Polnisches Schutzmannschaftsbataillon 202

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Polnisches Schutzmannschaftsbataillon 202 was a collaborationist police battalion composed of 360 men including its Nazi German leadership.[1] It was created officially on March 27, 1942 with recruitment beginning in May. Only two Polish men volunteered. As a result, the Germans resorted to conscription from the regular Polish city-police called Einheimische Polizei. During formation, the battalion stationed in Kraków at Michałowskiego street (renamed Luxemburgstrasse). Basic training took place in Dębica. Its first commandant was Captain Tschnadel. Members wore green uniforms of Orpo and received Mauser 98 rifles before transfer to occupied Eastern Poland to fight Soviet partisans. Once in Volhyn, the battalion stationed in Łuck originally. Soon later, in around Kostopol, half the members deserted to 27th Home Army Infantry Division,[2] in defence of ethnic Polish population against the UPA massacres.[1]

Background

All Schutzmannschaften auxiliary police battalions were formed by the Germans from inhabitants of occupied territories i.e. in the General Government; as support for the Nazi Sicherheitspolizei (security police) which was understaffed. At one point, a number of conscripted policemen in occupied eastern Poland included 5,000–12,000 Ukrainians and 2,000–2,200 Poles, mostly pitted against each other.[1]

Polnisches Schutzmannschaftsbataillon 202,[3] operated in Volhynia and Podolia, subordinate to the German Schutzpolizei. Since the volunteer recruitment in Kraków yielded only 2 men, the German authorities resorted to forceful draft among members of the Blue Police even though the BP was essential in combatting property crimes and common banditry which skyrocketted after the 1939 invasion of Poland.[1] Due to attempts to dodge the draft, another method included false advertisements for paid work in "Polish [not German] Police".

The German Major Walery Sauermann was made the commander of the unit in the field. The Germans made up all of the officers. In November 1943 more than half of the battalion deserted. Counting all Volhynian Schutzmannschaften (not only Battalion 202) at least 700 Poles trained by the Germans joined the 27th Volhynian Division of the Armia Krajowa, additional 60 Poles were executed for mutiny in Jarmolińce. One of the most widely quoted reasons among the Poles for joining the unit was a desire to offer protection for civilians against the wave of massacres of Poles in Volhynia.[4] In fact, this particular unit was the only German-trained Polish participant in operations against OUN-UPA. The battalion was practically destroyed in combat with the Red Army at the beginning of 1944.[3] The remains of the unit were transferred to Lwow (Lviv). Officially the battalion was disbanded on May 8, 1944.

The battalion was armed with Mauser Mk 98k rifles and MP38 and MP41 submachine guns.

It is believed that some of its former members subsequently joined the Blue Police in the General Government.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Andrzej Solak (17-24.05.2005). "Zbrodnia w Malinie – prawda i mity (1)" (Internet Archive). Nr 29-30. Myśl Polska: Kresy. Retrieved 2013-06-23. "Reprint: Zbrodnia w Malinie (cz.1) Głos Kresowian, nr 20." 
  2. ↑ Marek Getter (2012). "Policja Polska w Generalnym Gubernatorstwie 1939-1945 (Polish police in General Government 1939-1945)" (WebCite). Polnische Polizei (PP) in occupied Poland. Policja Państwowa. Retrieved 2013-06-23. "First published in Przegląd Policyjny nr 1-2, 1996. Wydawnictwo Wyższej Szkoły Policji w Szczytnie. Niemieckie władze policyjne nie dowierzały Policji Polskiej. Niezależnie od oficjalnych upomnień, nakazów i gróźb (por. aresztowania w maju 1940 roku) oraz rozciągnięcia nad Policją Polską sądownictwa SS i policji od wiosny 1943 rozpoczęło się poufne sprawdzanie jej przydatności (Überprüfung der nichtdeutschen Polizei), jak też opiniowanie jej poszczególnych funkcjonariuszy." 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Grzegorz Motyka (1998), "Polski policjant na Wołyniu", Vol. 24 (Karta: kwartalnik historyczny): 126–128 (3 pages), ISSN 0867-3764   
  4. ↑ Jan Niewiński (2005). "Stosunki polsko-ukraińskie: "Głos Kresowian"" (Google Books search). Muzeum Historii Polskiego Ruchu Ludowego. p. 491. ISBN 8360093105. Retrieved 2013-06-23. 

Bibliography

  • (Polish) G. Motyka, M. Wierzbicki; "Polski policjant na Wołyniu" in Kwartalnik Historyczny KARTA 24, 1998, pp.126–140, ISSN 0867-3764

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