Major Hieronim Dekutowski, nom de guerre "Zapora" In the Net of Communist Intelligence Services.

In the matter of Lublin's WUBP secret police informer code-name “Iskra” vel. “Żmudzki”,

By Dr. Jarosław Kopiński, IPN Lublin

March 7th marked yet another anniversary of the murder of Major Hieronim Dekutowski “Zapora” and his soldiers at the Mokotów prison in Warsaw. A fierce dispute between historians, as to who really betrayed “Zapora” and his men, continues to this day. One thing is certain, however - “Zapora’s” only chance of survival was to escape through the Polish-Czech boarder into the American Zone in Germany.

		Some of the historians believe that such an escape was successfully undertaken in July 1947 by WiN’s [Pol. abr. Zrzeszenie Wolność i Niezawisłość (Full Name: Ruch Oporu bez Wojny i Dywersji "Wolność i Niezawisłość"] Lublin Inspektor, Franciszek Abraszewski, nom de guerre “Boruta”. Others suggested that such an escape was also feasible for the late Władysław Siła-Nowicki, an attorney active in WiN as well. As ascertained by Leszek Pietrzak, and based on his research of the MBP [Ministerstwo Bezpieczeństwa Publicznego - Polish Ministry of Public Security, Polish Secret Police Ministry] and WUBP [Pol. abr. Wojewódzki Urząd Bezpieczeństwa Publicznego - Voivodeship Office for Public Security - District Office for Public Security] archives in Lublin, both versions, are not likely. What is likely however, is that these stories were deliberately planted and disseminated by the functionaries of the Urząd Bezpieczeństwa and Służba Bezpieczeństwa [Pol. abr. Security Office - Polish secret police] in order to conceal the true identities of people who delivered “Zapora” and his men into the hands of the Polish secret police. What is even more troubling however, is that even after 1990, that is, when the Communists were overthrown in Poland, some historians continued to promote this version of events, despite the evidence to the contrary that existed at the Archiwum Państwowe [eng. State Archive] and the Sąd Rejonowy [eng. District Court] in Lublin. It is my hope that this article will help to clarify these issues.
Above: Major Hieronim Dekutowski, nom de guerre “Zapora”.

I. The penetration of the Lublin Anti-Communist structures of AK, Armia Krajowa [eng. Home Army] - a historical outline.

The subject of the penetration of the General Command of the Lublin District of AK-WiN and its armed units was already undertaken in the early nineties by the so called “Younger-generation” of historians [Pol. “generacja młodego pokolenia”]. Notably, both Anna Grażyna Kister and Dr. Ewa Kurek wrote about it as well. Undoubtedly, it was the article by Leszek Pietrzak, published in the “Zeszyty Historyczne WiN w 2000 roku” [1] however, that provided a true breakthrough in this respect. It exposed that the secret police in Lublin had as many as 63 secret police agents and informers active in “Zapora’s” immediate circles. Among them were, an informer using the code-name “Lena” vel “Maria” and another one, who concealed his true identity under the code-name “Iskra” vel. “Żmudzki”. As revealed by the remaining UB case documents, “Lena’s” reports concerning activities conducted against the armed underground (among them the immediate circle’s of Major “Zapora”), were controlled by the informer “Iskra”, and these in turn were verified by “Lena”. In the view of the WUBP functionaries in Lublin, both “Lena” and “Iskra” were incredibly valuable and thoroughly vetted agents. Leszek Pietrzak assessed that during 1946-1956, Lublin’s WUBP informer hidden under the code-name “Iskra” provided no less than 1,800 reports, among them those related to Major Hieronim Dekutowski, “Zapora”, and his unit.

