author: Michael Klimecki, Zbigniew Palski

The beginnings of self-organizing
Create self-defense troops first took place spontaneously. They organized the local leaders of the Polish community. We believe that they will appear at the end of 1942, or at the end of 1942 and 1943, their work was originally limited to the organization by the population of villages and towns of observation points, the issue of guard and patrol the immediate vicinity. Members of the local self-warned of the emergence of the Polish population is unknown armed troops. Part of outposts, patrols and worth only work at night, but rarely were armed with firearms.
When the early spring of 1943, spread information about the mass murders carried out by Poles, Ukrainians, began to observe the nearby villages of Ukraine, expanded the number of observation points and patrols. The main task has also become emerging supply centers in firearms.
The effectiveness of the first self-defense troops was not large? confined to alert the Polish people against the possibility of attack. In the first period did not allow the lack of weapons yet effectively repel the attack of the Ukrainian.
It should be noted that the early spring of 1943, not all Poles in Volhynia had a sense of danger. Many of them were convinced that anti-Polish there are only limited scope, the more that many Polish villages have good relations with the surrounding population of Ukraine. There were also cases that Ukrainians stilled Polish neighbors, saying that nothing threatened them. It was thought also that it is possible to fight together with the Poles and Ukrainians, Germans. Some Polish historians believe that such rumors were deliberately broadcast by the Ukrainians, and sought to reassure the Polish population. Not without significance is the fact that certain Polish circles feared that the expansion of self-defense troops and their weapons with firearms can contribute to strained Polish-Ukrainian conflict. Also feared reprisals from the Germans.
Yet in May 1943, Poland has assessed that the events in Volhynia can not call the entire population of the Ukrainian insurgency against the Poles. It was emphasized that these are the destruction of the villages that are not weapons. Weapons were considered as effectively at the same axes and pitchforks. Only Ukraine's growing terror and lack of reaction of the German occupation authorities to convince the Polish population in Volhynia, the organization of effective self-defense can help protect lives and property of residents of villages and towns at risk. The immediate threat to life from the armed and organized groups in Ukraine resulted in the development of forms of self-defense of the Polish population. Exhibited not only patrols and guards, but was taken to create branches, are able to take the fight to the attackers. They were the militia and the nature of folk were not yet capable of long, scheduled to defend against an attack carried out with more, much better armed and often well-led troops in Ukraine.
In April 1943, attempted to defend Polish villages near Rafałówce eg Przebraże, where he managed to repulse the attack and Ukrainians Kutach (Katy) in the district Krzemieniec, despite the defense of 43 Poles were killed, while others fled to Krzemieniec.

Army to the events in Volhynia in 1943

After the occupation by the Germans in Volhynia in 1941 failed to develop in these areas strong Polish underground organization. According to Polish historian R. Pillar (?) Work on organizational development of the underground grid they went too slowly and generally did not go beyond the preliminary phase. The reason for this state of affairs was. including lack of Volhynia elite and intelligentsia, as it was destroyed during the Soviet occupation and the remainder in rural areas, the Polish population was poorly organized.
In August 1942, Army Headquarters was separated from the Volyn District Area No. 3 (Lviv), putting it directly yourself. In September 1942, was appointed colonel commandant of the District. Kazimierz Babinski (? Luboń?). District Government Delegate was Kazimierz Banach (? John Linowski?), Who came to Volhynia on 21 November 1942
When in the spring of 1943 intensified the mass murder of the Polish population, it appeared that the Polish underground authorities were completely surprised by this fact. Chief Commander of the Army evaluated the situation in Volhynia as follows: (?) Polish population beset the last frontiers refuge in larger towns in the forest, or spontaneously joins the fight against a hostile element in the defense of life and property. Such a situation forces the authorities to organize the command of an active campaign against the hostile speeches in foreign nations. Self-defense is in the east parallel question about the validity and prepare for the tasks for a period of insurrection.
