persons sentenced to death may be proposed for clemency.
Warsaw 4 March 1944.
The commander of the Security Police and of the SD for the Warsaw District.
[ITEM XVI]
PROCLAMATION
Despite repeated warnings twelve more treacherous attacks have been made against Germans and persons in the German service in Warsaw during the period from 1 to 11 March 1944. Thereby, 4 Germans were killed, 9 Germans severely injured and partly robbed and two Poles in the German service were severely injured and robbed. In all these cases, the crimes were carried out in a treacherous and malicious manner. Subsequently, from the group of persons who had been sentenced to death by the summary court of the Security Police [SIPO] on 21 March 1944' and who initially had been considered for clemency, 140 Polish Criminals who as members of the PZP and the PPR were British and Moscovite mercenaries, were executed in public.
The population of Warsaw and of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw County are again requested to do everything possible to prevent further attacks on Germans or German-employed persons or to cooperate in the apprehension of the culprits in order to avoid further -executions and to make further recommendations for clemency for persons condemned to death possible.
Warsaw, 21 March 1944
The Commander of the Security Police and of the
' SD for the District of Warsaw
782
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[ITEM XVII]
PROCLAMATION
In spite of my repeated warnings, cowardly attacks were again carried out last week against Germans and persons in German service. On 1.11.1943 a Polish official of the criminal police, on 3.11.1943 in the Radomska Strasse a German soldier, and on the same day in the Gniewkowka Strasse a German soldier were seriously wounded, and on 5.11.43 in the Krzyzanowski Strasse a German railway official was killed. Therefore I have had the following 40 criminals, who have been sentenced by the Summary Court martial of the Security Police, and who at first had been under consideration for a pardon, publicly shot on November 11th 1943.
[Here follow the names of the 40 persons shot]
Furthermore, the following were sentenced to death on November 11th 1943 by the Summary Court of the Security Police for illegal possession of weapons and for belonging to forbidden organizations, in accordance with articles 1 and 2 of the decree of October 10th 1943 concerning the combatting of offenses against the German reconstruction work in the General Government:
[Here follow the names of the 50 condemned persons].
The condemned persons listed under number 1 to 50 are under consideration for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] of Warsaw country, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency; if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among the persons mentioned above who were close to them politically, will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see, that the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency, will not be executed, by immediately apprehending or
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causing the arrest of the culprits, or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons. Warsaw, 10 November 1943
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
[ITEM XVIII]
PROCLAMATION
In Warsaw on 10 November 1943, in spite of my repeated warnings, cowardly attacks were again committed against Germans and persons in German employment. Thus 1 German soldier was seriously wounded in the Obozowa Strasse and 1 German soldier in the Nowy Swiat Strasse. In the Lochowka Strasse 1 soldier of the factory guard was wounded, in the Sw.Wincenty Strasse 1 official of the Polish police was shot and in the Redutowa and Kepua Strasse 2 officials of the Polish police were seriously wounded.
Therefore, the following 60 criminals who were sentenced by the summary court of the Security Police and who had at first been considered for a pardon, I had publicly executed on 12 November 1943.
[Here follow the names of the 60 persons shot]
Furthermore, in accordance with articles 1 and 2 of the decree of 2 October 1943 concerning the combatting of offenses against the German work of reconstruction in the General Government, the persons named below were condemned to death on 12 November 1943 for the possession of arms and membership in forbidden organizations.
[Here follow the names of the 40 condemned persons]
The persons listed from 1 to 40 are under consideration for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] of Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Com-
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munists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency; if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among the persons mentioned above who were close to them politically, will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see that the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency, will not be executed by means of immediately apprehending or causing the arrest of the culprits, or by means of influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons.
Warsaw, 13 November 1943
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
[ITEM XIX]
PROCLAMATION
On 13 November 1943 two German soldiers were seriously wounded by several shots and robbed at the West-Warsaw railroad station. Furthermore, on 15 November 1943 a German soldier was attacked and wounded in a treacherous way in Bialo-lecka Street and the same happened to a SS-soldier in Rozana Street.
On 17 November 1943, therefore, I had shot in public the following persons who had been sentenced by the summary court, but were taken into consideration for clemency.
