Professor Krzysztof Szwagrzyk, Deputy President of the IPN and the Director of the Office of Search and Identification talks about the significance of the upcoming ceremony :

- The ceremony of presenting identification notes is a very special moment in the work of our office. It constitutes the culmination of the work of historians, archaeologists, logisticians and geneticists who, in their daily work,  do their utmost best to find and then identify those who were buried years ago in nameless graves and were doomed to oblivion or contempt. Today, when we are able to present their relatives with a document confirming their identity, in such an exceptional place, with the participation of state authorities, we feel that our work has a profound meaning - emphasizes Prof. Szwagrzyk.

The Office of Search and Identification undertakes search and exhumation activities throughout Poland and abroad. Works have been carried out in several dozen locations in Poland, as well as in Lithuania, Belarus, Germany and Georgia. The goal is always the same: finding and identifying the remains of Poles who died as a result of totalitarian systems and crimes committed on the Polish population.

- This is the sense of our actions: finding and restoring the memory of those who fell in defense of Poland's independence. This is our debt of gratitude and our duty towards them. The importance of our work is evidenced by the fact that we receive inquiries and information about persons, as well as indications of the places of their possible secret burial almost every day. We can see that there is still a lot to be done in this matter, and several future generations will have to continue our work- notes the Deputy President of the Institute of National Remembrance.

Members of the victims' families who have been found and identified will take part in the ceremony  on Monday. They will receive a document confirming the identity of their relatives, thereby ending the uncertainty and sadness resulting from simply not knowing the location of the remains of their loved ones, which has lasted for several decades.

- We are on the eve of this wonderful ceremony. The identities of the victims will remain secret until the very last moment, but I can tell you that during the conference the names of 24 people whose remains have been found by our office over the past months, will be revealed. They include people found in Katowice, Krakow, Lublin, Łódź, Wrocław, and Rzeszów, as well as a Polish soldier killed in Lithuania - informs Prof. Krzysztof Szwagrzyk.

The IPN Office of Search and Identification very often turns to all those whose loved ones died or were murdered as a result of the functioning of a totalitarian apparatus of terror, and whose remains have not yet been found or identified to provide genetic material for testing.

-  We do everything we possibly can to find the remains of our heroes as quickly as possible, and then to pass on the genetic material, along with the comparative material to the special genetic laboratories which deal with the process of identification. I believe that we will be able to systematically provide you with the names of the identified victims, at the same time fulfilling the national duty towards them and their families, so many of whom are still waiting for "identifying their fallen loved ones" - concludes Prof. Krzysztof Szwagrzyk.

The ceremony of presenting identification notifications will take place on 17June  2019 at 12.00 at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw.

Feliks Gołębowski, - a soldier of the Polish Army. Murdered after fighting with the UPA in Jawornik Ruski. His remains were found in Jawornik Ruski in July 2016. The identification note was presented to his nephew.

Stanisław Gibek aka ”Piekarz”, ”Feliks” – a soldier of the Home Army, murdered by the communists in 1946. His remains were found in 2018 at the cemetery in Wieluń. The identification note was presented to his daughter.

Jan Grudziński aka ”Karol”, ”Płomień”- a soldier of the Home Army and WiN (Freedom and Independence), murdered by the communists in 1948 at the castle in Lublin. His remains were found in 2018 at the cemetary on Unicka str. in Lublin. The identification note was presented to his son.

Paweł Kalinowski aka ”Francuz” - a soldier of the Home Army and WiN (Freedom and Independence), murdered by the communists in 1952 at the castle in Lublin. His remains were found in 2018 at the cemetary on Unicka str. in Lublin. The identification note was presented to his daughter.

Stanisław Kiljan, cooperated with  the Home Army and WiN (Freedom and Independence), he died in a communist prison in 1953. His remains were found in 2011 at the Osobowicki cemetary in Wrocław. The identification note was presented to his daughters.

Józef Kołodziej aka ”Wichura”- a soldier of NSZ (National Armed Forces), murdered by the communists in 1946. His remains were found in 2017 at the cemetery on Panewnicka str. in Katowice.

Ernest Kozubek aka ”Grom”- a soldier of NSZ (National Armed Forces), murdered by the communists in 1946.  His remains were found in 2017 at the cemetery on Panewnicka str. in Katowice. The identification note was presented to his niece.

