Collaborators, Informers and Agents in Occupied Krakow: A Contribution to Further Research

Alicja Jarkowska-Natkaniec

doi:10.33542/cah2020-1-03

Abstract

This study contributes new research exploring cases of collaboration with the German authorities and the phenomenon of delators (denouncers), informers and agents in occupied Krakow, as well as letters of denunciation. Cases linked to the blackmailing at the beginning of World War II of Jews, and as the war continued of colleagues and neighbours working for the resistance and of disliked relatives and in-laws are also taken into account. Letters written by Krakow inhabitants – some anonymous, others signed – are appraised for information contained therein on political, racial, economic, social and fi nancial matters. The article also describes the activities of the Polish resistance against collaborators and the post-war settling of scores through the Krakow Special Criminal Court in the early post-war years.

Highlights

This study contributes new research exploring cases of collaboration with the German authorities and the phenomenon of delators, informers and agents in occupied Krakow, as well as letters of denunciation
According to estimates made after the war, approximately 800–1000 people collaborated with the Krakow Gestapo during World War II
The main aim of this study is to describe the activities of the last three groups of informers and denouncers: occasional and regular collaborators of the Krakow Gestapo

Summary

25 The regional governors of Krakow during the occupation were as follows

Ernst Zörner (September 1939 to February 1940), Carl Schmidt (February 1940 to March 1941), Rudolf Pavlu (April 1941 to April 1943) and Josef Kramer (April 1943 to January 1945). Between 1939 and 1944, several hundred cases were referred to Krakow’s district and municipal courts by police units; many of them based on anonymous and signed denunciations These were addressed to the Gestapo, Kripo, the Polish police, security police, the governor’s office, the directorate of German police, the public security division, the military police or even Hans Frank, the general governor himself. The final result of the diversionary unit’s efforts was a list of names of agents, partially published in the “Małopolski Biuletyn Informacyjny” [Newsletter of the Lesser Poland Region] or the “Małopolska Agencja Prasowa” [Lesser Poland Region Press Agency], together with the following verdicts: public condemnation reprimand or death, which I shall discuss in more detail Another matter concerned the resistance movement’s failed operations, for example, unsuccessful attempts to liquidate informers or innocent people being accused of collaborating with the German authorities based on, for example, hearsay and unsubstantiated reports.

91 Calculations made by the author based on underground press releases

Findings

Conclusions