The gorgets of the Cursed Soldiers on Polish Post stamps

"Let us not let the fallen perish," wrote Zbigniew Herbert in "Three Poems from Memory." This quote became the motto of all editions of the Polish Post's philatelic series issued on the occasion of the National Remembrance Day of the "Cursed Soldiers." This year, two stamps feature gorgets, and the tags feature the images of Father Captain Władysław Gurgacz, codename "Sem," and Lieutenant Henryk Jastrzębski, codename "Zbych" or "Bohun."

For five years, the Polish Post has been participating in the observance of the National Day of Remembrance of the "Cursed Soldiers." This year, on March 1st, a philatelic issue consisting of two stamps is entering circulation. The first features the "Sem" gorget of Rev. Captain Władysław Gurgacz, with his image on a tag. The second features the "Zbycha" gorget, with a tag featuring a photo of Lieutenant Henryk Jastrzębski. All the photos in the issue are set against a sepia-toned forest background.

Lieutenant Henryk Jastrzębski, nom de guerre "Zbych", "Bohun" (November 16, 1921–April 13, 1948) – a soldier of the independence underground. From December 1939, he served in the Union of Armed Struggle, and then in the National Armed Forces. After the end of World War II, he commanded a squad in the Special Action Emergency Unit (PAS) of the National Military Union in Łomża County. The unit commanded by Lieutenant "Zbych" achieved numerous victories in combat against operational groups of the UB-MO-KBW. Among other things, on October 23, 1945, near Jedwabne, together with a unit of Second Lieutenant Michał Bierzyński, nom de guerre "Sęp," they completely defeated a several-dozen-strong UB-KBW operational group. He was arrested on April 3, 1948. Subjected to a brutal interrogation, he committed suicide after 10 days in a Białystok prison.

Father Władysław Gurgacz, nom de guerre "Sem" (April 2, 1914–September 14, 1949). A Jesuit priest, chaplain of the "Gendarmeria" unit of the Polish Underground Army of Independence (PPAN). After 1945, during his priestly ministry in Krynica, he provided care for the anti-communist underground. He devoted considerable attention to social issues in his sermons, which attracted the attention of the communist authorities. Twice, attempts were made to assassinate the priest. Faced with a threat to his life, Father Gurgacz decided to flee his home and joined the "Gendarmeria" unit of the PPAN. He assumed the position of chaplain, celebrated field masses, and heard confessions of partisans. In July 1949, he was arrested and put on a show trial before a military court in Kraków. He was murdered on September 14, 1949 and secretly buried at the Rakowicki Cemetery in Krakow.

In 2016, the first stamp from the National Remembrance Day of the Cursed Soldiers issue was released, dedicated to Major Zygmunt Szendzielarz "Łupaszka" (1910–1951), posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Meanwhile, in the "Gyngrafy Żołnierzy Wyklętych" series, in 2017, Poczta Polska issued stamps dedicated to Lieutenant Franciszek Majewski "Słony" (1919–1948) and Senior Sergeant Mieczysław Dziemieszkiewicz "Rój" (1925–1951). On March 1, 2018, an issue featuring Cavalry Captain Witold Pilecki "Witold" (1901–1948) and Danuta Siedzikówna "Inka" (1928–1946) appeared. In addition to this series, a stamp commemorating Feliks Selmanowicz "Zagończyk" (1904–1946) was issued. Last year, on March 1, a stamp featuring the image of Major Marian Bernaciak, codename "Orlik," entered circulation.

About the stamp:

stamp design author: Marzanna Dąbrowska
number of stamps: 2
value: 2 x PLN 6.00
circulation: 90,000 pcs of each
printing technique: offset
stamp format: 40.5 x 40.5 mm
paper: fluorescent
sales sheet: 2 stamps + 2 tags
date of introduction into circulation: March 1, 2020

This and other philatelic publications can be purchased at post offices and online store: www.filatelistyka.poczta-polska.pl .