Sunday, September 29, 2013

Intelligenzaktion - Tryszczyn


Intelligenzaktion, also called „Flurbereiningung“ was a genocidal action of Germany targeting Polish elites (primarily intelligentsia – teachers, priests, etc.). It was an early measure of the Generalplan Ost. About 60,000 people were killed as the result of this operation. ''Intelligenzaktion'' started on September 28th in the Bydgoszcz region with the mass executions in a village of Tryszczyn. During 2 weeks German paramilitary Selbstschutz executed over 900 Bydgoszcz citizens-Polish teachers, clergy, Boy Scouts, military and police officers, clerks, cultural and social organization members. Among victims were also Jews and local farmers. As a makeshift graves Germans used Polish trenches along the Brda River banks- the remaining after Bydgoszcz city defence. Victims were transported from the city prison in trucks, then led on foot to the trench. Killers shot them individually, putting a bullet into back of the head.