Działalność konspiracyjna kpt. Bolesława Michała Nieczui-Ostrowskiego w latach 1939-1943

Abstrakt

The aim of this article is to present the life and underground activities of Cpt. Bolesław Michał Nieczuja-Ostrowski (1907-2008) in the years 1939-1943. This article is based on the analysis of documents (in most cases made available by the Institute of National Remembrance) of interrogations and the story of Ostrowski’s life, frequently given by himself during this time. The information was confronted and supplemented with that included in published works and interviews with witnesses. Capt. Boleslaw Nieczuja-Ostrowski was born on September 29, 1907 in Halicz. He began his career as a soldier in 1928. In September 1939 he fought in the area of Różan thogether with the 115 Infantry Regiment, a part of the 41 Reserve Infantry Division (and later the 116 Infantry Regiment). He was captured by Germans on September 29. After his escape in October 1939, in Soviet-occupied Lviv he did conspiracy work: he established the „Lviv” Polish Military Organisation and then, upon the orders of Colonel Jan Sokołowski (codename Trzaska), became Commander of the Union of Armed Struggle of the City of Lviv. After leaving Lviv in May 1941, he was appointed to the position of weapons officer on the staff of the Krakow District of ZWZ. In August of 1942 he was entrusted with the organization and command of Chief Clandestine Weapons Production Command of AK Kraków District, codenamed „Insurance Office” (which dealt with the production of explosives, grenades, mines and later machine guns). In August of 1943, Kraków District Commander Col. Joseph Spychalski promoted Ostrowski to the rank of Major. In addition, from 15 September 1943, he was appointed Commander of the Miechów Inspectorate.