Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), photo Rada OPWiM, 2007
License: all rights reserved
Photo showing Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)
Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), photo Rada OPWiM, 2007
License: all rights reserved
Photo showing Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)
Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), photo Rada OPWiM, 2007
License: all rights reserved
Photo showing Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)
Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), photo Rada OPWiM, 2007
License: all rights reserved
Photo showing Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)
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ID: WOJ-000706-W/163457 (UA-0319)

Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)

ID: WOJ-000706-W/163457 (UA-0319)

Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)

Lipniki Berezneńskie, located near Białka, was a Polish colony established in the mid-19th century on the estate of Mikołaj Rybczyński. Its inhabitants were distinguished by their social activity and patriotism. The Hermaszewski family (ancestors of cosmonaut Mirosław Hermaszewski) was particularly active.

In January 1943, in view of the threat from the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a self-defence group was organised in the village, with Szczepan Hajdamowicz and Edmund Bielawski as commanders. The attack on the Polish population took place on the night of 26.04.1943. There were about 700 people in the village at that time - in addition to the permanent residents, there were many refugees from villages and colonies: Grusza, Hołubne, Młodzianówka, Zamostyszcze, Studniaki, Pańków, Police, Sarkówka, Wielkie Pole, Zalesie, Grobelki, Nowiny (all in Berezne municipality) and Józefówka and Marcelówka (the two in Ludwipol municipality). Faced with the considerable advantage of the attackers, the only chance of survival was to escape: it was decided to evacuate the population to the Zurne estate near Berezne, protected by the Germans. About 500 people were saved in this way.

As a result of the attack, 180 people were killed; the remaining Poles buried them after the attackers had left in a common grave next to the building of the People's House. In 1975, the grave was exhumed and the remains of the victims moved to the Orthodox cemetery in the village of Białka. An obelisk with a plaque in Ukrainian was erected on this grave of about 12 m2. The inscription was changed, probably in the 1990s, and now reads as follows (translated into Polish): "Here are buried the remains of the victims of the village of Lipniki who died tragically in 1943. Eternal memory". This inscription bears traces of interference - the inscription indicated members of the OUN-UPA as the murderers, but these words were removed by unknown perpetrators. In 1995. Władysław Hermaszewski (brother of the cosmonaut), with the permission of the mayor of Białka, funded and erected an oak cross next to the obelisk with a plaque bearing the names of the victims. The inscription in Polish reads: "Eternal peace to the late inhabitants of the village of Lipniki who were tragically killed in March 1943. Those who survived, 1995".

Publikacja:

10.09.2024
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Photo showing Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) Photo showing Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) Gallery of the object +3
Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), photo Rada OPWiM, 2007
Photo showing Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) Photo showing Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) Gallery of the object +3
Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), photo Rada OPWiM, 2007
Photo showing Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) Photo showing Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) Gallery of the object +3
Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), photo Rada OPWiM, 2007
Photo showing Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) Photo showing Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) Gallery of the object +3
Grave of Poles murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), photo Rada OPWiM, 2007

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