Wronki Prison, three four-story buildings in a cross formation, was designed to accommodate 750–800 prisoners, accompanied by buildings housing the guards and other auxiliary personnel. It was built in 1889 by the Prussian government of Germany and brought into use in 1894 as the Zentralgefängnis für die Provinz Posen.[4][5][6] It was modeled on contemporary American prisons (the Philadelphia System).[4][6] Prisoners were employed in production of stockings and in other tasks.[4][6]
On 30 December 1918 the prison was taken over by Polish insurgents of the Greater Poland Uprising.[5] The prisoners were set free while the prison became a temporary barracks for the insurgents. The prison resumed operations in late July 1919 as part of the new prison system of the Second Polish Republic.[5] In interwar Poland the prison was used as a site for political prisoners.[4]
During the invasion of Poland, the prisoners were set free.[4] It was then taken over by Nazi Germany, first used as a temporary holding place for prisoners of war and incorporated into the Nazi Germany prison system in Reichsgau Wartheland.[5] Most prisoners at that time were Polish political prisoners; the prison was heavily overpopulated (it was during that time that the highest number of prisoners was reported: 4,358),[5][6] and prisoners were mistreated.[5] At least 804 people (out of about 20,000 who passed through it at that time) died in the Wronki Prison during German occupation of Poland.[5][6]
In 1945 when the prison was taken over by the Soviet and Polish forces, it was used briefly to hold German prisoners of war and other German prisoners.[5] After the war, from 1945–1955, the prison was attached to the Ministry of Public Security and again used for political prisoners.[4] A notable group of prisoners early on was formed from former soldiers of the Polish Home Army.[5] The prison was still overcrowded, often holding about 3,000 prisoners,[5] and prisoners were again mistreated.[5][7] About 250 prisoners died during that period, out of over 15,000 imprisoned.[5][6]
In 1958 a metalwork business was added to the prison.[4]
Currently, the prison employs 400 personnel.[4] Its official capacity is 1474 inmates; overcrowding (in late June 2009 it held 1658; in 2004 it had 1783) is causing concern.[2][8][9][10]
Structure and organization
The prison has an infirmary, a section for mentally ill patients, a chapel, library, sports center and secondary level educational institution (capacity of 90 prisoners).[4]
Currently the prison is designed to hold male prisoners serving repeated terms from 3 months to 25 years.[6]
Prisoners are employed by the prison, attached metalwork business and other workplaces, as well as for the town and gmina Wronki.[4]
^ abcdefghiWięzienie, official pages of Wronki town and gmina
^Marek Jan Chodakiewicz: The Dialectics of Pain: The Interrogation Methods of the Communist Secret Police in Poland, 1944–1955. Glaukopis, vol. 2/3 (2004–2005), Reproduced online.
^(in Polish) Piotr Żytnicki, Do sądu, bo cela była za ciasna, Gazeta Wyborcza, 13 August 2009
^(in Polish) Piotr Żytnicki, Więźniowie chcą odszkodowań. Mają za ciasno, Gazeta Wyborcza Poznań, 13 August 2009
^(in Polish) Wronki głodują spokojnie, BAS, PM, 27 May 2004
^(in Polish) Irena "Nenia" Bobowska – patronka "Więzi"
^(in Polish) Janusz Marciszewski, Uwolnić Banderę, NaszeMiasto.pl
^ ab(in Polish) Listy w sprawie biskupa Spletta, Tygodnik Powszechny, Nr 46 (2746), 18 listopada 2001
^ abcd(in Polish) IPN umorzył śledztwo ws. zbrodni w stalinowskim więzieniu, Money.pl, 8 December 2008
^(in Polish) Były prezes związku żołnierzy AK, gen. Karolkiewicz, walczy o dobre imię, Money.pl, 18 January 2007
^(in Polish) Elżbieta Tarkowska, Ścieżki Jacka Kuronia, Tygodnik Powszechny, Nr 46 (2784), 17 listopada 2002
External links
(in Polish) A Polish prisoner from the time of Nazi German occupation of Poland recalls his experiences in Wronki Prison
(in Polish) X sędzią w stanie spoczynku Wojciechem Cyruliczkiem rozmawia Krzysztof Bachorzewski, Gazeta Sądowa, PAŹDZIERNIK 2007 (interview with a former judge and director of Wronki prison)
Model of a prison made by one of the inmates
Further reading
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Więzienie we Wronkach.
