Brief Historical Background
The Chief Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation constitutes one of the three main Departments in the Institute of National Remembrance, next to the Public Education Office and the Office for Preservation and Dissemination of Archival Records. Its history can be traced back to 1945 when the Chief Commission for the Examination of German Crimes in Poland was created. That institution was renamed in 1949 and became the Chief Commission for the Examination of Hitler's Crimes in Poland. In the years 1945-1949 the Chief Commission focused on the accumulation of evidence indispensable to launch and conduct court trials of the Nazi perpetrators as well as to pursue their extraditions. On the basis of the secured evidence Poland contributed to the extradition of 1803 Nazi war criminals. The Chief Commission conducted 12 thousand investigations as well as supported investigations which were made in Germany, Austria, Great Britain, USA, Canada and Australia. In the years 1949-1991, the Chief Commission's activities concerned research, examination and prosecution of Nazi crimes, which included mass arrests, executions, camps, deportations, displacements, ghettos, forced labour and systematic pillage. It is worth mentioning that Poland suffered immense biological and material losses in the result of the occupants' activities. Polish population was decimated. Polish Jews and elites were almost exterminated. Poland lost 6 million inhabitants.
Chief Commission for the Examination of Crimes against the Polish Nation
On the basis of the act of April 4th, 1991, the Chief Commission was transformed into the Head Commission for the Examination of Crimes against the Polish Nation. Its responsibilities and activities were broadened both in scope and time limits which encompassed now the years 1939-1956. The Commission's mission was expanded to include additionally the examination of crimes committed against Polish nationals and Polish citizens of other nationalities by the communist regime as well as other crimes which have no status of limitation.
The new type of the Commission's activities included examinations and prosecutions pertaining to deportations of the Home Army (AK) soldiers and soldiers of other formations fighting for independence of Poland as well as to the deportations of inhabitants from the Eastern parts of former Poland into the territory of the Soviet Union. The Commission handled also crimes committed by security service officers from the Army Intelligence and Public Security Ministry. All sorts of other war crimes and crimes against humanity were the concern of the Commission. All in all, 1900 investigations were initiated, which included the prosecutions of crimes committed by Nazis, Stalinists and Ukrainian nationalists.
Institute of National Remembrance - Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation
In January 1999 an act founding the Institute of National Remembrance - Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation was enacted in Poland. By its force the former Chief Commission was liquidated. Instead, the Chief Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation was established which became a part of the Institute. Since 2000 the Chief Commission has been investigating crimes for which there is no statute of limitations, committed against Polish nationals and Polish citizens of other nationalities. The Commission deals also with communist crimes committed in the period from September 17th, 1939 to December 31st, 1989.
The Chief Commission consists of the Chief Commission proper and Departmental Commissions located in ten Polish cities where Appellate Courts are situated. Prosecutors from the Chief Commission supervise the investigations conducted by Departmental Commissions.
A Research and Expertise Unit has been established within the framework of the Chief Commission. The research conducted by the Unit provides support for the prosecutors in their investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Poland. The researchers employed in the Unit prepare official opinions and expert reports pertaining to the war crimes and genocide for courts, offices, foundations, other institutions and private individuals.
Professor Witold Kulesza is the Director of the Chief Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes Against the Polish Nation and a Vice President of the Institute of National Remembrance.
|
|