Above: Soldiers from the Maj. “Zapora” unit. Standing form left are: NN [Pol. acr. Nieznany I Niezidentifikowany – unknown and unidentified] soldier, Stanisław Łukasik, nom de guerre "Ryś", murdered on March 7, 1949 at the Mokotów prison; Aleksander Sochalski, nom de guerre "Duch", Hieronim Dekutowski, nom de guerre "Zapora", murdered on March 7, 1949 at the Mokotów prison in Warsaw; Zbigniew Sochacki, nom de guerre "Zbyszek", wounded during a firefight with UB on July 3, 1946, committed suicide; Jerzy Korcz, nom de guerre "Bohun", KIA in January 1947.

In the assessment study of the General Command of the Lublin District of AK-WiN, prepared at the end of the seventies by the SB [pol. acr. Służba Bezpieczeństwa – Security Service, Polish secret police], we read that the informer “Lena”, whose real name was Helena Moor, and who collaborated with the WUBP in Lublin, contributed to the destruction of the so called II Command of the Home Army District that was rebuilt during December 1944 and January 1945 by the SOE / Cichociemi. Further more, based on her report, an entire General Regional Command Staff of the Armia Krajowa was compromised and arrested on March 3, 1945 during their secret briefing in Praga, Warsaw. As revealed by the remaining archival documents, the informer “Lena” was likely to have been recruited in November 1944 by an NKVD [Народный комиссариат внутренних дел Narodnyy komissariat vnutrennikh del, NKVD - НКВД - Soviet secret police] general, possibly Ivan Serov [rus. Иван Александрович Серов] himself …

It is possible, that it was because of her reports (as she was a courier in the General Staff of Kedyw [Pol. abr. Kierownictwo Dywersji - Directorate for Diversion], worked at the office of the General Staff of the Regional Command, directed the “Pomoc Żołnierzom” cell, personally knew most of the officers in the District Command in Lublin and its field Inspectorates), that the NKVD was able to thwart an assassination attempt on Bolesław Bierut, and the Minister of the Public Security [abr. MBP - Ministerstwo Bezpieczeństwa Publicznego] Stanisław Radkiewicz that was being prepared by Lublin’s Kedyw unit. In January 1945, Helena Moor, vel. “Lena” was transferred from the NKVD to the MBP where her case officer become no other than the Deputy Minister of MBP, and later a General, Roman Romkowski [real name Natan Grünspau (Grinszpan -Kikiel)] himself. Subsequently, she remained at the disposal of the leadership of the WUBP in Lublin, as a so-called “operational contact” [“na kontakcie”], who directly handled the most valuable agents. The IPN [Pol. abr. Institute of National Remembrance] in Lublin is in possession of several volumes containing her reports. With an exception of several short breaks, she was active until 1973; her value to the secret police however, diminished significantly with the destruction of the underground resistance in the Lublin area. What is interesting however, is that she liked to squeal so much, that in the beginning of the fifties, she wrote a formal complaint against the Lublin WUBP secret police functionaries, because they didn’t utilize her talents enough. Of course, after the visit paid by the representative of the Section I, Department III, Captain Stanisław Rozlał, she was returned to work and continued to snitch on her countrymen. Her reports however, no longer presented as much operational value to the UB, and later SB, as they had during the Forties. As a result of yet another report, on June 22, 1973, she was formally nominated by the SB, and was decorated with the Krzyż Kawalerski Orderu Odrodzenia Polski. Her handiwork in the destruction of the democratic resistance in 1946 was aided by the mentioned earlier WUBP informer code-name “Iskra”. Both of them functioned in the circles of the former Lublin-area Armia Krajowa. Hence, they had an easy access to the people who became part of the Zrzeszenie Wolność i Niezawisłość, WiN, or those who were sympathetic to that organization. Because they knew and had easy access to these people, they could, and did, obtain valuable information on behalf of the UB without raising any suspicions - and thus, they were both very valuable to the Polish secret police.

