Raid on Kielce Prison

Their target was a Communist secret services prison, where soldiers of the Home Army, National Armed Forces and other organizations were kept.

In the spring of 1945, it became obvious that Communist and pro-Soviet government of Poland would not refrain from using terror as a method of fighting the so-called Cursed soldiers.

Apart from mass arrests and repressions, a widespread propaganda operation was carried out, in which soldiers of the former Home Army were presented as "imperialists" and "drivelling midgets of reaction".

In the immediate postwar period Antoni Heda (nom de guerre Szary), who had been a legendary member of Polish resistance, tried to stay away from active participation in anti-Communist movements.

Milicja Obywatelska officers were disarmed, but the rebels failed to capture the prison of local Urzad Bezpieczenstwa, where a number of Home Army soldiers was kept.

In the night of 3/4 June 1945, a unit of Zbigniew Stawowczyk and Stanisław Chmielewski tried to seize control over the prison at Pińczów, but failed to do so.

His adjutant, Colonel Antoni Switalski came with the news of Communist terror, telling him about the fate of Home Army soldiers, who had fought the Germans, and were then incarcerated by the Soviets and their Polish cronies.

As it turned out, rebel forces were inadequate for such a large action, and Heda obliged all officers to inform him by 20 July about the number of available soldiers.

With permission of Major Zygmunt Zywocki of Radom Home Army Inspectorate, both officers pledged to support the raid.

Due to hard work and observation skills of Colonel Wlodzimierz Dalewski, a precise and effective plan was drafted.

On 4 August in the morning, all forces were divided into smaller groups, commanded by local officers from Kielce, who knew the city.

After an investigation it turned out that among those captured on the road were four officers of Communist Służba Bezpieczeństwa from Kielce: Waclaw Gora, Zdzislaw Ciach, Zygmunt Zygula and Kazimierz Mikolajczak.

Lastly, the fifth unit under command of Borowiec seized the main post office, in order to cut off telephone connections.