[Here follow the names of the 40 persons shot]
According to articles 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the combatting of offenses against the German reconstruction work in the General Government, dated 2 October 1943, the following persons also were sentenced to death on 16 November 1943 by the summary court of the Security Police because of possession of arms and membership in illegal organizations:
[Here follow the names of the 33 condemned persons]
Of these the persons mentioned under numbers 1 to 3 have already been executed, because they were in the possession of arms and belonged to the terrorist organizations. The persons under figure 4 to 33 are taken into consideration for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not appre-
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hended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency; if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among the persons mentioned above who were close to them politically will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see that the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency will not be executed by immediately apprehending or causing the arrest of the culprits, or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons. Warsaw, 18 November 1943
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
[ITEM XX]
PROCLAMATION
In spite of public warnings and execution threats of those people, who had been considered for clemency by the Summary Court of the Security police, further acts of violence were committed against Germans and persons in the German service.
1. On 14 November 1943 an attack on a Polish police patrol in Volka, Lublin district,
2. On 21 November 1943 demolition of a railroad bridge west of Chotylow, 15 km east of Biala Podlaska,
3. On 21 November 1943 an attack on the railroad tracks between Zavlikov and Lipa, 25 km south of Krasnik.
Therefore 24 of those who had been mentioned in my proclamation of 11 November 1943, who had been considered for clemency, were shot at Lublin on 23 November 1943. Through the investigation in reference to this it was proven that these attacks were carried out by Communist elements.
Therefore, according to articles 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the combatting of offenses against the German reconstruction work in the General Government dated 2 Oct 43 ("Verordnungsblatt" for the General Government No. 8243) the following persons were sentenced to death on 22 November 1943 by the Summary Court of the Security police and the SD in the district of Lublin.
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[Here follow the names of the 100 condemned persons.]
The sentences concerning those persons mentioned under numbers 1 to 32 have already been executed. The condemned persons under numbers 33 to 100 are being considered for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city of the district Captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons above will not be given clemency; if the act was committed by other misled elements; those among the persons mentioned above who were close to them politically will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see that the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency, will not be executed by immediately apprehending or causing the arrest of the culprits, or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons. Lublin, 23 November 1943
The Commander of the Security Police and the SD [Security Service] for the District of Lublin.
[ITEM XXI]
PROCLAMATION
Recently, in spite of my repeated warnings, on 19 November 1943 in two instances, acts of violence were committed against Germans and persons in the German service. Thus, in an express train near the Warsaw-East station, several German soldiers were seriously wounded and in Nakielska street one soldier of the factory guard was injured by pistol shots.
The following criminals, who had been sentenced by the summary court of the Security Police and who, for the time being, had been considered for clemency, therefore were ordered shot by me on 24 November 1943:
[Here follow the 20 names of the persons shot]
According to articles 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the corn-
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batting of offenses against German reconstruction work in the General Government, dated 2 October 1943, the following persons were further condemned to death on 23 November 1943 for being in possession of weapons and for membership in forbidden organizations :
[Here follow the 30 names of the condemned persons.]
Of these, the ones mentioned under numbers 1 to 7 have already been executed, since they were in possession of weapons and belonged to terror organizations. Those under numbers 8 to 30 are being considered for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency ; if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among the persons mentioned above who were close to them politically will not be given clemeivy.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see that the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency will not be executed by immediately apprehending or causing the arrest of the culprits, or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons.
Warsaw, 25 November 1943
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw
[ITEM XXII]
PROCLAMATION
Despite repeated warnings, a Polish police official was treacherously shot on 25 November 1943 by Polish criminals in a cafe; on 26 November 1943, 4 German police officials were seriously wounded in Solna street; and on 26 November 19 13, one German SA man was rudely hit in the chest while in the street-car. Because of the foregoing, I have ordered that the following 30 crimi-
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nals who had been sentenced by the summary court of the Security Police, and who at first had been considered for clemency, be shot in public on 30 November 1943.
[Here follow the names of the 30 persons shot.]
Furthermore, the following were sentenced to death by the summary court of the Security Police on 29 Nov 43 pursuant to articles 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the combatting of offenses against the German reconstruction work in the General Government, dated 2 October 1943, for the possession of arms and membership in forbidden organizations.
[Here follow the names of the 50 condemned persons.]
Of these, those mentioned under number 1 to 4 have already been executed, because they were found to be in the possession of arms and belonged to terrorist organizations. Those under numbers 5 to 50 are under consideration for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannsehaft] Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency; if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among persons mentioned above who were close to them politically will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see that the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency will not be executed by immediately apprehending or causing the arrest of the culprits or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons.
Warsaw, 30 November 1943
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
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[ITEM XXIII]
PROCLAMATION
On November 26th, 1943 on the street Nowy Swiat in Warsaw once again a motor column of the regular police [Ordnungspolizei] was treacherously attacked. Two members of the ordinary police, a German SA soldier and 1 person in the German service were seriously injured from shots and bombs thrown by the bandits.
