Grzanka Józef "Warcisław"

Born March 10, 1912, in Ujma Wielka, Nieszawa County, son of Józef and Zofia née Więckowska. Graduated from the Mikołaj Kopernik Gymnasium in Toruń in 1933. Studied law at the University of Warsaw.

He completed the junior officers course at the 67th Infantry Regiment in 1934. Promoted to lieutenant in 1936, assigned to the 63rd Infantry Regiment.

He was called up for reserve exercises in 1935 and 1937 to the 63rd Infantry Regiment in Toruń. He received a very good opinion from his superiors after these exercises.

He practiced parachute jumping sportively, was a parachute instructor, and a glider pilot. He lived in Warsaw and worked part-time at the PAP service.

In 1936, he met Jan Stachniuk, the creator and ideologist of the "Zadruga" circle. He joined this group along with his older brother (Stanisław) and was the publisher and responsible editor of the magazine "Zadruga" (1937-1939). He used the Zadruga name "Warcisław." In 1939, he was accused under Article 172 of the Penal Code and Article 173 of the Penal Code (blasphemy, the charge included reprinting an article by Marcus Eli Ravage and publicly solidarizing with it). The trial did not conclude due to the outbreak of war.

In September 1939, initially not mobilized. Last seen on September 10 in Krzemieniec, attempting to enlist voluntarily in some military unit. When this failed at the local P.K.U., he left Krzemieniec with the intention of reporting to another unit.

In unknown circumstances, he was taken into Soviet captivity. He was held in the Kozielsk camp. Murdered in Katyn in April 1940. Identified during the 1943 exhumation as AM 3140.

Prepared by: Tomasz Szczepański

Sources: Official Material on the Mass Murder of Katyn Berlin 1943 Katyń. The Cemetery Book...; (J. S. R.) [J. Snitko-Rzeszut] Józef Grzanka „Wojskowy Przegląd Historyczny” 2/1993 p. 352; J. Tucholski Katyn Massacre Warsaw 1991; A. Wacyk Jan Stachniuk. 1905-1963. Life and Work, Wrocław 1974 reproduced typescript (in manuscript form, original held in the Jagiellonian Library collections)