Adam Stanisław Kuchciewicz aka ”Iskra”, ”Wiktor” – a soldier of NSZ (National Armed Forces), NZW (National Military Union) and WiN (Freedom and Independence). He was killed in action while fighting the communists in 1953 in Piaski near Lublin. His remains were found in 2018 at the cemetary on Unicka str. in Lublin. The identification note was presented to his brother.

Brothers Zygmunt Marchel aka ”Sternik” and Lucjan Marchel - soldiers of NSZ (National Armed Forces) and NZW (National Military Union), murdered by the communists in 1946. Their remains were found in 2017 at the parish cemetery in Ciechanowiec. The identification note was presented to their great nephew.

Mikołaj Mazur aka ”Pasek”- a soldier of NOW (National Military Organization ) and the Home Army., murdered by the communists in 1951. His remains were found at the Rakowicki Cemetery in Cracow in 2018. The identification note was presented to his granddaughter.

Władysław Nowak aka ”Groźny” a soldier of NOW (National Military Organization ) and the Home Army., murdered by the communists in 1951. His remains were found at the Rakowicki Cemetery in Cracow in 2018. The identification note was presented to his great nephew.

Józef Olszar aka ”Ojciec” – a soldier of the Polish Army who cooperated with Capt. Henryki Flame ’’Bartek”, murdered by the communists in 1946. His remains were found in 2017 at the communal cemetery on Panewnicka str. in Katowice.

Bolesław Palarz aka ”Ogień” – a soldier of NSZ (National Armed Forces), murdered by the communists in 1946. His remains were found  in 2017 at the communal cemetery on Panewnicka str. in Katowice. The identification note was presented to his nephew.

Zachariasz Powałko- member of the ”Obrona Narodowa” organization, murdered by the communists in 1951. His remains were found in 2011 at the Osobowicki Cemetery in Wrocław. The identification note was presented to the Director of the IPN Branch Office in Lublin.

Józef Pyś aka ‘’Śmiały”, ”Ostry” - a soldier of the Home Army and WiN (Freedom and Independence), died as a result of the wounds inflicted during fights with the Citizens’ Militia. His remains were found in 2018 at the cemetery on Unicka str. in Lublin. The identification note was presented to his brother and nephew.

Franciszek Skrobol cooperated with KWP (Underground Polish Army) aka ”Wędrowiec”, murdered by the communists in  1946. His remains were found in 2017 at the cemetary on Panewnicka str in Katowice. The identification note was presented to his niece.

Stanisław Staroń aka ”Błysk”, ”Grom”, a member of the Członek organizacji podziemnej „Błyskawica”underground organization, murdered by the communists in 1952. His remains were found in 2018at the Cemetary in Kielce.”Piaski” .The identification note was presented to his cousin.

Wojciech Stypuła aka ”Bartek”- a soldier of the Home Army, murdered by the Soviets in 1944.His remains were found in the Rudnicki Forest in Lithuania. The identification note was presented to his nephews.

Roman Szczur aka ”Halina”, ”Nadzieja”, ”Urszula” – a soldier of the Home Army decorated with the Cross of Valour, murdered by the communists in 1950. His remains were found at the Osobowicki Cemetery in Wrocław. The identification note was presented to his niece.

Mieczysłąw Szewczuk aka ”Włoch” -  a soldier of the Home Army and WiN (Freedom and Independence), murdered by the communists in 1952 at the castle in Lublin. His remains were found in 2018 at the cemetery on Unicka str. in Lublin. The identification note was presented to the Director of the IPN Branch Office in Lublin.

Mieczysław Szymczak – a soldier of the Polish Army, murdered as a prisoner after fighting with the UPA in Jawornik Ruski.  His remains were found in Jawornik Ruski in 2016. The identification note was presented to his nephew.

Tadeusz Wienc – a soldier of the Polish Army, decorated with the Silver Cross of the War Order of Virtuti Militari, murdered as a prisoner after fighting with the UPA.  His remains were found in Jawornik Ruski in 2016. The identification note was presented to his niece.

Walenty Żurek – a soldier of the Polish Army; murdered as a prisoner after fights with the UPA . His remains were found in Jawornik Ruski in 2016. The identification note was presented to his great- granddaughter.