Wólka Plebańska railway station

Wólka Plebańska railway station was established in 1942, during World War II. Until 1945, called Wolka Plebanska, it was part of the Generaldirektion der Ostbahn, i.e. the General Directorate of Eastern Railways. It has one platform and one edge of the platform. Line 0025 runs through this station: Łódź Kaliska – Dębica.

Worth knowing

On September 4, 1943, a partisan operation took place at this railway station, the aim of which was the train near Wólka Plebańska. By the decision of "Cichociemni", Sec. Waldemar Szwiec "Robot" commander of the 2nd Grouping of the Home Army Partisan Groups "Ponury" decided to act after the success of the action on the town of Końskie on August 31 to September 1, 1943. He motivated his choice with the following words:

“After observing the reaction of the enemy, I decided to continue the terror against him. I carried out the train robbery in daylight, thinking that the impudence of the action would have its effect. It happened".

The course of action

Preparations for the action began late in the evening of September 3, and the beginning was scheduled for 5:30 am, when the wake-up call in the forest camp was to take place. After the combat preparation, the unit set off from Wielka Wieś to Wólka Plebańska. They moved in a formation characteristic of German troops, which was safe if spotted from a greater distance. The first action was to seize the gatekeeper's booth, which took place immediately after reaching the station at 9:30. The railway workers put up no resistance. After being divided into 3 platoons, the occupied positions were divided along the northern side of the tracks. The 1st "Warsaw" platoon took a place in the middle, the 2nd "Wilk" platoon on the right flank and the 3rd "Konecki" platoon on the left flank. The HMG section took its place under the pear tree, closer to the right edge of the wing. On the opposite side of the tracks, the 2nd platoon armed with machine guns had the function of preventing the Germans from escaping the train. The commander of this platoon was Lieutenant Marian Janikowski "Kmicica".

At 10:22 a passenger train from Koluszki to Rozwadów stopped at the station. It was full of German soldiers who, when they saw uniformly dressed partisans, greeted them. They were convinced that it was part of the exercises of the Wehrmacht, which changed clothes for the duration of the exercises. Towards the German soldiers, Lt. "Robot" gave the order to lay down arms and surrender. It wasn't taken too seriously. As a result, the order to open fire was issued. During the beginning of the shelling, a heavy machine gun jammed. To the happiness of the partisans, the unit of kpr. "Wąsa" immobilized the train. German soldiers started lowering the wagons on the other side of the tracks. They positioned themselves under the wagons and began to fire back. The fire was stopped by the guerrillas and the 3rd platoon rushed to the attack, thanks to which they took control of the wagons and the locomotive. The commander of the 1st platoon, 2nd Lieutenant, died in this intervention. cc. Rafał Niedzielski "Rafał", who was shot by a hidden guard of the station (Werkschultz). Some of the Germans began to give themselves up to the partisans, and some, escaping to the last wagons, started to escape into the forest being trapped.

The effect of the action was also the seizure of weapons, e.g. rifles, submachine guns, pouches, grenades and uniforms. In addition, the business correspondence of Sipo and SD commanders was taken over. Then the acquired equipment was divided among the platoons. A few soldiers stayed with the wagons with the German prisoners of war, waiting for the greater part of the group to reach the edge of the forest. Under the penalty of a court-martial, "Robot" banned killing. Taking advantage of the situation, one of the prisoners tried to seize the submachine gun held by "Szczerba". He was knocked down by "Wrzos" with a blow to the temple. Seeing this, the remaining Germans tried to attack. In this situation, the Partisans had no other choice but to open fire. None of the prisoners survived. As a result, 16 people died.

Several people were injured in the clash and two people were killed. One of the youngest of the "Cichociemni" commander of the 1st platoon of the "Warszawianka" Second Lieutenant Rafał Niedzielski "Mocny" and heavily wounded in action Lt. Arkady Volkov "Arkady" - Russian. The fallen soldiers were buried in the evening of September 4 in the area of ​​Wólka Zychowa. It was a forest cemetery. After the war, in the autumn of 1945, their bodies were moved to a mass grave at the parish cemetery in Końskie.

The effect of the action was also the seizure of weapons, e.g. rifles, submachine guns, pouches, grenades and uniforms. In addition, the business correspondence of Sipo and SD commanders was taken over. Then the acquired equipment was divided among the platoons. A few soldiers stayed with the wagons with the German prisoners of war, waiting for the greater part of the group to reach the edge of the forest. Under the penalty of a court-martial, "Robot" banned killing. Taking advantage of the situation, one of the prisoners tried to seize the submachine gun held by "Szczerba". He was knocked down by "Wrzos" with a blow to the temple. Seeing this, the remaining Germans tried to attack. In this situation, the Partisans had no other choice but to open fire. None of the prisoners survived. As a result, 16 people died.

Honor and Glory to the Heroes!