Here's the story: I have recently aquired a group of items (mainly photographs) related to soviet and soviet/polish partizan movement in the eastern part of Poland (taking post-war borders under consideration that it) - probably remains ofsome old exhibition.
This group includes:
23 photographs - Partizans during the war, after it and one showing banner awarding ceremony (?) in Poland in late 50's(?) of unknown relation to the rest of them.
1 Educational map - showing partizan actions 1944-45 in Poland (50's)
2 Maps of istern poland - cut from some german newspapers - of unsure relation to this group.
1 1944 dated document, testyfying that a female private is the member of "Kostus Kalinovski" (no idea who the guy was) Partisan brigade.
1 nice, but unfortunately ripped-of ribbon bar - with Virtuti Militai 5th class, partisan cross, gold cross of merit and Victory and freedom bars, missing probably wound badge and 3 more awards.
My question:
1.Where can I find some info on partisan units from this group ("Kostus Kalinovski" and "Dzierżyński" Brigades)? I have tried in a library, but for some reason polish history books from before 1989 cover only AL/GL partisan groups and there seems to be nothing published on that topic after 1989. I would prefer some info on the net, or at least some book that (supposing it would be in russian) may be available in Ukraine.
Al-muell Wrote:...not to be mistaken with AL/GL partizans.
Here's the story: I have recently aquired a group of items (mainly photographs) related to soviet and soviet/polish partizan movement in the eastern part of Poland (taking post-war borders under consideration that it) - probably remains ofsome old exhibition.
This group includes:
23 photographs - Partizans during the war, after it and one showing banner awarding ceremony (?) in Poland in late 50's(?) of unknown relation to the rest of them.
1 Educational map - showing partizan actions 1944-45 in Poland (50's)
2 Maps of istern poland - cut from some german newspapers - of unsure relation to this group.
1 1944 dated document, testyfying that a female private is the member of "Kostus Kalinovski" (no idea who the guy was) Partisan brigade.
1 nice, but unfortunately ripped-of ribbon bar - with Virtuti Militai 5th class, partisan cross, gold cross of merit and Victory and freedom bars, missing probably wound badge and 3 more awards.
My question:
1.Where can I find some info on partisan units from this group ("Kostus Kalinovski" and "Dzierżyński" Brigades)? I have tried in a library, but for some reason polish history books from before 1989 cover only AL/GL partisan groups and there seems to be nothing published on that topic after 1989. I would prefer some info on the net, or at least some book that (supposing it would be in russian) may be available in Ukraine.
Neat collection! I wrote my Master of Arts thesis on the role of Soviet spetsnaz in the partisan movement and its subsequent "export" to eastern Europe. I'm here to tell you there are very few books, let alone specialized ones on any area, but moreso any particular area outside of Mother Russia. Unfortunately I can't be of much help because all of my references are packed up in storage. Unfortunately there were many "Dzerzhinskii" partisan brigades, at least 3-4 in Belorussia alone. Enjoy the collection and learn all you can from it.
:(
Too bad.
Looks like this is not going to be easy. Perhaps there may be some data in Russian military archives? Another reason to go there.
But thanks anyway.
And btw. If you would happen to have a copy of Your thesis, I would gladly read it (if it is possible) - Heck, I have never heard of anybody having such an interesting thesis subject here...
02-27-2009, 06:18 PM (This post was last modified: 02-27-2009, 06:22 PM by jefflgarrison.)
One of the veterans I recently talked with was one of four brothers who were partisan in the Lublin area. He mentioned having contact with the Soviets and receiving supplies from them. Not sure if he can help you but I can get his phone number if you want to talk with him? Leon Doroszewski (I think) was his name and he had books and information about their doings.
Oh, and just remembered that my lady translator friend from Gdynia is the daughter of a pair of partisans from the eastern part near Belarus.
Every help would be appreciated, and if the man was AL member, he might know something, altough this particular groups were "a bit" further north - Białystok is the city most often mentioned.
Anyway, there's some hope. The seller claims, that this items were probably materials gathered for a book or, more likely, an artickel, as they belonged to a journalist who in the past would write a lot about WW2. I asked about his data (no answer yet), so maybe I can locate the publication this material was used to.
I have managed to get another portion of related stuff from the same sorce. Among them I have found this thing, glued to the piece of cardboard.
As I understand it's a wound certificate or an evacuation card? Was it issued only to the people who were to be taken away from the front line or just to everybody who got wounded?
06-16-2011, 07:23 AM (This post was last modified: 06-16-2011, 07:32 AM by Al-muell.)
From what I have learned, that pictures and docs came from the collection of A. Omilianowicz - a writer and journalist. He has published a book on the Poles in partisan movement, but for a long time I have been unable to aquire it.
And now - I came across a private post-war foto archive of one Polish national who served in Soviet partisan squads (first squad lead by "Bat'ko", than "Dzierzhynskiy" partisan group) and among the photos, there was a page torn from some book on partisans - wouldn't be surprised if it turned out that it is THE book. Ironical: I cannot buy the book as it's scarce, but it was so common, that one of it's heroes could tear a page from it...
Anyway, here are some pictures (unfortunately, no docs were available) of Józef Chrzanowski "Andrzej" (some are poorly scanned, I apologise for quality, but my piece of junk is going to give up the ghost soon):
1.The page from the book
2.Another picture of him with his awards (sorry for quality of thwe scan).
3.A nice family photograph with wife and daughter, around 1952-1960 (he is wearing M52 officer's uniform).
btw.:He probably had some state security episode after the war, as he has 10 yrs. in service to Nation pre-71 badge (if the uniform he wears has somethingto do with that - it's either UB (Security Office) or KBW (Interior Troops), not MO; the former partisans were preferred as state security employees, if they agreed of course)
1.Two pictures of him in uniforms - one from 1952, the other is probably post-60 (rank of captain)
2. and 3.This group is probably the members of his squad judging from the writings on the back side... The m58 parade cap would suggest 1958-1969 period.
and an addition - first I belived it's his son, but since one picture has a date 1932 (which seems to be a birth year) I guess it's his brother. From writings on the back of the pictures I know that:
Wiktor Chrzanowski was born in USSR Studied in Leningrad and worked in some technical institute there. It seems that he was a DOSAAF member.
I belive that both brothers were born somewhere in Belorussian SSR, as the partisan squad of Józef Chrzanowski is said to be operating in Polesie Region.
Al-muell Wrote:btw.:He probably had some state security episode after the war, as he has 10 yrs. in service to Nation pre-71 badge (if the uniform he wears has somethingto do with that - it's either UB (Security Office) or KBW (Interior Troops), not MO; the former partisans were preferred as state security employees, if they agreed of course)
Polish state security. The 10 (X) badge is ambiguous, but the other badges in the second photo are practically impossible to get - suggesting UB. The logical conclusion is - the more rare, the more likely "spooks" - as Norm would say.;)
