• OUR LADY of CZĘSTOCHOWA: st Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionOUR LADY of CZĘSTOCHOWA
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
link to OUR LADY of PERPETUAL HELP in SŁOMCZYN infoSITE LOGO

Roman Catholic
St Sigismund parish
05-507 Słomczyn
85 Wiślana Str.
Konstancin deanery
Warsaw archdiocese, Poland

  • St SIGISMUND: St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
  • St SIGISMUND: XIX c., feretory, St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    XIX c., feretory
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
  • St SIGISMUND: XIX c., feretory, St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    XIX c., feretory
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
  • St SIGISMUND: XIX c., feretory, St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    XIX c., feretory
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
  • St SIGISMUND: XIX c., feretory, St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    XIX c., feretory
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
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Martyrology of the clergy — Poland

XX century (1914 – 1989)

personal data

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  • PODKUL John - Oświęcim; source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018), own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPODKUL John
    Oświęcim
    source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018)
    own collection
  • PODKUL John - 15.05.1937, Lviv; source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018), own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPODKUL John
    15.05.1937, Lviv
    source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018)
    own collection
  • PODKUL John; source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018), own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPODKUL John
    source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018)
    own collection
  • PODKUL John - 1928; source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018), own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPODKUL John
    1928
    source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018)
    own collection
  • PODKUL John - c.1930; source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018), own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPODKUL John
    c.1930
    source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018)
    own collection
  • PODKUL John; source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018), own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPODKUL John
    source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018)
    own collection
  • PODKUL John - 1914-1918, I World War, as a soldier of Austro-Hungarian army; source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018), own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPODKUL John
    1914-1918, I World War, as a soldier of Austro-Hungarian army
    source: thanks to Mr Adalbert Frankowicz's kindness (private correspondence, 16.04.2018)
    own collection
  • PODKUL John - c. 30.07.1941, KL Auschwitz, concentration camp's photo; source: Archives of Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim (www.auschwitz.org), own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPODKUL John
    c. 30.07.1941, KL Auschwitz, concentration camp's photo
    source: Archives of Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim (www.auschwitz.org)
    own collection
  • PODKUL John - c. 30.07.1941, KL Auschwitz, concentration camp's photo; source: Archives of Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim (www.auschwitz.org), own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPODKUL John
    c. 30.07.1941, KL Auschwitz, concentration camp's photo
    source: Archives of Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim (www.auschwitz.org)
    own collection
  • PODKUL John - c. 30.07.1941, KL Auschwitz, concentration camp's photo; source: Archives of Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim (www.auschwitz.org), own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPODKUL John
    c. 30.07.1941, KL Auschwitz, concentration camp's photo
    source: Archives of Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim (www.auschwitz.org)
    own collection

surname

PODKUL

forename(s)

John (pl. Jan)

  • PODKUL John - Commemorative plaque, Sacred Heart of Jesus basilica, Warsaw, source: pl.wikipedia.org, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPODKUL John
    Commemorative plaque, Sacred Heart of Jesus basilica, Warsaw
    source: pl.wikipedia.org
    own collection
  • PODKUL John - Cenotaph, Salesians grave, parish cemetery, Oświęcim, source: polski-cmentarz.com, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOPODKUL John
    Cenotaph, Salesians grave, parish cemetery, Oświęcim
    source: polski-cmentarz.com
    own collection

function

religious cleric

creed

Latin (Roman Catholic) Church RCmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2014.09.21]

congregation

Society of St Francis de Sales SDBmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2013.05.19]

(i.e. Salesians of Don Bosco)

diocese / province

St Jack Cracow Inspectorate SDB
Kielce diocesemore on
www.diecezja.kielce.pl
[access: 2012.12.28]

date and place
of death

15.06.1942

KL Dachauconcentration camp
today: Dachau, Upper Bavaria reg., Bavaria state, Germany

more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2016.05.30]

details of death

During World War I 1914‑1918 soldier of the Austro–Hungarian army and fought of the Eastern front when in battles with Russians got wounded.

After German and Russian invasion of Poland in 09.1939 and start of the World War II, after start of German occupation, arrested by the Germans on 28.05.1941 in Kielce — together with one co‑friar, accused of cooperation with the resistance underground (part of the Polish Clandestine State) and helping Polish soldiers in hiding.

Held in Kielce prison.

On 30.07.1941 transported to KL Auschwitz concentration camp.