Therefore I ordered on 2 December 1943 that the following 30 criminals who were sentenced by the Summary Court of the Security Police, and were at first considered for clemency, be shot in public.
[Here follow the 30 names of the persons shot.]
Furthermore the following were sentenced to death by the Summary Court of the Security Police on November 30th 1943 pursuant to articles 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the combatting of offenses against the German reconstruction work in the General Government, dated 2 October 1943 for the possession of arms and membership in forbidden organizations.
[Here follow the 34 names of the condemned persons.]
Of these, those mentioned under numbers 1 to 4 have already been executed, as they were members of a terrorist organization. Those mentioned in 5 to 34 are under consideration for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency; if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among the persons mentioned above who were close to them politically, will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see that the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency will not be executed by immediately apprehending or
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causing the .arrest of the culprits, or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons. Warsaw, 2 December 1943
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
[ITEM XXIV]
PROCLAMATION
On 26 November 1943, a racial German was attacked and robbed by three armed bandits in Pruszkow. On 27 November 1943, a racial German couple was attacked and seriously mistreated by 6 armed bandits.
I therefore have ordered that the following 20 criminals, sentenced by the summary court of the Security PoRce, but who had been considered for clemency, be shot in public.
[Here follow the names of the 20 persons shot.]
The summary court of the Security Police also sentenced to death on 7 and 8 December 1943 the following persons pursuant to articles 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the combatting of offenses against the German reconstruction work in the General Government, dated 2 October 1943, for the possession of arms and membership in forbidden organizations.
[Here follow the names of the 107 condemned persons.]
Of these, those listed under numbers 1 to 7 have already been executed; those listed under numbers 8 to 107 are being considered for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency; if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among persons mentioned above who were close to them politically will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see that
791
4041-PS
the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency will not be executed by immediately apprehending or causing the arrest of the culprits, or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons. Warsaw, 10 December 1943
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
[ITEM XXV]
PROCLAMATION
During recent days despite my repeated warnings, Germans and persons in German service were again attacked maliciously. On 10 December 1943 in the Lesznostrasse, a passenger car was shot at with machine guns, whereby 2 Germans were seriously wounded and a Polish chauffeur was killed. On 11 December 1943, Polish bandits attacked a German soldier in the Lindley Strasse, robbed and murdered him. On 12 December 1943 near the town Stara Wies, a demolition attack was carried out against an ex-nres« train, whereby 12 Germans, among them 1 woman, were killed, and several suffered serious, some of them minor injuries. In this case investigation established beyond doubt that this cowardly act was committed bv members of a clandestine organization which is employed by England, the so-called National Organization. Following the attack these members who came from Warsaw returned to that city. Besides that in the Danitowiczowska Strasse on 13 December 1943, an attack was made whereby 2 Germans, 1 Polish policeman in German service, and 1 Polish woman, who had no part at all in the incident, were killed.
On 11 December 1943 and 14 December 1943 as reprisal for this, I had those persons shot who were sentenced by the summary court of the Security Police and who at first had been considered for clemency.
[Here follow the 270 names of the persons shot.]
Warsaw, 15 December 1943
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
[ITEM XXVI]
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
A noncommissioned officer of the Polish police was attacked and seriously wounded in the chest on 14 December 1943 in Wolska street by 3 armed bandits. On 19 December 1943, a Ger-
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4041-PS
man soldier was attacked and seriously wounded in Wolska street by bandits. I therefore ordered on 18 December 1943 that the following 20 criminals who had been sentenced by the summary court of the Security Police, and who at first had been considered for clemency, be shot in public.
[Here follow the names of the 20 persons shot.]
Furthermore, the following were sentenced to death on 17 December 1943 by the summary court of the Security Po'lPe pursuant to articles 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the combatting of offenses against the German reconstruction work in the General Government dated 2 Oct. 1943 for the possession of weapons and membership in forbidden organizations:
[Here follow the 23 names of condemned persons.]
Of these, those mentioned under numbers 1 to 3 were execute:! already because they were in the possession of weapons and belonged to terrorist organizations. Those mentioned under numbers 4 to 23 are being considered for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least . 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked. In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency, if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among the persons mentioned above who were close to them politically, will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see that the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency will not be executed by immediately apprehending or causing the arrest of the culprits, or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons.
