Mass grave from WWII found in ‘forest of death’ near Jedwabne
The bodies of 11 Poles murdered by Germans during WWII have been discovered in Jedwabne.
The mass grave was discovered by historical exploration group Wizna 1939 in what is known locally as the Forest of Death.
Marcin Sochoń from Wizna 1939 said: “We came to Przestrzelski Forest near Jedwabne hoping to find a father and son who had been murdered, but it turned out that it is a mass grave.”
The group says they expect to find many more bodies in the forest in north-east Poland.
Most of the victims had their hands tied behind their backs, and some of the skulls have traces of injuries. The mass grave contained bullet casings from a German Mauser.
The mass grave was discovered by historical exploration group Wizna 1939 in what is known locally as the Forest of Death.
Over the weekend, members of Wizna 1939 together with Territorial Defence Force soldiers and staff from the Military Police Forensic Laboratory carried out research in the forest.
On Saturday, the group reported that they had discovered the remains of two people, who according to witness accounts are the bodies of a father and son.
During the German occupation of Poland during World War Two, the German military police stationed in Jedwabne had a field office where they tortured and murdered their victims.
The discovery of more victims surprised the group. Marcin Sochoń from Wizna 1939 said: “We came to Przestrzelski Forest near Jedwabne hoping to find a father and son who had been murdered, but it turned out that it is a mass grave.”
Anthropologist Urszula Okularczyk said: “The arrangement of the hands indicates that the victims were bound before they died, the hands were tied behind their backs, the bodies were thrown without care, disrespectfully, and fell one on top of the other."
Archaeologist Ryszard Cędrowski said: “The Gestapo, which had its headquarters in the market square in Jedwabne, caught Poles who helped or were innocent, or there were denunciations against them. They shot them.”
She added that traces of brutal torture can be seen on many of the victims, including cracked skulls and jawbones.
During the German occupation of Poland during World War Two, the German military police stationed in Jedwabne had a field office where they tortured and murdered their victims.
Several months ago, four bodies were found in the small forest near Jedwabne. They were exhumed, identified and buried with military honours in the cemetery in Jedwabne.
Adam Niebrzydowski, the Mayor of Jedwabne, said: “The forest is located a little bit in the middle of nowhere, far away from Jedwabne, between villages, so it was easy to take these people there and murder them in a bestial way.”
The researchers believe that they know the identities of two of the victims, father and son Antoni and Józef Kosakowski, who were murdered by the Germans in 1943.
Archaeologist Ryszard Cędrowski said: “The Gestapo, which had its headquarters in the market square in Jedwabne, caught Poles who helped or were innocent, or there were denunciations against them. They shot them.”
The remains found over the weekend will be secured and examined, and then ceremonially buried.
Several months ago, four bodies were found in the small forest near Jedwabne. They were identified as two married couples: Władysława and Franciszek Mościcki and Anna and Józef Bronakowski. They were murdered for helping the Polish Underground State.
They were exhumed, identified and buried with military honours in the cemetery in Jedwabne.
At the time, Wizna 1939 said that they expected more bodies were buried in the forest.
The town of Jedwabne gained notoriety for the massacre of local Jews on July 10th, 1941.
After investigating the crime in 2000-2004, the Institute of National Remembrance concluded that the massacre was committed by Poles inspired by Germans.
The remains found over the weekend will be secured and examined, and then ceremonially buried.
The town of Jedwabne has gained notoriety for the massacre of local Jews on July 10th, 1941.
After investigating the crime in 2000-2004, the Institute of National Remembrance concluded that the massacre was committed by Poles inspired by Germans.
