Zygmunt Rumel - War Years and Death

War Years and Death

In 1939, as a result of the joint attack of Germany and Soviet Union on Poland, the province of Volhynia was incorporated into the Ukrainian SSR. Then, in June 1941 (see: Operation Barbarossa), it was overrun by Nazi Germany. Rumel, who until early 1943 lived in Warsaw, became an active member of the Polish resistance movement. In the spring of 1943 he returned to his native Volhynia and became a commandant of the Bataliony Chłopskie's VIII District covering the area. His nom de guerre was Krzysztof Poreba.

In early summer 1943, when the partisans of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, together with local Ukrainian nationalists, began a series of massacres of Polish civilians in Volhynia, Rumel, who spoke Ukrainian fluently, was assigned to get in touch with leaders of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and start talks, which would bring an end to the massacres. The order was issued by Kazimierz Banach, chief of staff of the Bataliony Chłopskie and a delegate of the Polish government-in-exile in Volhynia.

On 7 July 1943, Rumel, together with officer Krzysztof Markiewicz (aka Czort), both dressed in military uniforms, aided by guide Witold Dobrowolski, contacted the Ukrainians. They were officially representing the Polish government.

However, instead of peace talks, a different fate awaited them. Both were tortured for three days. Then, on Saturday 10 July, Rumel was tied to four horses and his body ripped apart. Markiewicz and Dobrowolski were killed in the same manner in the village of Kustycze, near the Volhynian town of Turzyska. The next day, Sunday 11 July 1943, was the bloodiest day yet of the Volhynian massacres, when armed Ukrainians attacked Polish settlements and churches, killing thousands of people, including infants, women and senior citizens.

Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz, upon hearing of Rumel's death, wrote in his diary: He was one of our diamonds, with which we shot at the enemy. This diamond could have shined...