Warsaw, 20 December 1943
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
744400—47—52
793
4041-PS
4041-PS
[ITEM XXVII]
PROCLAMATION
On 18 December 1943, a corporal of the Polish police was attacked treacherously while on duty by three criminals with pistols in the Zawisza Strasse in Warsaw. On 20 December 1943, a patrol of the regular police was shot at by four armed bandits on the Gorcewska Strasse. An official of the regular police was shot, and one seriously wounded. On 21 December 1943, a racial German [Volksdeutscher] was attacked in the Dluga Strasse by several criminals and was wounded fatally. I therefore have had the following 40 criminals who had been sentenced by the summary court of the Security Police, and who had at first been considered for clemency, shot in public on 23 December 1943:
[Here follow the 40 names of the persons shot.]
Furthermore, the following were sentenced to death on 23 December 1943 by the summary court of the Security Police pursuant to articles 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the combatting of offenses against the German reconstruction work in the General Government, dated 2 October 1943, for the possession of weapons and explosives and the membership in forbidden organizations :
[Here follow the 63 names of the condemned persons.]
Of these, those mentioned under numbers 1 to 3 have already been executed because they were found to be in the possession of weapons and belonged to terrorist organizations. Those under numbers 4 to 63 have been considered for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency; if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among the persons mentioned above who were close to them politically will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see that the
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404I-PS
sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency, will not be executed by immediately apprehending or causing the arrest of the culprits, or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons.
Warsaw, 27 December 1943
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
[ITEM XVIII]
PROCLAMATION
On 27 and 28 December 1943, in another four incidents, again Germans and Poles in the German service were attacked treacherously and some of them were robbed. In the course of this, a German soldier was killed, another one was wounded. At the same time, a Polish policeman was killed, another one wounded.
I therefore have had the following 40 criminals who have been convicted by the summary court of the Security Police and who had first been considered for clemency shot in public on 31 December 1943:
[Here follow the 40 names of the persons shot.]
Furthermore, the following were sentenced to death on 31 December 1943 by the summary court of the Security Police pursuant to articles 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the combatting of demonstrations against the German reconstruction task in the General Government, dated 2 October 1943, for the possession of weapons and membership in forbidden organizations:
[Here follow the 23 names of the condemned persons.]
Of these, those mentioned under numbers 1 to 3 have already been executed because they were found to be in the possession of weapons and belonged to terrorist organizations. Those under number 4 to 23 have been considered for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will- also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
795
4041-PS
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency; if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among persons mentioned above who were close to them politically will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see that the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency will not be executed by immediately apprehending or causing the arrest of the culprits, or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons.
Warsaw, 3 January 1944
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
[ITEM XXIX]
PROCLAMATION
In the period from 31 December 1943 to 9 January 1944, another 10 treacherous attacks against Germans and Poles in German service have been carried out, despite my repeated warnings. Especially in two cases on 31 December 1943, 2 members of the German Wehrmacht and 1 SS-man were shot at from the rear and some of them were wounded seriously. On 3 January 1944 in three different attacks, 1 member of the German Wehrmacht was wounded, 1- SS-man killed, and one Polish policeman was wounded and robbed. On 5 January 1944, a Polish employee of the criminal police was shot and robbed. On 7 January 1944, a citizen of the Reich was attacked and robbed. On 9 January 1944 1 postal employee, a citizen of the Reich, was shot and robbed, in two different attacks.
Another planned and prepared attack of a specially low and treacherous kind was intended on 8 January 1944 before the gates of Warsaw. As could be established up to now, members of the P. Z. P. tried to block a road at the city limits with cables, shot at approaching vehicles and cars with machine guns and at the same time threw hand grenades at them. Four Germans were wounded by the especially cowardly attack.
As a result, I have had the following 200 persons, members of the P. Z. P. and P. P. R., shot in public on 13 January 1944, from the persons who were sentenced to death by the summary court of the Security Police, but were at first taken into consideration for clemency.
[Here follow the 200 names of the persons shot.]
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4041-PS
Pursuant to articles 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the combatting of offenses against the German reconstruction work in the General Government, dated 2 October 1943, the following persons were also sentenced to death by the summary court of the Security Police for their membership in forbidden organizations.
[Here follow the 20 names of the condemned persons.]
The persons sentenced to death under numbers 1 to 20 are' considered for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency; if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among persons mentioned above who were close to them politically will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see that the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency, will not be executed by immediately apprehending or causing the arrest of the culprits, or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons.
Warsaw, 14 January 1944.
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
[ITEM XXX]
PROCLAMATION
On 18 January 1944, a sergeant of the Polish police was attacked and fatally wounded by bandits on the way to his office. On 20 January 1944, in an office on the Podvale Strasse in Warsaw, two Germans were attacked by bandits, one of them being wounded by revolver shots, the second one shot to death. On 22 January 1944, in the Wolska Strasse in Warsaw, two members of the SS were attacked by bandits, whereby one was wounded, the other one killed.
