Kisielin massacre
Encyclopedia
Kisielin massacre was a massacre
of Polish
worshipers which took place in the Volhynia
n village of Kisielin (Second Polish Republic
until 1939), now Kysylyn
, located in the Volyn Oblast
, Ukraine
. It took place on Sunday, July 11, 1943, when units of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), supported by local Ukrainian peasants, surrounded Poles
who had gathered for a ceremony at a local Roman-Catholic church. Around 60 to 90 persons or more, men, women and children – were ordered to take off their clothes and were then massacred by machine gun. The wounded were killed with weapons such as axes and knives. Those who survived (around 200 by some accounts) escaped to the presbytery and barricaded themselves for eleven hours.
Kisielin massacre was a part of a wave of Ukrainian
massacres of Poles in Volhynia
. Among its survivors were parents of Polish composer Krzesimir Dębski
, who in the early 2000s accompanied his mother to Kisielin. His trip was featured in Agnieszka Arnold
's 2003 movie Oczyszczenie (Cleansing). Other survivors included also Faustyn Kraszewski, grandfather of Marek Jerzy Minakowski
, but at least five killed belonged to his family.
The massacre was a subject of a 2009 Polish historical documentary film "Było sobie miasteczko...
" produced by Adam Kruk for Telewizja Polska
. The film recounts the tragic memories of the Polish Catholics originally from Kisielin as well as those of the Ukrainians peasants who remained, but also, it is a reflection on the eradication of Polish culture and tradition in the entire region of Western Ukraine, and the painful legacy that lingers.
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
of Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
worshipers which took place in the Volhynia
Volhynia
Volhynia, Volynia, or Volyn is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Southern Bug River, to the north of Galicia and Podolia; the region is named for the former city of Volyn or Velyn, said to have been located on the Southern Bug River, whose name may come...
n village of Kisielin (Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
until 1939), now Kysylyn
Kysylyn
Kysylyn or Kisilin is a town in Volyn Oblast, Ukraine. Before World War II, it belonged to Wołyń Voivodeship in the eastern part of the Second Polish Republic.-World War II:...
, located in the Volyn Oblast
Volyn Oblast
Volyn Oblast is an oblast in north-western Ukraine. Its administrative center is Lutsk. Kovel is the westernmost town and the last station in Ukraine of the rail line running from Kiev to Warsaw.-History:...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. It took place on Sunday, July 11, 1943, when units of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), supported by local Ukrainian peasants, surrounded Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
who had gathered for a ceremony at a local Roman-Catholic church. Around 60 to 90 persons or more, men, women and children – were ordered to take off their clothes and were then massacred by machine gun. The wounded were killed with weapons such as axes and knives. Those who survived (around 200 by some accounts) escaped to the presbytery and barricaded themselves for eleven hours.
Kisielin massacre was a part of a wave of Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
massacres of Poles in Volhynia
Massacres of Poles in Volhynia
The Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia were part of an ethnic cleansing operation carried out by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army West in the Nazi occupied regions of the Eastern Galicia , and UPA North in Volhynia , beginning in March 1943 and lasting until the end of...
. Among its survivors were parents of Polish composer Krzesimir Dębski
Krzesimir Debski
Krzesimir Dębski is a Polish composer, conductor and jazz violinist. His music career as an musician has been that of a performer as well as composer of classical music, opera, television and feature films.-Professional career:...
, who in the early 2000s accompanied his mother to Kisielin. His trip was featured in Agnieszka Arnold
Agnieszka Arnold
Agnieszka Arnold is a Polish documentary filmmaker. She compiled two documentaries on the Jedwabne pogrom of Jewish villagers, during World War II, by their Polish neighbors.-Films:* Miś - Assistant director* Kto ziarno nadziei siał...
's 2003 movie Oczyszczenie (Cleansing). Other survivors included also Faustyn Kraszewski, grandfather of Marek Jerzy Minakowski
Marek Jerzy Minakowski
Marek Jerzy Minakowski is a Polish philosopher, historian and genealogist, author of the "Wielką genealogię". Graduated from the Jagiellonian University with the dissertation which was the result of collecting all traces of the use of formal logic in Greek writing prior to 350 B.C...
, but at least five killed belonged to his family.
The massacre was a subject of a 2009 Polish historical documentary film "Było sobie miasteczko...
Było sobie miasteczko...
Było sobie miasteczko... is a 2009 Polish historical documentary film about the 1943 Kisielin massacre in the village of Kisielin , located in the Wołyń Voivodeship in Poland before World War II,...
" produced by Adam Kruk for Telewizja Polska
Telewizja Polska
Telewizja Polska Spółka Akcyjna is Poland's public broadcasting corporation...
. The film recounts the tragic memories of the Polish Catholics originally from Kisielin as well as those of the Ukrainians peasants who remained, but also, it is a reflection on the eradication of Polish culture and tradition in the entire region of Western Ukraine, and the painful legacy that lingers.
Sources
- Genocide and rescue in Wołyń, McFarland, ISBN 0-7864-0773-5
- Description of pre-WW2 Kisielin
See also
- List of massacres in Ukraine
- Massacres of Poles in VolhyniaMassacres of Poles in VolhyniaThe Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia were part of an ethnic cleansing operation carried out by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army West in the Nazi occupied regions of the Eastern Galicia , and UPA North in Volhynia , beginning in March 1943 and lasting until the end of...