Only then proceeded to the counter. Volyn District Commander of the AK May 17, 1943, ordered self-organization in areas predominantly Polish population, the creation in areas with lesser degrees of self-defense of the Polish population in the towns, the creation of armed militias, and holding disposable alarm system.
In June, sent to fight a large part of the leadership cadre and all rural forces. Officers from the Lutsk and Rovno Inspectorates took up the position of self-defense command centers in the north-eastern Volhynia, recognized as the most threatened.
However, there was a sharp conflict between a Colonel Kazimierz Kazimierz Banach Bąbińskim. The first called for the establishment of dialogue with the Ukrainians and to find a compromise, the District Commander of the AK treated with these proposals? Treason?. Delegate of the Government also wanted to include all Army forces to defend the Polish population, while the Colonel? Luboń? requested a transfer to the disposal of men aged 18 to 40 years to execute the plan? storm?. Vigorously objected to this Banach, who believed that the conduct? "The Tempest? in Volhynia significantly worsen the security situation of the Polish population.
Attempts to talk with the leaders of the Ukrainian nationalist movement ended in tragedy. In mid-July 1943 in the village of Kowel Kutycze Polish negotiators were murdered: the representative of the Regional Government Delegation Rumel Zygmunt (? Poreba?) And Krzysztof Markiewicz (? Czart?,? Borut?). To defeat the concept of compromise slide by K. Banach, the dispute between? Army? and? civilians? had been resolved and 19 July 1943, issued a joint command, announcing the unification of forces troops (AK) and self-defense. The next day (July 20) decided to create a partisan in Volhynia. According to her guerrilla units were organized as follows:
-? Luna? ? under the command of Lieutenant. John Rerutko (? Splinter?). After his death on November 10, 1943, the division commander, Zygmunt see Kulczycki (? Algirdas?). Branch? Luna? 107 people and had worked with self-defense base in the district Przebrażu łuckim.
-? Hawk? ? led by Lt. Wladyslaw Czermińskiego (? Hawk?) of about 150 people. Branch acted in self-defense bases in the region and Kupiczowie Zasmykach kowelskim County.
-? Bomb? ? under the command of Cpt. Wladyslaw Kochanski (? Bomb?,? Uncle?). Branch had around 500 soldiers and worked in the area of self-defense base in the district of Stara Huta kostopolskim.
-? Stirrup? ? led by Lt. Blachowskiego Zenon (? Stirrup?). Department had about 100 guerrillas operate in the area of self-defense base in the district Rudnia Lion Sarny.
-? Cornice? ? led by Lt. Francis Pukacki (? Cornice?) of about 80 soldiers. Division of work in the area of self-defense center Stojło-Witoldówka zdołbunowskim County.
-? Richard? ? commanded by Lt. Ryszard Walczak (? Richard?). Branch had around 80 people. Acted in defense of the center-Klewań Lubomirka Rivne district.
-? Falcon? ? commanded by Lt. Michael Fijałkę (? Falcon?), numbering about 120 soldiers. He worked in the area of self-Kupiczów Zasmyki kowelskim County.
-? Kord? ? commanded by Lt. Casimir Filipowicz (? Kord?). Branch had around 80 guerrillas and worked with the center of the self-Jagodzinie Rymaczach lubomelskim County.
-? Peter? ? commanded by a lieutenant. Wladyslaw Cieśliński (? Peter?), Numbering about 80 people. Branch has acted in defense of the center-Bielin Spaszczyzna.

It should be emphasized that decisions to hold partisan support very late in anticipation of self-defense? in the second half of July 1943, ie during the peak wave of mass murder of the Polish population. They were so of late by a few months, which does not provide a good orientation of the underground Polish authorities in the situation in Volhynia. Please cite the opinion of Polish experts on these topics:
A comparison of course share the anti-Polish and Ukrainian nationalists against the part of officials and the District of Volyn Regional Government Delegation is clear that radical measures in defense of endangered Polish population have been taken with a long delay. Shot in the organizational framework of self-defense, and the creation of volatile partisan units had already occurred after the recent mass murders of Polish population in the western part of Volhynia.
