The Jewish Department of the Bureau of Information and Propaganda at the headquarters of the Armia Krajowa operated under the direction of Henryk Woliński starting February 1, 1942. This Polish lawyer utilized his position within the underground resistance to funnel intelligence regarding the Holocaust to the Polish government-in-exile based in London.
Legal Practice and Wartime Transition
Before the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, Woliński served as a lawyer in the Warsaw administration. Possessing a Jewish wife and numerous Jewish associates from the Polish Bar Association, he maintained deep connections with the Jewish intelligentsia active within the administration of the ghetto. These personal and professional links facilitated his early involvement in efforts to support the persecuted population.
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As the head of the Jewish Department, Woliński functioned as a primary conduit for information concerning German atrocities. He collated data from railway employees regarding the mass deportations from the Warsaw Ghetto to Treblinka between July and September 1942. He likely processed reports from Witold Pilecki and synthesized findings for the Polish government-in-exile.
Rescue Initiatives and Żegota
Woliński acted as the formal liaison between the underground movement and the Żydowska Organizacja Bojowa. He served as the primary point of contact for Arie Wilner and various leaders of Żegota, an organization he helped initiate. His department issued work permits, provided shelter, and procured weapons for the Jewish underground. Beyond his organizational work, Woliński personally harbored over 25 Jewish individuals in his apartment, hiding them for durations ranging from several days to several weeks. His department’s efforts directly contributed to the survival of approximately 300 individuals.
Post-War Life and Recognition
Following the cessation of hostilities, Woliński resumed his career as a lawyer in Katowice, practicing within the People's Republic of Poland until his retirement in 1976. In 1974, Yad Vashem officially recognized him as one of the Righteous Among the Nations for his wartime actions. He passed away in 1986. In 2008, he received the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta posthumously.
Fast facts
- Born: 1901
- Died: 1986
- Occupation: Lawyer
- Military Rank: Colonel
- Codename: Wacław
- Righteous Among the Nations: 1974
- Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta: 2008 (posthumous)
Questions readers ask
What was Henryk Woliński's role in the Polish underground?
He served as a colonel and headed the Jewish Department within the Bureau of Information and Propaganda.
How did he support the Jewish population during the Holocaust?
He provided intelligence to the government-in-exile, organized work permits, supplied weapons, and personally sheltered over 25 Jewish individuals.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 1974
- Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Worked as lawyer
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