Trial of the Generals

The Trial of the Generals ( _pl. proces generałów) was one of the show trials organized by the communist authorities of Poland between July 31 and August 31, 1951. Its purpose was to cleanse the Army of officers who had previously served in the pre-war Polish Army or in the non-communist resistance during the World War II. It was used in internal struggle for power within the new communist authorities of Poland, as a measure against Marshal of Poland Michał Rola-Żymierski, as well as Generals Marian Spychalski and Wacław Komar, whose faction has fallen out of grace. The trial was led by Col. Stanisław Zarakowski.

All of the arrested officers were falsely accused of conspiracy against the Party and collaboration with British and American intelligence services, in the so-called "TUN case" (an acronym of the names of three most notable participants: Tatar-Utnik-Nowicki). All Generals to be accused (Franciszek Herman, Jerzy Kirchmayer, Stefan Mossor and Stanisław Tatar) were sentenced to life imprisonment. The Colonels (Marian Jurecki, Marian Utnik and Stanisław Nowicki) were sentenced to 15 years in prison, while Major Roman and Cmdr. Wacek were sentenced to 12 years in prison. In the so-called splinter trials, additional 86 officers of the Polish Army, Navy and Air Forces were arrested. Most of them were tortured by the secret police (Urząd Bezpieczeństwa), 40 were sentenced to death penalty (20 executions were carried out).

In 1956, after the end of Stalinism in Poland, all of the imprisoned were set free and rehabilitated soon afterwards, except for Gen. Herman who was killed in prison. It was not until 1990 that all of them were fully rehabilitated (except for Gen. Mossor).

References

See also

* Trial of the Sixteen