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The notification states that the investigation into the death of Janina Knobloch (an arrested woman that the document mentions) was discontinued. She poisoned herself with strychnine in a bathroom during her interrogation. She was a liaison officer of OUN (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists) District II. The document was prepared by an investigation officer of MBP (Ministry of Public Security).

Title:

The decision to terminate the investigation against Janina Knobloch, liaison officer of the UPA in Poland, Warsaw, 1947

Year:
1947
Source:
Instytut Pamięci Narodowej, IPN Bu 0952/104
Original language:
Polish

“AGREED”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Warsaw, October 21, 1947

Chief of Unit of the Ministry of Domestic Security
/-/SIEDLECKI , lieutenant-colonel.
No. M-5184/47/II

RESOLUTION
on the termination of investigation

Investigating Officer of the Department of the Ministry of Domestic Security (MDS) in Warsaw, sub-lieut. Soyka Mieczyslaw, having familiarized himself with the investigative documents on the death of the MDS detainee, Knoblokh Janina,

 established the following:

On June, 13, 1947, MDS detained in Łódź Janina Knoblokh, Maria Posadska, Karolina Dorosh, and Maria Olchyk, upon the request of the 3rd MDS Department. After the detention of the above persons, they were sent to the MDS.

During the preliminary interrogation at the MDS of Janina Knoblokh by Captain Shpahn /in the presence of Major Lanin/the suspect did not admit her guilt. During the interrogation, the above person asked if she could go to the bathroom, to which consent was received and for which the typist Vinnytska was sent to supervise. Leaving the toilet, Knoblokh began to show nervousness and trembling. She was given a water to drink but it did not help. She was put on the couch in Captain Shpahn’s office because she began to tremble nervously, claiming she poisoned herself. For this reason, a doctor from the MDS Central Polyclinic was called, to whom Knoblokh also said that she had poisoned herself and asked him for help. Due to the need for gastric lavage, it was decided to transport Knoblokh to the K.B.V. hospital, where, despite the care provided, Knoblokh Janina died.

With regard to the following that:

a/Janina Knoblokh died as a result of strychnine poisoning, as confirmed by the report of the Forensic Institute in Kraków upon studying the content of her stomach,
b/ there are no grounds for initiating a criminal case, and the investigation findings do not provide grounds for prosecuting the MDS ⁠employees before the court – on the grounds of Art. 161 §1 CMPC

it was decided:

1/ investigation in the specified case – shall be terminated;
2/ to notify the family of the deceased Janina Knoblokh of the termination of investigation;
3/ Knoblokh’s deposit shall be given to Janina’s relatives.

“APPROVED”
PROSECUTOR OF THE MAIN PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE V.P.
In Warsaw

INVESTIGATING OFFICER OF THE MDS DEPARTMENT
/-/ SOYKA, sub-lieut.

«ZGADZAM SIE» Warszawa, dnia 21 października 1947 r.
NACZELNIK WYDZIALU MBP

/-/ SIEDLECKI, ppłk.
Nr. M-5184/47/II

 

In Polish original 

 

POSTANOWIENIE
o umorzeniu dochodzenia

Oficer śledczy Wydz. Min. Bezp. Publ. W Warszawie chor. Sojka Mieczysław, rozpatrzywszy materiały dochodzenia w sprawie śmierci zatrzymanej przez M.B.P. Knobloch Janiny

ustalił, że:

w dniu 13 czerwca 1947 r. została zatrzymana przez W.U.B.P. w Łodzi Knobloch Janina, Posadzka Maria, Dorosz Karolina i Olczyk Maria na polecenie III Dep. M.B.P. Po aresztowaniu w/w przetransportowano do MBP.

Podczas wstępnego przesłuchania w M.B.P. Knobloch Janiny przez kpt. Szpana /w obecności mjr. Łanina/ podejrzana nie przyznała się do winy. W czasie przesłuchania w/w spytała czy może wyjść do toalety na co otrzymana zgodę, a dla dopilnowania której wysłano maszynistkę Winnicką. Po przyjściu w toalety Knobloch poczęła wykazywać zdenerwowanie i trząść się. Podano jej do napicia się wody, lecz to nie pomagało, położono ją na stojącej w biurze kpt. Szpana kanapce ponieważ zaczęła nerwowo trząść się oświadczając, że otruła się. Wobec tego zawezwano lekarza z Polikliniki Centr. MBP, któremu również oświadczyła Knobloch, że otruła się, prosząc go o ratunek. Ze względu na to, że potrzebne było zrobienie płukania żołądka postanowiono przewieźć Knobloch do szpitala K.B.W., gdzie pomimo udzielonej pomocy Knobloch Janina zmarła.

zważywszy, że:

a/ Knobloch Janina zmarła na skutek zatrucia się strychniną, co potwierdza sprawozdanie z Instytutu Ekspertyz Sądowych w Krakowie po zbadaniu treści żołądkowej,
b/ nie ma podstawy do wszczęcia postępowania karnego i wyniki dochodzenia nie dają podstawy do pociągnięcia funkc. M.B.P. do odpowiedzialności przed sądem – na zasadzie art. 161 §1 K.W.P.K

postanowił:

1/ Dochodzenie w powyższej sprawie – umorzyć
2/ o umorzeniu zawiadomić rodzinę zmarłej Knobloch Janiny
3/ depozyt Knobloch Janiny oddać rodzinie.

 

«ZATWIERDZAM»
PROKURATOR NACZELNEJ PROK. W.P.
w Warszawie

OFICER SLEDCZY WYDZIALU MBP
/-/ SOJKA, chor.

 

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Many stories could illustrate the struggles of Ukrainian women as members of the Ukrainian underground during World War II. One is the story of Marija Savchyn, who in 1939, at the age of fourteen, joined the female youth section (iunky) of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (Orhanizatsiya Ukrayins’kykh Natsionalistiv [OUN]), which spearheaded the Ukrainian nationalist movement. While in high school during the Second World War in Przemyśl, Savchyn joined the Ukrainian underground...
Worked on the material:
Research, comment

Anna Muller

Translation into English

Svitlana Bregman

Text transcript

Orest Kostiv

Photo

Institute of National Remembrance (Poland, Kraków), BU 0952/104

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