Slaved in the so‑called Buna commando at the construction of a chemical factory of the German chemical concern IG Farben.

On 20.05.1942 sent to hospital block No 28 (internal diseases).

Two weeks later on June 03‑05.06.1942 transported to KL Dachau concentration camp, where perished few days after arrival from typhoid.

cause of death

extermination: exhaustion and starvation

perpetrators

Germans

date and place
of birth

21.05.1893

Nowosiółki Dydyńskietoday: Fredropol gm., Przemyśl pov., Subcarpathia voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18]

religious vows

09.08.1923 (temporary)

presbyter (holy orders)
ordination

05.07.1930 (Turintoday: Turin city prov., Piedmont reg., Italy
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.01]
)

positions held

till 1941

superior — Kielcetoday: Kielce city pov., Holy Cross voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.07]
⋄ Society's House, Salesians of Don Bosco SDB — also: head of a vocational school

till 1941

prefect — Kielcetoday: Kielce city pov., Holy Cross voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.07]
⋄ Holy Cross RC parish ⋄ Kielcetoday: Kielce city pov., Holy Cross voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.07]
RC deanery

c. 1937 – c. 1938

friar — LvivUpper Lychakiv, part of Lychakiv district
today: Lviv urban hrom., Lviv rai., Lviv, Ukraine

more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18]
⋄ Society's House, Salesians of Don Bosco SDB — Oratory manager

1931 – c. 1937

friar — Oświęcimtoday: Oświęcim gm., Oświęcim pov., Lesser Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.07]
⋄ Society's House (Casa Madre), Salesians of Don Bosco SDB — counselor (1931‑1936) and director (1934‑1937) of a vocational / craft school

c. 1926 – 1930

student — TurinCrocetta district
today: Turin city prov., Piedmont reg., Italy

more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.11.01]
⋄ theology, „Don Bosco” International Institute, Salesians of Don Bosco SDB

c. 1923 – c. 1926

student — Krakówtoday: Kraków city pov., Lesser Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.07]
⋄ philosophy, Department of Theology, Jagiellonian University UJ

1922 – 1923

novitiate — Klecza Dolnatoday: Wadowice gm., Wadowice pov., Lesser Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.12.18]
⋄ Society's House, Salesians of Don Bosco SDB

c. 1918 – c. 1922

teacher — primary schools — religion, social education and mathematics

biography (own resources)

Click to read biography details from our resourcesClick to read biography details from our resources

comments

The urn containing the ashes of the victim — the body was prob. cremated at Germ. Ostfriedhof (Eng. Eastern cemetery) in Munich — is being kept in Am Perlacher Forst cemetery, at place known as Germ. Ehrenhain I (Eng. „Remembrance Grove nr 1”), in Munich (marked as urn no K3956)

murder sites
camp 
(+ prisoner no)

KL Dachau (prisoner no: 30268Click to display biography): KL Dachau in German Bavaria, set up in 1933, became the main concentration camp for Catholic priests and religious during World War II: On c. 09.11.1940, Reichsführer–SS Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, Gestapo and German police, as a result of the Vatican's intervention, decided to transfer all clergymen detained in various concentration camps to KL Dachau camp. The first major transports took place on 08.12.1940. In KL Dachau Germans held approx. 3,000 priests, including 1,800 Poles. The priests were forced to slave labor in the Germ. „Die Plantage” — the largest herb garden in Europe, managed by the genocidal SS, consisting of many greenhouses, laboratory buildings and arable land, where experiments with new natural medicines were conducted — for many hours, without breaks, without protective clothing, no food. They slaved in construction, e.g. of camp's crematorium. In the barracks ruled hunger, freezing cold in the winter and suffocating heat during the summer. Prisoners suffered from bouts of illnesses, including tuberculosis. Many were victims of murderous „medical experiments” — in 11.1942 c. 20 were given phlegmon injections; in 07.1942 to 05.1944 c. 120 were used by for malaria experiments. More than 750 Polish clerics where murdered by the Germans, some brought to Schloss Hartheim euthanasia centre and murdered in gas chambers. At its peak KL Dachau concentration camps’ system had nearly 100 slave labour sub–camps located throughout southern Germany and Austria. There were c. 32,000 documented deaths at the camp, and thousands perished without a trace. C. 10,000 of the 30,000 inmates were found sick at the time of liberation, on 29.04.1945, by the USA troops… (more on: www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.deClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.08.10]
, en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2016.05.30]
)

