Ryngraphy of the cursed soldiers on the stamps of Poczta Polska

"Let's not die the fallen," wrote Zbigniew Herbert in "Three poems from memory". This quote has become the motto of all editions of the Philatelic series of Poczta Polska published on the occasion of the National Day of Remembrance of "Cursed Soldiers". This year, gutter was placed on two stamps, and the images of Fr. Capt. Władysław Gurgacz pseud. "Sem" and lieutenant Henryk Jastrzębski pseud. "Zbych", "Bohun".

The Polish Post has been involved in the celebration of the National Day of Remembrance for "Cursed Soldiers" for 5 years. This year, on March 1, a philatelic emission of two stamps comes into circulation. On the first one placed the "Sema" Ryngraf, Fr. Capt. Władysław Gurgacz, and his image on the tag. The second was the "Zbych" gutter with a tag presenting a photo of Lieutenant Henryk Jastrzębski. All photos presented in the broadcast are found against the background of a forest in the color of sepia.

See Henryk Jastrzębski pseud. "Zbych", "Bohun" (16.11.1921–13.04.1948) - a soldier of independence conspiracy. 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 the team in the Special Action Emergency Department (PAS) of the National Military Union of the Łomża poviat. The unit commanded by lieutenant "Zbycha" won many wins in the fight against UB-MO-KBW operational groups, including October 23, 1945 near Jedwabne together with the branch of Second Lieutenant Michał Bierzyński "Sęp" completely broke the UB-KBW operational group of several dozen. He was arrested on April 3, 1948. He was a cruel investigation, after 10 days he committed suicide in the Białystok prison.

Father Władysław Gurgacz pseud. "SEM" (2/04/1914–14.09.1949). Jesuit, chaplain of the "Gendarmerie" branch of the Polish underground independence army (Lt. Col.). After 1945, during the priesthood in Krynica, he looked after the anti -communist underground. In his sermons, he devoted a lot of space to social issues, which attracted the attention of the communist authorities. Twice attempt to murder the priest. In the face of the threat to the life of Fr. Gurgacz decided to escape from his place of residence and joined the "Gendarmerie" department of the Lt. He took the function of a chaplain, celebrated field masses and confessed partisans. In July 1949 he was arrested, he was brought to a demonstration before a military court in Krakow. He was murdered on September 14, 1949 and secretly buried at the Rakowicki Cemetery in Krakow.

In 2016, the first Emission Stamp National Memorial Day of Cursed Soldiers, dedicated to Maj. Zygmunt Szendzielarz "Łupaszka" (1910–1951), posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. However, in the series "Ryngraphs of Cursed Soldiers", Poczta Polska published in 2017 stamps dedicated to Lieutenant Franciszek Majewski "Słonny" (1919–1948) and senior sergeant. Mieczysław Dziemieszkiewicz "Roj" (1925–1951). On March 1, 2018, the broadcast with Captain Witold Pilecki "Witold" (1901–1948) and Danuta Piaskkówna "Inka" (1928–1946) appeared. In addition to this series, a stamp commemorating Feliks Selmanowicz "Zagończyk" (1904–1946) was released. Last March 1, a stamp with the image of Maj. Marian Bernaciak, pseudonym "Columbine".

About the stamp:

Author of stamp designs: Marzanna Dąbrowska
Number of stamps: 2
Value: 2 x 6.00 PLN
Circulation: 90,000 each
printing technique: offset
format stamp: 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 postal facilities and the online store: www.filatelistyka.poczta-polska.pl .