Also on July 20 came out? Instruction on self-formation and organization of the bases of branches P [artyzanckich]?. It contained the following definition: the base resistance are higher concentrations of the Polish population (two villages), which in an emergency should protect Polish residents of smaller settlements (colonies) along with their families, movable property, livestock and food stocks. The purpose of the database should be organized armed resistance in case of arrival-lethal predatory gangs, organizing the inner life, self-service and its armament, strengthening the trenches or barbed wire, and also serve as a point of support, procurement and recruitment to the Polish state-partisan.
Political oversight over the organization of self-preserved bodies Government Delegation, but in practice, its development and effectiveness depended primarily on the assistance of Army.
On 28 July 1943, that is after the biggest wave of massacres in Ukraine, Volyn Regional Delegate of the Polish Government issued a proclamation K. Banach for? Citizens of the Republic? Ukrainian Volhynia?. He called on the Ukrainian community to oppose the killings murder fraternal [?] Nation and the immersion of all [?] Human and national feelings in the streams of innocent blood. Poles, however, called for creation? Independent Polish self-defense?. At the same time warned that under no circumstances should cooperate with the German. Joining the German police and gendarmerie is the heaviest crime against the Polish Nation. Militiamen? The Poles, who would have taken part in the destruction of farms and the killing of women and children in Ukraine are deletions from the ranks of the Polish nation and will be heavily punished. (?) Interaction of the Bolshevik crime is the same as the interaction with the German. Joining the partisans of Soviet troops is a crime. No Pole can not be there. (?) Poles respect the independence aspirations of Ukrainians. They do not want and have no reason to attack those efforts and weaken. With honest Ukrainian organizations are always ready to make the most close and fraternal cooperation.
We apply only against the Ukrainians in their own self-defense, only when they're on their own volition or as a result of promptings of our common enemies attacked.
As you can see, even if the Government Delegate is not divested himself of illusions as to the true attitude of the Ukrainians against the Poles. Nothing is known, that this proclamation enjoyed a noticeable effect.
Past experience indicated a low effectiveness of the defense of small Polish communities. Therefore sought to establish strong defensive base with several villages with large gatherings of the Polish population. Such bases were to be defended by local branches, strengthen the field using, inter alia, trenches, bunkers made of wood and earth and all kinds of barbed wire.
One of the biggest problems was to obtain adequate quantities of arms, both by self-defense and to assist them partisan. It was acquired mainly from the Germans, who in some cases, mainly in the districts łuckim, horochowskirn and krzernieniecki, they supplied the Poles in it. Also obtained weapons from the Soviet partisan, inter alia, for food and intelligence. Also used the weapons hidden in the battlefields of 1939 and 1941 Despite the different sources of supply, has always lacked adequate quantities of arms, and her condition was often very bad. Given this state of affairs, some members of self-defense was equipped only with batons, axes, pitchforks, and even made in the workshops peaks.
The first major center of Polish self-organized in early May 1943 in the Lord's Valley in the district dubieńskim. This center hard fought battle, fending off three attacks UPA: June 22, July 27 and August 15, 1943 r. Another important starting point was to defend the town Idol (District Łuck), located on Styr. In Bożyszczach refuge and neighboring towns are about 15,000 Poles. On 27 June Ukrainian nationalists made the attack and Retnówkę Wasylówkę, villages as part of the defense system of division idol.