II. Sec. Lieutenant / Captain Stanisław Wnuk - Secret Police Agent “Iskra” vel “Żmudzki”

There is a personal folder [pol. “teczka personalna”] chronicling the work of the Lublin’s WUBP agent code-name “Iskra” vel “Żmudzki” in the IPN’s archives. There are many reports there that help us to reconstruct this informer’s handiwork. In one of the footnotes in the published in 2004 by the Lublin branch of IPN publication entitled “Rok Pierwszy”, headed by Sławomir Poleszak, we read that based on the evidentiary notations, Stanisław Wnuk was registered in the SB card index in 1962 as a Tajny Współpracownik [eng. Secret Collaborator, or snitch] and was given a code-name “Żmudzki” vel “Dziadek”. In the light of the remaining documents of the former Military Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin, and multiple cases and investigation reports in which Stanisław Wnuk “Opal” participated as an UB informer, such an assertion is not credible. Apparently, during that year he was only re-registered as a result of new instructions issued in the beginning of the 1960’s by the MSW [Pol. acr. Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych – Ministry of Internal Affairs]; it is during this period that an entire SB agents’ assets were being re-registered en masse. Thus, during this year, his code-name was changed from “Iskra” to “Żmudzki”.

Above: August 1945. Soldiers form the Unit of Major “Zapora”. Standing third from right, wearing civilian clothes and wearing a hat, is Polish secret police informer Stanisław Wnuk vel "Opal".

The informer “Iskra” was probably recruited by an UB functionary Captain Wincenty Wojciusz [2] in December 1945, or in January 1946, when he was held prisoner at the Lublin Castle. In the investigative reports concerning Stanisław Wnuk, who during 1944-1945 was “Zapora’s” second in command, remains a note written by Capt. Wincenty Wojciusz in Russian. It reads:

"[...] During his conversation with [his controller from the Polish UB - Secret Police named], Capt. Wojciusz, "Opal" reported as follows:


1) In the city of Warsaw, lives a Home Army female courier who delivers [underground] literature to the Lublin district of AK (Home Army). The above mentioned courier, has contact with London's representatives of the Government in Exile in Warsaw. "Opal" knows this courier personally, and can hand her over to the security apparatus.


2) He also personally knows [another] AK female courier who lives in Lodz, and who is in contact with the Krasnik and Pulawy Inspectorates of the AK, and [also has a contact(s)] in Pulawy. The Commandant of the Krosno District is Captain "Rymsza" [3] with whom "Opal" is well acquainted, and can establish contact with him.

3) "Opal" personally knows the commandant of the AK [unit, nom de guerre] "Bolek" operating around Urzędow, and can hand him over to the Office [of the Public Security, the UB].


		4) He can identify the courier from the Lublin Inspectorate, and the Home Army District, through whose arrest [... it might be] possible to arrest the commandant of the [Home Army] District [nom de guerre] "Boruta". "Opal" is able to establish contact with him. 5) "Opal" is able to initiate contact with the commandant[s] of the NSZ (pol. Narodowe Siły Zbrojne - National Armed Forces) "Cichy" [4] and "Orzel" [5] operating in the area of Gdynia-Sopot, and in Sopot [itself]. 6) He also promised to hand over "Zapora", that is, Dekukowski Henryk, born in Tarnobrzeg, Rzeszow Voivodeship, whose family lives in Tarnobrzeg, at 67 Kolewa Street. According to "Opal", "Zapora" is to be on leave at his sister's place in January of this year. 7) "Opal" can establish contact with many commandants of diversionary units in Pulawy county. January 3, 1946 [...]" [6]
Above: 1946 - Captain Stanisław Wnuk vel "Opal", "Iskra" vel "Żmudzki", Polish secret police informer in Lublin

In another report dated January 10, 1046, Wnuk provides more detailed information concerning his former commanding officer, his family that lives around Tarnobrzeg, as well as Major Hieronim Dekutowski’s hiding places in this city.

