ONR Rejects Nazi Policies on Jews Chrzanowski

Związek Jaszczurczy i Narodowe Siły Zbrojne na Pomorzu 1939-1947: nieznane karty pomorskiej konspiracji, by Bogdan Chrzanowski. 1997

Polish ONR Anti-Semitism Not Nazi-Like. Amazingly, ONR-NSZ Guerrillas Functioned Effectively Even in Polish Territory Annexed By the Third Reich

The literally-translated title of this Polish-language work is: THE ORDER OF LIZARDS AND NATIONAL ARMED FORCED IN POMERANIA 1939-1947 is the title of this Polish-language book. It focuses on descriptions of events and people instead of combat operations.

THE ONR IN NO SENSE HAD SYMPATHY FOR NAZI ANTI-SEMITISM OR THE GERMAN-MADE HOLOCAUST

The ONR (Polish National Radical Camp), when founded, at first looked to the Italian fascists as a model. However, as the true nature of fascism became obvious, the ONR distanced itself from it.

The ONR directives in 1934 included anti-Semitic ones, but these were never Nazi-like. They focused on economic issues. For more on this, see: DUCH MLODYCH, by Muszynski, and read my detailed review.

As the Nazis began murdering the Jews, the ONR repudiated its earlier anti-Semitism. (p. 11). In fact, some ONR members rescued Jews. This was true of an E. Baranowski, an NSZ officer, who was cited by Jews for helping them. ONR member Edward Kemnitz joined Zegota [refuting the silly argument that the Endeks opposed aid to Jews], and was awarded the Yad Vashem medal for his aid to Jews. (p. 116).

ONR-NSZ GUERRILLA WARFARE IN THE AFTERMATH OF POLAND’S 1939 DEFEAT

That portion of the Pomorze region belonging to Poland before WWII was incorporated directly into the Third Reich after the 1939 German-Soviet conquest of Poland. For this reason, the ONR-NSZ Polish guerrillas in this area had much fewer opportunities to act openly than in the GG (General Government). Actual combat encounters with the Germans were of a sporadic nature. Otherwise, the ONR-NSZ was prepared to fight alongside the better-known AK (ARMIA KRAJOWA). By February 1944, one part of German-occupied Pomorze had more than 6,000 well-armed ONR-NSZ guerrillas. (p. 92).

The local ONR-NSZ emphasized intelligence gathering. It planted agents in many cities, including Konigsberg, Berlin, and Munich. (p. 28). The Germans themselves gave unstinting credit to the Poles for being the best agents that the British had. (p. 56). The local ONR-NSZ underground press sometimes produced 4,000-5,000 issues of publications. (p. 94).

THE UNFOLDING POLOKAUST

The ONR-NSZ monitored the Nazi German cultural genocide of Poles. (p. 77). The Germans instituted a strict prohibition of the use of Polish language and culture. Poles were beaten for refusing to sign the VOLKSLISTE. Polish minors were among those forced to do heavy labor. Only 60 of 600 local priests remained functional; the Germans had murdered or incarcerated the remainder. (p. 175).

In the areas incorporated into the Reich, the Germans sometimes forced even ethnic Poles to serve in the Wehrmacht. The ONR-NSZ encouraged such Poles to desert (p. 40), while keeping others there as secret agents. (p. 53).

Falling into German hands meant torture and death. One Polish woman, about to be guillotined, wrote that she had no fear of death, and that she wanted her last words to be,  Poland, come forth! Crumble the shackles! The Poles managed to rebuild their NSZ guerrilla organization even after it had been seemingly eliminated by the Germans.

ANTICIPATING A FUTURE POLAND

This work includes a number of political position papers by the ONR-NSZ. For instance, it not only favored the persistence of Poland s eastern (Treaty of Riga) boundary, but also extension of Poland west to the Oder-Neisse rivers (p. 85) (which, of course, became reality under Soviet rule but at the expense of Poland s eastern half).

TWO ENEMIES OF POLAND

The ONR-NSZ considered the Soviets as much enemies of Poland as the Germans. The local guerrillas fought off attempted arrests, and engaged in counter-intelligence and counter-propaganda. They also monitored Soviet robberies and other crimes against Poles.

By June 1, 1945, there were 22,000 to 30,000 50,000 NSZ members throughout Russian-occupied Poland. (p. 103). The ONR-NSZ in the Pomorze region was able to resist efforts to destroy it until about the end of 1945 (p. 102), which is almost a year after the entry of the Red Army into part of Poland.

FOR FURTHER STUDY

This work has an English-language abstract (pp. 213-215), an extensive index, much biographic information, and a collection of photographs. It includes annexes that consist of interviews of former ONR-NSZX members. (p. 157-on). There is also a list of Polish Underground members who had been sent by the Germans to Stutthof Concentration Camp near Danzig (Gdansk). (p. 173).