One of the largest and the most famous base in self-defense was Przebraże (District sarneński). In early June, brought together in this village of about 18,000 people. On 5 July the troops attacked banderowskie Przebraże, but were repulsed. However, suffered the death of hundreds of Poles from the surrounding villages, ten nearby villages have been burned by the Polish Bandera. The biggest struggle for self-defense base that occurred August 30. Bandera focused then more than 4,000 people. However, some forces of the UPA was bound by the Polish base in Bożyszczach who organized the rescue. Poles also received help from the Soviet partisan unit led by Nikolai Prokopiuk. These coordinated actions Bandera forced to flee. Since that time, and Ukrainian nationalists? Blacks? were not able to seriously threaten the Polish self-defense in Przebrażu.
Another big center was in the Steelworks Stepanska kostopolskim County, where he had taken refuge from 16,000 to 18,000 Polish people. Self-Defense commander Cpt. Wladyslaw Kochanski (? Bomb?). On 7 July, the UPA has launched a concentration in this region, and on July 16 Bandera, preparing to attack, burned down in 1915 adjacent to the village of Huta Stepańskiej. Tests began on the same day. Two days later, on July 18, the command of self-defense, seeing the advantage of Ukrainians, decided to interrupt the ring lap. This plan failed. The civilian population was evacuated to the area under the Włodzimiercem Wydymaru where dispersed to Kowel, Sarn and Przebraże. In defense of Huta Stepańskiej killed about 40 people. By contrast, more than 300 have been murdered by Bandera, when the lap before the interruption occurred to panic and some people tried to escape from the threatened towns.
Polish self-organized centers successfully fought and banderowcami? Black? from July to December 1943, self-defense troops in the larger centers were trained in the military and formed platoons and companies. At the request of the commanders of self-defense, inspectorates, AK approve their organization and composition of the leadership cadre, introducing the liquidation plans troops to the occupation and the restoration of the Polish administration. For an effective defense was, inter alia, in July in Antonówce (District Łuck), where Polish troops come from Lutsk, in tto (District równieński) - aid in the Poles gave German troops, as well as Bielin (Vladimir district) in August: in Chołownicy (District równieński); in September: the Worczynie (Vladimir district) in November: in Różynie (District kowelski) in December: the Ostrówkach (District lubomelski) in Rudnia Lions (District sameński), in Dabrowa (District kowelski) and Witoldówce (District Zdolbuniv) . The Polish people had to evacuate only Różyny. Branches in the larger self-defense after training centers were formed in platoons and companies. At the request of the commanders of self-protection inspectorates AK validate their organization and composition of the leadership cadre, introducing the liquidation plans troops to the occupation and the restoration of the Polish administration.
AK partisan effectively support the Polish self-defense centers. Eg 12 November 1943 troops? Hawk? and? Falcons?, operating in the area of self-defense base in Zasmykach, captured after the battles of the UPA town Kupiczów (District kowelski). Over the next few days banderowskie successfully repulsed the attacks, seeking to rebound village. On 16 November the UPA attacked, also in vain, self-defense base on Polish Huta Stara (District Kostopil), assisted by a branch of Army Cpt. ? Bombs? Captain and the Soviet partisans. Kotlarzewa. Army troops fought in 1943 in Volhynia approximately 150 fights.
Strong self-defense centers not only defended them located in the civilian population, but also seek to provide assistance to other Polish clustering at risk or already infected by the Ukrainian nationalist forces. Increase the chances of survival for the Polish centers provide an impact on the neighboring villages of Ukraine, which is a base for troops UPA. For example, the Poles attacked Przebraże Hawczyce, as a refuge for Bandera County trying to learn Polish Rafałówka. Also made two trips to the Trostianets, where he was in school podoficerska UPA. In the first of them after the fight was taken from the pharmacy medication, in the second part of the burned villages and killed dozens of Ukrainians. In early July, troops from the self-Huta Stepańskiej destroyed a branch of Melnicy Bandera, in the night from 11 to 12 July in the village Butejki. On August 31,? Hawk? Zasmyk attacked the Groszówkę, where scattered focus there hundreds of Ukrainian peasants, preparing for the murder of Poles. In October dwustuosobowy self-defense detachment of Przebraże Omelno struck the village, destroying the center is located there banderowski. Przebraże performed well on the trip Sławatycze (27 October), which killed more than 20 Bandera.