797
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Therefore I had the following 50 criminals who had been sentenced by the summary court of the Security Police and who at first had been under consideration for clemency, publicly shot on 24 January 1944:
[Here follow the names of the 50 persons shot.]
. Furthermore, the following were sentenced to death by the summary court of the Security Police for membership in forbidden organizations, pursuant to articles 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the combatting of offenses against the German reconstruction work in the General Government, dated 2 October 1943:
[Here follow the names of the 60 condemned persons.]
These condemned persons are under consideration for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of the district captaincy [Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans, working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency; if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among persons mentioned above who were close to them politically will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population to see that the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency will not be executed by immediately apprehending or causing the arrest of the culprits, or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons.
Warsaw, 26 January 1944
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
[ITEM XXXI]
PROCLAMATION
On 17 January 1944, a German was shot dead and robbed by 8 bandits at Skolimow, district of Warsaw county. On 24 January 1944, two Germans were shot dead treacherously and one Pole
798
wounded having been shot in the head at Aleje, Jerozolimskie Street. The culprits also threw a hand grenade.
On 25 January 1944 in Alejae-go Mja Street, a German was deadly wounded and robbed by several bandits in his own apartment. Therefore I ordered that the following 100 criminals who were sentenced by the Summary Court of the Security Police and were at first considered for clemency be shot publicly on 28 January 1944.
[Here follow the 100 names of the persons shot.]
Furthermore the following were sentenced to death by the Summary Court of the Security Police pursuant to articles 1 and 2 of the decree concerning the combatting of offenses against the German reconstruction work in the General Government dated 2 October 1943, for membership in forbidden organizations and possession of arms.
[Here follow the 32 names of the condemned persons.]
From these, those mentioned under numbers 1 and 2 have already been executed, since they were found to be in the possession of arms. Those mentioned under numbers 3 to 32 are considered for clemency.
However, if within the next three months violations should occur in the area of Warsaw city or of the district captaincy | Kreishauptmannschaft] Warsaw county, particularly attacks on Germans, on members of states allied with the Greater German Reich or non-Germans working in the interest of the reconstruction task in the General Government, and if the culprits are not apprehended at once, sentence will also be executed on those persons who are considered for clemency, and this in such a manner that for each attack on such a person the pardon intended for at least 10 of the condemned persons will be revoked.
In case the act is committed by Communist elements, Communists from among the group of persons mentioned above will not be given clemency; if the act was committed by other misled elements, those among the persons mentioned above who were close to them politically will not be given clemency.
It is therefore up to the non-German population that the sentence against the condemned persons under consideration for clemency will not be executed by immediately apprehending or causing the arrest of the culprits, or by influencing misled elements known to them, or by reporting suspicious persons.
Warsaw, 29 January 1944.
The SS and Police Commander in the District of Warsaw.
Certificate of authenticity, and proclamations announcing punishments for anti-German actions, including the killing of Poles as a reprisal measure and restrictions on Poles' activities (1943-44)
Authors
Stanislav Piotrowski (Dr., Polish War Crimes commission)
Stanislav Piotrowski
Polish prosecutor (1901-1972)
- Born: 1901-07-15 (Lviv)
- Died: 1972-04-29 (Warsaw)
- Country of citizenship: Poland
- VIAF ID: https://viaf.org/viaf/101712952
- ISNI: https://isni.org/isni/0000000082856830
- WorldCat Identities ID: https://worldcat.org/identities/viaf-101712952
Date: 07 June 1946
Literal Title: Statement[.] [second page:] Proclamation
Total Pages: 51
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: PS-4041
HLSL Item No.: 451520
Notes:Piotrowski certified the texts on 7 June 1946. The proclamations were posted in 1943-44. PS 4041 (not necessarily this copy) was entered as UK exhibit 556 in the trial. The SS leaders are not named. There are two chronological groups: 16 July 1943 to 21 March 1944, and 10 November 1943 to 29 January 1944.
Trial Issues
Criminal organizations (Gestapo, Leadership Corps, Cabinet, SS, SD, OKW) (… Hostage-taking and reprisal actions, including killings and fines (IMT, NM…
Document Summary
PS-4041: Series of proclamations by the German authorities in Po-land, announcing the shooting of hostages in retaliation for various attacks by Poles on German occupation forces
PS-4041: Group of posters published by the German authorities in Warsaw 1943/44, announcing executions of poles for attacks on Germans, listing names of hostages held for execution should later attacks be perpetrated, and exhorting the Polish population to prevent such incidents