“[…] “Zapora’s” sister, [named] Stępińska lives at 69 Kolejowa Street. Between the apartment and a metal shop, across the street from the entrance, is located a small, narrow room, to which particular attention is to be paid, because it is exactly where “Opona”, “Kruk” hid, and it is possible that as of late “Zapora” is also hiding there. On the same street lives their cousin who owns this entire little house.“Zapora” may also stay there. On the same street with even numbers from the direction of the city towards the railroad station, and across the street from Maria Dekutowska’s house / Number 67, lives [“Zapora’s] cousin Jasia Basanianiówna / along with her parents they occupy the entire house / where “Kruk” and others sought by the security were hiding: Particular attention is to be paid to this location. On the same street, “Zapora might be hiding at his sister’s [name] Szelengiewiczowa place. His old fiancé Halina lives in Dr. Pawlas’s house on Kościuszki Street across the hospital in Tarnobrzeg; he [“Zapora”] is known to have stayed there as well”.
		Above: 1945. Standing from left are: Jerzy Stefański, nom de guerre "Cedur", Mieczysław Czechowski, nom de guerre "Wrzos", Hieronim Dekutowski, nom de guerre "Zapora", Tadeusz Skraiński, nom de guerre "Jadzinek", Jan Szaciłow, nom de guerre "Renek"; in the back is Jerzy Siwecki, nom de guerre "Bachus".

It took only a few days for the newly recruited informer to willingly and without any coercion provide the UB functionaries with interesting information about his former friends from the resistance. Based on the analysis of his reports, we can ascertain that he was one of the better recruitment operatives conducted by the WUBP in Lublin. In other files gathered at the Lublin branch of IPN one can also read that based on the information provided by “Opal”, Commandant of the Kraśnik AK-WiN district, Captain Bronisław Rębacz, nom de guerre “Rymsza” was arrested by secret police, the UB, on November 11, 1946.

III. Prisoner Stanisław Wnuk, vel „Opal” confesses

The Regional Military Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin also developed and maintained interesting information about Stanisław Wnuk, vel “Opal”. Specifically, in February 1950, the Military Prosecutor in Lublin, based on the request of the WUBP in Lublin, issued an arrest warrant for “Opal”, because they suspected that he is collaborating with the democratic underground. During interrogations that ensued, Wnuk denied that he collaborated with WiN, but stated however, that he reported all meeting with Dekutowski’s soldiers to the Urzad Bezpieczenstwa functionaries. During his questioning about his meetings with “Zapora”, and Mikołaj Pruszkowski, nom de guerre „Kędziorek” after the 1947 amnesty, “Opal” told the following to the UB investigator Tadeusz Markowski on November 16, 1950:

Left: Major Hieronim Dekutowski, nom de guerre "Zapora" (left) with Polish secret police informer "Opal" in 1945 (right). “[…] Yes, I met “Zapora” and others both before the amnesty of 1947 and after the amnesty of 1947, but not about any personal matters, but on request of the UB. I reported about all of these meetings to the UB in Lublin. After the amnesty of 1947 expired, I was directed by the leadership of the UB in Lublin, if possible, to meet with “Zapora” and others in his unit, convince them to out themselves, and to ascertain what was intended to be done, who leads the conspiracy in the Lublin Voivodeship, and in particular to ascertain who “Zapora” considers to be the Inspector General of the Lublin Voivodeship. While carrying out these directives during the post-amnesty period in 1947, I met “Zapora” only by happenstance in July or August of 1947; I don’t remember the exact date. It took place in the village of Borów, Chodel Municipality, in Lublin County. It is on this date that a wedding of his medic, Leokadia Szymczyk was taking place. Along with “Zapora” were present former WiN Inspector General, code-name “Stefan (Władysław Siła – Nowicki), “Mikołaj” (Mikołaj Malinowski).

I don’t know his name, and additional one, or two individuals. At that time I was visiting my brother Władysław [Wnuk], I was noticed by “Zapora”, and that’s how the meeting happened. During this meeting I found out from “Zapora” that along with “Rys”, and others, he is going overseas, and that “Boruta” is still an Inspector General of WiN in this area. After this meeting, and on the following day, I reported this at WUBP and PUBP in Lublin. After that I never saw “Zapora” since. After “Zapora’s” escape from this area, the command of the armed gang was taken over by “Kędziorek”; the UB ordered me to establish contact with “Kędziorek’s” gang and to take the necessary steps to liquidate it.”