Excerpt of memoirs from a prisoner of Wronki Prison shortly before 1950: Stéphane Courtois, Mark Kramer, The black book of communism: crimes, terror, repression, Harvard University Press, 1999, ISBN0-674-07608-7, Google Print, p.383
J. Stępień, Wspomnienia z wiezienia w Wronkach (Memoirs of an ex-prisoner from the Wronki Prison), Rocznik Nadnotecki 21, 1990, p. 63–80
Zygmunt Pociecha, System Wronki (dot. Centralnego Wiezienia Karnego w latach 50-tych) (System Wronki, concerning the Central Prison in Wronki during the 50s), in ZH (Zeszyty Historyczne) 98/1991, p. 107–137
Eligiusz Grupiński, Ofiary zakladu karnego we Wronkach w latach 1946–1956 pochowane na cmentarzu parafialnym we Wronkach (The victims of the prison in Wronki in the years 1946–1956 buried on the cemetery in Wronki), Rocznik Nadnotecki 21, 1990, p. 89–102
Tadeusz Wolsza, W cieniu Wronek, Jaworzyna i Piechcina—1945–1956: życie codzienne w polskich więzieniach, obozach i ośrodkach pracy więźniów (In the shadow of Wronki, Jaworzyn and Piechcin – 1945–1956: everyday life in Polish prisons camps and labor centers for prisoners), Instytut Historii PAN, 2003, ISBN83-88909-06-1
Anna Walendowska-Garczarczyk, Eksterminacja Polaków w zakładach karnych Rawicza i Wronek w okresie okupacji hitlerowskiej 1939–1945 (Extermination of Poles in Rawicz and Wronki prisons during Nazi occupation 1939–1945), Issue 91 of Seria Historia Volume 91, Wydawn. Nauk. Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, 1981
wronki, prison, polish, zakład, karny, wronki, largest, prison, poland, holding, over, 1400, prisoners, established, german, empire, 1889, located, town, wronki, within, greater, poland, voivodeship, main, entrance, with, clock, tower, buildings, contents, his. Wronki Prison Polish Zaklad Karny Wronki is the largest 1 2 3 prison in Poland holding over 1400 prisoners Established by the German Empire in 1889 it is located in the town of Wronki within the Greater Poland Voivodeship Main entrance with the clock tower One of the buildings of the Wronki Prison Contents 1 History 2 Structure and organization 3 Notable prisoners 4 Notes 5 External links 6 Further readingHistory EditWronki Prison three four story buildings in a cross formation was designed to accommodate 750 800 prisoners accompanied by buildings housing the guards and other auxiliary personnel It was built in 1889 by the Prussian government of Germany and brought into use in 1894 as the Zentralgefangnis fur die Provinz Posen 4 5 6 It was modeled on contemporary American prisons the Philadelphia System 4 6 Prisoners were employed in production of stockings and in other tasks 4 6 On 30 December 1918 the prison was taken over by Polish insurgents of the Greater Poland Uprising 5 The prisoners were set free while the prison became a temporary barracks for the insurgents The prison resumed operations in late July 1919 as part of the new prison system of the Second Polish Republic 5 In interwar Poland the prison was used as a site for political prisoners 4 During the invasion of Poland the prisoners were set free 4 It was then taken over by Nazi Germany first used as a temporary holding place for prisoners of war and incorporated into the Nazi Germany prison system in Reichsgau Wartheland 5 Most prisoners at that time were Polish political prisoners the prison was heavily overpopulated it was during that time that the highest number of prisoners was reported 4 358 5 6 and prisoners were mistreated 5 At least 804 people out of about 20 000 who passed through it at that time died in the Wronki Prison during German occupation of Poland 5 6 In 1945 when the prison was taken over by the Soviet and Polish forces it was used briefly to hold German prisoners of war and other German prisoners 5 After the war from 1945 1955 the prison was attached to the Ministry of Public Security and again used for political prisoners 4 A notable group of prisoners early on was formed from former soldiers of the Polish Home Army 5 The prison was still overcrowded often holding about 3 000 prisoners 5 and prisoners were again mistreated 5 7 About 250 prisoners died during that period out of over 15 000 imprisoned 5 6 In 1958 a metalwork business was added to the prison 4 Currently the prison employs 400 personnel 4 Its official capacity is 1474 inmates overcrowding in late June 2009 it held 1658 in 2004 it had 1783 is causing concern 2 8 9 10 Structure and