Because the centers were often self-centered than ten thousand people, a very important issue was to provide food supplies. Due to the threat of Ukrainians was not possible to collect the harvest in many places. In other harvests were possible only under the protection of a strong, armed escorts. In this situation also taken trips to the villages of Ukraine to obtain supplies. For example, at the end of November, the Poles attacked Przebraże Żurawicz and Omelno, winning the flour, grain and cattle.
Making trips to the centers of Ukraine, the Poles also have used terror against the civilian population. Started to apply the principle of collective responsibility. On the massacres, robberies and armed robberies answered odwetami, killing, robbery, and requisitions. Killing deemed to be a virtue. The young men who lost their entire families in the flasks rylcami guns registering their victims. Human justice descended to the brink of animal vengeance. In battles against the UPA, the prisoners were taken only in rare cases, is not spared the trapped men without weapons.
It should be noted, however, that acts of vengeance Polish occurred rarely and has never reached such a scale and cruelty, how? Feats? Ukrainians. The highest single loss of civilian lives, they noted, are 22 Ukrainians were killed in early October 1943 in the village in the district of Vladimir Zamoście. Remarkable is also the fact that the Polish researchers, as opposed to Ukrainian historians, do not try to hide the Polish activities antyukraińskich. For example, W. Romanowski says that in retaliation for the murder of 24 May 300 Poles in the village of unpleasant (District Kostopil), a division commanded by Lt. Polish L. Osiecki, with the support of the Soviet partisans killed about 400 Ukrainians, rural residents Neris. Also in late November and December making some pacification Ukrainian village, threatening the Lord's Valley in the district dubieńskim. It should be noted that some partisans were created with the members of self-defense centers, previously broken by the Ukrainian nationalists, or to be supplied by the inhabitants of rural areas vulnerable. Soldiers of these units often have lost their loved ones murdered by the Nationalists, very often, watching their mangled bodies and remains of other Poles. Polish underground authorities tried to prevent uncontrolled impulses of retaliation. For example, Cadet. Tadeusz Halicz-Crown, who in August made the pacification Kleczkowicze, Turowicz and Klewiecka been brought before a court martial and sentenced to death. Sentence was not carried as a result of the intervention area inspector Major Kovel. John Smith-Szatowskiego. Shares of some partisan AK against the Ukrainian people again renewed the dispute between the Banach and K. Col. K. Bąbińskim. Finally, the cancellation of both Volhynia Government Delegate and District Commander of the AK.
The current state of research does not yet permit the precise number of Polish self-defense in Volhynia. According to Adam Peretiakowicza there were about 300 such centers, of which 129 survived to. the entry of Soviet troops. Centers and 49 branches of Ukrainian nationalism has been or its crew, withdrew before the start of the attack, but in both cases at least part of the Polish civilian population fled or were evacuated. According to this researcher has nine centers, and is not protected by the civilian population was killed, 29 had not taken the fight and civilians also were killed. In turn, Wladyslaw and Andrzej Sowa Pillar indicate that in Volhynia was about 100 bases and centers for self-defense. A. Sowa also writes that for a time. the entry of Soviet troops lasted about 60 centers. The rest would be destroyed or has been, evacuated by the defenders. Clearly, the differences are very large.
According to Eve, and Wladyslaw Siemaszko the biggest role in the defense of the Polish population centers, has played 15 samoobronnych: Lord's Valley (District Dubno) Zaturce (District horochowski), Huta Stara neighboring villages and colonies (District Kostopil) Zasmyki (District kowelski), Dabrowa (District kowelski) Rybcza (District Kremenetskyi) Dederkały (District Kremenetskyi) Rymacze Jagodzin and two neighboring colonies (District lubomelski) Antonówka Szepelska (District Łuck) Rozhysche (District Łuck) Przebraże with adjacent colonies (District Łuck) Bielin (Vladimir district), Witoldówka (District Zdolbuniv), Ostrog (District Zdolbuniv).