KL Auschwitz (prisoner no: 19088Click to display biography): German KL Auschwitz concentration camp (Germ. Konzentrationslager) and death camp (Germ. Vernichtungslager) camp was set up by Germans around 27.01.1940 n. Oświęcim, on the German territory (initially in Germ. Provinz Schlesien — Silesia Province; and from 1941 Germ. Provinz Oberschlesien — Upper Silesia Province). Initially mainly Poles were interned. From 1942 it became the centre for holocaust of European Jews. Part of the KL Auschwitz concentration camps’ complex was death camp (Germ. Vernichtungslager) KL Auschwitz II Birkenau, located not far away from the main camp. There Germans murder possibly in excess of million people, mainly Jews, in gas chambers. Altogether In excess of 400 priests and religious went through the KL Auschwitz, approx. 40% of which were murdered (mainly Poles). (more on: en.auschwitz.org.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.11.23]
, www.meczennicy.pelplin.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.07.06]
)

Kielce: The prison at Zamkowa Str. in Kielce was opened in 1826‑1828. In 09.1939, after start of German occupation, under German control. Initially a POW camp and next prison run by German political police Gestapo. Till 1945 more then c. 16,000 prisoners were held there. Any time c. 2,000 were incarcerated, in space build for c. 400 people. Prisoners, in extremely cramped conditions, were starved, ill–treated and murdered in prison, executed outside, transported to German concentration camps or deported to slave labour sites. Prison chapel Germans used as torture chamber. At the same time in 08.1941 (after German attack on 22.06.1941 of their erstwhile ally, Russians, do till the autumn of 1944 in Fijałkowski’s barracks in Kielce Bukówka district Germans set up a POW camp for Russian prisoners (branch of Stalag XII C „Kamienna” in Skarżysko–Kamienna, later of Stalag 367 Częstochowa). According to one of the witnesses first 100 POWs were brought in 09.1941. A week later 4,500 more arrived and within a fortnight another 5,000. Following that the POWs were brought in groups of 500‑1,000. Altogether c. 15,000‑20,000 Russian POWs were held in the camp. POWs slaved at forest clearances, digging sewage ditches, at train loading. They got a hunger rations (as a result acts of cannibalism took place). Slept in unheated barracks. Were beaten and tortured (with wooden battons). Received to medical help. For any type of transgression they were penalized with execution. The camp was managed by the Germans and was supported by a camp’s militia, composed mainly by the Ukrainians. Only few hundred prisoners survived who in the autumn of 1944 were transferred to other camps. From 1945 in Russian Commie–Nazi hands. Till 1956 many political prisoners, e.g. members of former restistance Home Army AK and National Armed Forces NSZ (part of Polish Clandestine State) where held camptive there. On 04‑05.1945 Polish partisans commanded by Mjr Anthony Heda attacked the prison and release c. 700 prisoners. (more on: www.chroniclesofterror.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2020.02.08]
)

23.05.1941 arrests (Cracow): On 23.05.1941 Germans arrested in Cracow 10 Salesian Fathers (two others were apprehended few days earlierl yet two others were arrested few days later in Kielce), ostensibly for assumed collaboration with Polish resistance movement (part of future Polish Clandestine State) and support and help given to Polish army officers in hiding. All were taken to Montelupich Str. prison and next to German KL Auschwitz concentration camp, where only two survived. Most of the rest where cruelly murdered. (more on: cejsh.icm.edu.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2017.11.07]
)

General Governorate: A separate administrative territorial region set up by the Germans in 1939 after defeat of Poland, which included German‑occupied part of Polish territory that was not directly incorporate into German state. Created as the result of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, in a political sense, was to recreate the German idea of 1915 (after the defeat of the Russians in the Battle of Gorlice in 05.1915 during World War I) of establishing a Polish enclave within Germany (also called the General Governorate at that time). It was run by the Germans till 1945 and final Russian offensive, and was a part of so–called Big Germany — Grossdeutschland. Till 31.07.1940 formally known as Germ. Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete (Eng. General Governorate for occupied Polish territories) — later as simply niem. Generalgouvernement (Eng. General Governorate). From 07.1941 expanded to include district Galicia. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.12.04]
)