organization EditThe prison has an infirmary a section for mentally ill patients a chapel library sports center and secondary level educational institution capacity of 90 prisoners 4 Currently the prison is designed to hold male prisoners serving repeated terms from 3 months to 25 years 6 Prisoners are employed by the prison attached metalwork business and other workplaces as well as for the town and gmina Wronki 4 Notable prisoners EditIrena Bobowska 11 Stepan Bandera 6 12 Wieslaw Chrzanowski 13 14 Stanislaw Karolkiewicz 15 Jacek Kuron 16 Rosa Luxemburg 6 Stefan Mossor 14 Stanislaw Skalski 14 Carl Maria Splett 13 Stanislaw Tatar 14 Wojciech Korfanty Zenon KossakNotes Edit in Polish Agata Pilarska Jakubczak Bija bo lubia Forum Penitencjarne 2009 8 Centralny Zarzad Sluzby Wieziennej a b in Polish Anna Frankowska 63 zl kosztuje jeden dzien w wiezieniu 2008 08 05 Money pl in Polish Jacek Deptula Ciasno i duszno Wysoki Sadzie Gazeta Pomorska 27 wrzesnia 2008 a b c d e f g h i j in Polish Ogolnopolski Portal Sluzby Wieziennej ZK Wronki a b c d e f g h i j k l in Polish Henryk Czarnecki Centralne Wiezienie Wronki Rys historyczny a b c d e f g h i Wiezienie official pages of Wronki town and gmina Marek Jan Chodakiewicz The Dialectics of Pain The Interrogation Methods of the Communist Secret Police in Poland 1944 1955 Glaukopis vol 2 3 2004 2005 Reproduced online in Polish Piotr Zytnicki Do sadu bo cela byla za ciasna Gazeta Wyborcza 13 August 2009 in Polish Piotr Zytnicki Wiezniowie chca odszkodowan Maja za ciasno Gazeta Wyborcza Poznan 13 August 2009 in Polish Wronki gloduja spokojnie BAS PM 27 May 2004 in Polish Irena Nenia Bobowska patronka Wiezi in Polish Janusz Marciszewski Uwolnic Bandere NaszeMiasto pl a b in Polish Listy w sprawie biskupa Spletta Tygodnik Powszechny Nr 46 2746 18 listopada 2001 a b c d in Polish IPN umorzyl sledztwo ws zbrodni w stalinowskim wiezieniu Money pl 8 December 2008 in Polish Byly prezes zwiazku zolnierzy AK gen Karolkiewicz walczy o dobre imie Money pl 18 January 2007 in Polish Elzbieta Tarkowska Sciezki Jacka Kuronia Tygodnik Powszechny Nr 46 2784 17 listopada 2002External links Edit in Polish A Polish prisoner from the time of Nazi German occupation of Poland recalls his experiences in Wronki Prison in Polish X sedzia w stanie spoczynku Wojciechem Cyruliczkiem rozmawia Krzysztof Bachorzewski Gazeta Sadowa PAZDZIERNIK 2007 interview with a former judge and director of Wronki prison Model of a prison made by one of the inmatesFurther reading Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wiezienie we Wronkach Excerpt of memoirs from a prisoner of Wronki Prison shortly before 1950 Stephane Courtois Mark Kramer The black book of communism crimes terror repression Harvard University Press 1999 ISBN 0 674 07608 7 Google Print p 383 J Stepien Wspomnienia z wiezienia w Wronkach Memoirs of an ex prisoner from the Wronki Prison Rocznik Nadnotecki 21 1990 p 63 80 Zygmunt Pociecha System Wronki dot Centralnego Wiezienia Karnego w latach 50 tych System Wronki concerning the Central Prison in Wronki during the 50s in ZH Zeszyty Historyczne 98 1991 p 107 137 Eligiusz Grupinski Ofiary zakladu karnego we Wronkach w latach 1946 1956 pochowane na cmentarzu parafialnym we Wronkach The victims of the prison in Wronki in the years 1946 1956 buried on the cemetery in Wronki Rocznik Nadnotecki 21 1990 p 89 102 Wladyslaw Minkiewicz Mokotow Wronki Rawicz wspomnienia 1939 1954 Mokotow Wronki Rawicz memoirs 1939 1954 Niezalezna Oficyna Wydawnicza amp Oficyna Wydawnicza Pokolenie 1988 Tadeusz Wolsza W cieniu Wronek Jaworzyna i Piechcina 1945 1956 zycie codzienne w polskich wiezieniach obozach i osrodkach pracy wiezniow In the shadow of Wronki Jaworzyn and Piechcin 1945 1956 everyday life in Polish prisons camps and labor centers for prisoners Instytut Historii PAN 2003 ISBN 83 88909 06 1 Anna Walendowska Garczarczyk Eksterminacja Polakow w zakladach karnych Rawicza i Wronek w okresie okupacji hitlerowskiej 1939 1945 Extermination of Poles in Rawicz and Wronki prisons during Nazi occupation 1939 1945 Issue 91 of Seria Historia Volume 91 Wydawn Nauk Uniwersytetu im Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu 1981 Coordinates 52 42 32 N 16 23 18 E 52 70889 N 16 38833 E 52 70889 16 38833 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wronki Prison amp oldid 1021044297, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