During his debriefing on March 8, 1951, “Opal” even mentions UB officers whom they advised of “Zapora’s” planned escape from Poland:

		"I reported about the above the next day to the then head of the PUBP in Lublin, Jaszczuk, and several days later while in Lublin, I reorted this to Capt. Lachowski as well. I was instructed to obtain this type of information from “Zapora” by Major Wojciusz and Captain Lachowski.” The content of the interrogation of one of “Zapora’s” men, and later that of “Kędziorek”, and then of Mikołaj Malinowski “Mikołajaj” reveal that “Zapora” knew of his former second in command’s collaboration with the UB. It is apparent in the excerpt of the interrogation of Mikołaj Malinowski, when he says: “[…] I recall that during one of the conversations between members of our gang, “Walerek” brought up to “Kędziorek” the issue of liquidating “Opal”, stating that he is a UB snitch. “Kędziorek” opposed it, stating that when “Zapora” transferred command to him at the time he was leaving this area, he told him not to liquidate “Opal” because he would still be useful.”
Above: From Left are: Lieutenant Stanisław Łukasik, nom de guerre "Ryś" and Lieutenant Roman Groński, nom de guerre "Żbik", both soldiers in Maj. “Zapora’s” unit. They were murdered at the Mokotow prison on March 7, 1949 along with their colleagues: Lt. Jerzy Miatkowski, nom de guerre "Zawada", Lt. Edmund Tudruj, nom de guerre "Mundek", Lt. Tadeusz Pelak, nom de guerre "Junak", Lt. Arkadiusz Wasilewski, nom de guerre "Biały”

Another piece of evidence pointing to Stanisław Wnuk’s collaboration with the police is a document of the Persecutor of the Regional Military Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin, Major Marek Szauber directed to the Department VII of the Chief Military Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw. In this document he writes about the reasons for Wnuk’s arrest by the functionaries of the WUBP in Lublin:

“[…] I report that despite the fact that he was a UB collaborator, Stanisław Wnuk was arrested; and based on this, WUBP had evidence that would lead one to believe that as a collaborator of WUBP, Stanisław Wnuk informs the gangs about undertakings of the leadership of the [Ministry of Public] security – sharing with them all sorts of information.

This WUBP [office] is convinced that during the process of liquidating the gangs that took place in 1950 and 1951, it will be possible to obtain evidence from the detained gangsters that would confirm Stanisław Wnuk’s collaboration with the gangs, as well the fact that he was providing deceptive information to the leadership of the [Ministry for Public] security. Despite the considerable efforts, this WUBP [office] was unable to gather the necessary evidence against Stanisław Wnuk’s guilt in light of the Art[icle] 8, Decree from June 13, 1946 – based on the foregoing, the criminal investigation was suspended.”

Stanisław Wnuk was released from the WUBP prison in Lublin on May 26, 1951. He continued to collaborate with UB functionaries, and later with the SB in spying on individuals active during 1939-1947 in the democratic underground in the Lublin area. This collaboration ended only in 1989. He was one of the better agents who was always available. During 1946-1989, it was through him, that the “bezpieka” was able to control the circles of Lublin’s AK and WiN. His handiwork can be seen in many “broad” investigations conducted by the UB, and later by the SB, and those directed against very specific individuals. Among those affected was a close collaborator of Major “Zapora”, Izabela Kochanowska, who writes about this:

“A confrontation with “Opal”, “Zapora’s” second in command from the period of the First Soviet Occupation […] “Opal’s” confessions resulted that I am no longer a suspect, but rather an accused. – Having had a witness of my ‘crimes’ – all is lost. I don’t have to admit the guilt – I thought, and I was overcome with a fury. I didn’t respond at all. I only made an unbecoming gesture towards “Opal” . They divided us with a long table.” [7]

Izabela Kochanowska was sentenced to 6 years in prison, and served her sentence at the Lublin Castle and in Fordon. She was release in 1956.