Ribbentrop-Molotov: Genocidal Russian–German alliance pact between Russian leader Joseph Stalin and German leader Adolf Hitler signed on 23.08.1939 in Moscow by respective foreign ministers, Mr. Vyacheslav Molotov for Russia and Joachim von Ribbentrop for Germany. The pact sanctioned and was the direct cause of joint Russian and German invasion of Poland and the outbreak of the World War II in 09.1939. In a political sense, the pact was an attempt to restore the status quo ante before 1914, with one exception, namely the „commercial” exchange of the so–called „Kingdom of Poland”, which in 1914 was part of the Russian Empire, fore Eastern Galicia (today's western Ukraine), in 1914 belonging to the Austro–Hungarian Empire. Galicia, including Lviv, was to be taken over by the Russians, the „Kingdom of Poland” — under the name of the General Governorate — Germany. The resultant „war was one of the greatest calamities and dramas of humanity in history, for two atheistic and anti–Christian ideologies — national and international socialism — rejected God and His fifth Decalogue commandment: Thou shall not kill!” (Abp Stanislaus Gądecki, 01.09.2019). The decisions taken — backed up by the betrayal of the formal allies of Poland, France and Germany, which on 12.09.1939, at a joint conference in Abbeville, decided not to provide aid to attacked Poland and not to take military action against Germany (a clear breach of treaty obligations with Poland) — were on 28.09.1939 slightly altered and made more precise when a treaty on „German–Russian boundaries and friendship” was agreed by the same murderous signatories. One of its findings was establishment of spheres of influence in Central and Eastern Europe and in consequence IV partition of Poland. In one of its secret annexes agreed, that: „the Signatories will not tolerate on its respective territories any Polish propaganda that affects the territory of the other Side. On their respective territories they will suppress all such propaganda and inform each other of the measures taken to accomplish it”. The agreements resulted in a series of meeting between two genocidal organization representing both sides — German Gestapo and Russian NKVD when coordination of efforts to exterminate Polish intelligentsia and Polish leading classes (in Germany called «Intelligenzaktion», in Russia took the form of Katyń massacres) where discussed. Resulted in deaths of hundreds of thousands of Polish intelligentsia, including thousands of priests presented here, and tens of millions of ordinary people,. The results of this Russian–German pact lasted till 1989 and are still in evidence even today. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30]
)

Pius XI's encyclicals: Facing the creation of two totalitarian systems in Europe, which seemed to compete with each other, though there were more similarities than contradictions between them, Pope Pius XI issued in 03.1937 (within 5 days) two encyclicals. In the „Mit brennender Sorge” (Eng. „With Burning Concern”) published on 14.03.1938, condemned the national socialism prevailing in Germany. The Pope wrote: „Whoever, following the old Germanic–pre–Christian beliefs, puts various impersonal fate in the place of a personal God, denies the wisdom of God and Providence […], whoever exalts earthly values: race or nation, or state, or state system, representatives of state power or other fundamental values of human society, […] and makes them the highest standard of all values, including religious ones, and idolizes them, this one […] is far from true faith in God and from a worldview corresponding to such faith”. On 19.03.1937, published „Divini Redemptoris” (Eng. „Divine Redeemer”), in which criticized Russian communism, dialectical materialism and the class struggle theory. The Pope wrote: „Communism deprives man of freedom, and therefore the spiritual basis of all life norms. It deprives the human person of all his dignity and any moral support with which he could resist the onslaught of blind passions […] This is the new gospel that Bolshevik and godless communism preaches as a message of salvation and redemption of humanity”… Pius XI demanded that the established human law be subjected to the natural law of God , recommended the implementation of the ideal of a Christian state and society, and called on Catholics to resist. Two years later, National Socialist Germany and Communist Russia came together and started World War II. (more on: www.vatican.vaClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2023.05.28]
, www.vatican.vaClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2023.05.28]
)

sources

personal:
bws.sdb.org.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.05.30]
, wadoviana.euClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.10.05]
, www.ipgs.usClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.11.23]

bibliographical:
Urns kept at the Am Perlacher Forst cemetery — analysis”, Mr Gregory Wróbel, curator of the Museum of Independence Traditions in Łódź, private correspondence, 25.05.2020
Salesian Society in Poland under occupation 1939‑1945”, Fr John Pietrzykowski SDB, Institute of National Remembrance IPN, Warsaw, 2015
original images:
www.auschwitz.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2018.11.18]
, www.auschwitz.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2018.11.18]
, www.auschwitz.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2018.11.18]
, pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.12.04]
, polski-cmentarz.comClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.03.01]

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