Dom Śląski, Pomorska Street, Cracow and Gestapo Prison Cells- revisited

In summer 2013 I visited this museum for the first time. I wrote about it in the blog. Today I will add a few new things I learned while there.

The same permanent exhibit was there- "People of Krakow in Times of Terror 1939-1945-1956".

Here is a photo of the exhibit announcement that is on the wall as you enter the courtyard.

An interesting image of a pistol shape cut into pages of a book caught my attention. Edward Heil, a commandant of the Grey Ranks (most likely part of the Polish underground movement), cut out this hole to conceal his pistol. The book was called "Die Wehrmacht" (the army in German).

There was a mock-up of an SS interrogation room. In one exhibit case there was a gas mask. The German interrogators often put the gas masks on their victims and would clog the air intake valve. The victim would choke or lose consciousness. At the same time the victim might be beaten. This was particularly cruel punishment.

Profiles of selected victims and torturers during the German occupation in Cracow (1939-45) were featured in the museum. One victim was Irena Odrzywolek, a young prison guard at St. Michael's prison. She helped smuggle weapons to Polish Underground Army soldiers in that prison. They were able to escape, thanks to her. She had to then flee from her job. She went into hiding and was eventually caught, put on "trial" and was executed by firing squad. She was almost 26 years old then. This happened in 1946.

Another interesting section of the museum was about a referendum and vote to consider adopting Soviet - style Communism in Poland. The referendum was in 1946 and the vote in 1947. The referendum was like a poll to determine the political mood of Poles. There were 3 questions asked - do you want to abolish the senate, do you want consolidation of the economic system based on agricultural reforms and nationalization of the basic sectors of the national economy, and do want more secure borders in western Poland (consolidation of western border). The general mood in Poland was acceptance of these ideas. The vote was rigged, but the general feel was positive towards the Communists. Members of the opposition were arrested, assassinated and persecuted by the Soviets.

The Communists secured their foot in the door in Poland.

In 1947 there was a trial of members of the Polish Underground (opposition). It was very much for show. Here is the text about it.

Likewise there was another show trial in Cracow in 1953 dealing with Polish priests who were accused of spying for the Vatican and having contact with political émigrés who opposed Communism. The accusations, especially about spying, were absurd. Here is the text about it.

Next to the museum are 4 Gestapo prison cells where victims were interrogated before being sent off to a prison such as Montelupich or St. Michael's. They were holding cells. Some of the prisoners wrote on the walls. Here is an inscription by 2 Poles with their names, date and time held in the cell and the words "not guilty".

What surprised me were 2 inscriptions in German. On one I could not decipher the whole thing. The other I could mostly. It was so spread out that I had to take 2 photographs to capture the whole message.

"Hier sitzt ein Reichsdeutscher, warum ??  (Ist das was neues?) Weil e....polizei geholfen hat ??? Ich Jolio F. (zu spät erfahren). 

"Here sits a native (?) German, why?? (Is this something new?) Because (he) helped the ....police??? I am Jolio F. (Learned too late). 

The statement "Is this something new?" Is surely meant ironically. (Almost like "what else is new?!)

I would certainly like to know the story behind this guy Jolio.