To sum up the activities of Polish self-defense in Volhynia in 1943, it should be noted that the largest, covering several villages, protected by a relatively disciplined and trained troops, at least superficially, equipped polowymi fortifications were: the most famous and Huta Przebraże Stepanska, Lord's Valley, Rozhysche, Żytyń, Rybcza, mills, Shumsk, Stara Huta, Bielin and Zasmyki. Protected in each of them in the hottest summer of 1943 from several to tens of thousands of people. The biggest Polish database of self-defense were almost independent of the occupying power, had its own civil administration, armed forces and police, intelligence and the buds of certain public services. The protection of Harvesting and gaining share of food in the villages of Ukraine provided overcrowded Polish mother and a minimum of food allowed to extend their existence in 1944, the entrenchment of centers and the emergence of self-defense in the second half year of 1943 has allowed the partisans to commence offensive operations and preventive measures against the bases and villages, who are staging or concentration of branches of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. Activity and determination enabled the survival of partisan significant, although difficult to precisely estimate the number of self-defense centers in Volhynia and gradually paralyzed in some areas of activity of branches of the UPA.

The actions of the Ukrainian nationalist movement (murder, burning of farms and forced to flee) had to bring - the purposes set by the initiators - the removal of the Polish population of Volhynia. Polish society and the authorities were surprised by the underground, both momentum and ruthless conduct of the Ukrainian nationalist movement. Weakness of the Polish underground organizations and disputes as to the measures to be used for the purposes of the current, and therefore primarily for self-defense, caused the very late it was decided to defend the population. Under these conditions, bottom-up development in Volhynia in the spring of 1943 reduced the size of the institutions of self-defense Polish losses. Self-defense is also protected the civilization achievements of generations of Poles, Polish and therefore the right to this piece of Europe, resulting, inter alia, in the centuries-long presence of the Polish population and its institutions.
The tragic events in Volhynia in 1943 to widen the mental gap between the two nations. Poles never imagined the possibility of further harmonious coexistence with the Ukrainians in the borderlands. According to an assessment by General Tadeusz Komorowski:? Borderland population takes an uncompromising position against our minority and do not want to recognize their emancipatory aspirations?.
Poles living in Volhynia Ukrainians saw as the enemy number one, far more dangerous than that? Bolsheviks? or Germany. Here is a typical rating of Ukrainian attitudes during this period? Association with Hitler's defeat matter, gave the Ukrainians first cones to use as an executioner during the memorable extermination of the Jewish population. Later, willingly, though not without foreign podpuszczenia, murdered Poles in Volhynia (?). Indelible in the history of the Ukrainian nation will remain a disgrace that the heroes of this? Rebel army? preferred to murder defenseless women and children, than from a distance even see the Soviet or German tank?. Guilt for crimes against the Poles bear the members of the Ukrainian nationalist formations, primarily the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists - the fraction of Stepan Bandera and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. It should be noted, however, that the mass extermination of the Polish people attended the rural population of Ukraine, the Bandera called black. It is difficult to guess the reasons why committed murder - whether under the influence of nationalist ideas, whether from a desire to profit. Maybe? Blacks? guided by two themes at once. It should also be remembered that under the guise of fighting a national concealed as a normal robbery, during the occupation of highly distributed throughout the country. Signs of wear banditry numerous individual murders, we would be treated in the memories of the conflict as a result of the Polish - Ukrainian.
It should be emphasized that the remainder of the Ukrainian community has taken greater efforts to prevent or counter the murders in part, at least tacitly, accept it. Allowing the extermination of Polish nationalists easier to give them the actions taken by the great momentum. For this reason, in 1943 the term - Ukrainian happened to the Poles - and not only from Eastern Poland - synonymous with degenerate murderer.