It is very likely that Stanisław Wnuk “Opal” also contributed to the arrest of Zygmunt Wilczyński, nom de guerre “Żuk”, who was a former Diversion Commandant of WiN in Puławy. After outing his soldiers [as a part of the Communist amnesty] he established his own repair garage in Nałęczów. “Żuk” was helping soldiers from his unit by obtaining legal identity papers with which they could begin normal lives in Western Poland. Wnuk’s debriefings reveal that in 1948 he was instructed by WUBP functionaries in Lublin to visit “Żuk” and to entice him to free the imprisoned “Zapora” from the Court building in Warsaw. [8]

Left: Stanisław Wnuk, Polish secret police informer code-name “Iskra” vel "Żmudzki". Photo taken in 1995. Having believed in his good intentions (after all, “Opal” was “Zapora’s” second in command), along with several of his former soldiers, “Żuk” commandeered 600,000 Złoty in Ryki and 1,200,000 Złoty from the Commodities House [pol. Dom Towarowy] in Warsaw’s Żoliborz district. This money was to be used to make preparations to free “Zapora” and to fund his escape abroad. Zygmunt Wilczyński and several of his colleagues were arrested by WUBP functionaries on November 13, 1948 as part of the Operation “Noc” [Eng. “Night”] After enduring horrific interrogations, he was sentenced to death and was executed on October 16, 1950 in Warsaw. Stanisław Wnuk was a very tragic character, whom many in WiN circles suspected of collaborating with the secret police already in the Fifties. Years later, Aleksander Głowacki, nom de guerre “Wisła” who became Major Hieronim Dekutowski’s second in command, wrote about Wnuk in ‘Zeszyty Historyczne WiN’, as follows:

“After he outed himself [Wnuk] was arrested several times by the UB and was released from prison. I had a lot of collegial respect for him, and for a long time I didn’t want to believe the rumors that after outing himself he became bezpieka’s servant.”

Stanisław Wnuk - Informer “Iskra” vel “Żmudzki” remained faithful to his UB and SB handlers from 1946 to 1989. As fate has it, unlike the informer “Lena” vel “Maria” he never received any medals for his service to the Communists; despite the fact that just like "Lena" he was also imprisoned two times in the UB prison.

Written by Dr. Jarosław Kopiński, Ph.D., IPN, Lublin Branch.

More on this subject here: Counterintelligence Operations of the Home Army (AK - Armia Krajowa ) And WiN (Wolnosc i Niezawislosc - Freedom And Independence) Against the Secret Police Apparatus In Poland During 1944-1947. (pol. Kontrwywiad AK-WiN w latach 1944-1947)

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Footnotes:

1. L. Pietrzak, Kto wydał „Zaporę” w: Zeszyty Historyczne WiN 15(2001) s.281-286.
2. Wojciusz Wincenty – Lieutenant in the Soviet Army, Captain in the Polish People’s Army [abr. LWP], Major / Lt. Col. In Polish secret police, the UB. Born in Saint Petersburg, member of the WKP, PPR, PZPR, served in the Soviet army during 1932-1934. Conscripted again in June 1941 took part in the defense of Leningrad. In May 1943, transferred to the 1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Division of the Polish People’s Army.
3. Capt. Bronisław Rębacz, nom de guerre „Rymsza“. Commandant of the Kraśnik District of the Home Army / WiN. Arrested by the UB on November 11, 1946 as a result of “Opal’s” report. See report from November 30, 1946.
4. Władysław Piotrowski.
5. Stanisław Młynarski.
6. IPN LU 02/294 t.1 k.21
7. Izabela Kochanowska, Major „Zapora”, Sopot 1998, page 78
8. Protocol of interrogation of Stanisław Wnuk from November 16, 1950, IPN Lu 81/1299, k.43v, see also the protocol of interrogation of Stanisław Wnuk from March 8, 1951, IPN Lu 81/1299, k.64