Exhibition
On the border of the Pieniny Mountains - the history of the border in the Pieniny Mountains
At the Pieniny Museum in Szlachtowa we present an exhibition entitled "On the border of Pieniny", reminding us of the outline of the history of the state border of the Pieniny section in the interwar period: the Polish-Czechoslovak border (guard stations and border crossings in Pieniny), German occupation - the "green border" - the Pieniny couriers' route.
After Poland regained independence in 1918, the first formation to guard the southern border of the country was the Customs Guard - established in 1921. Within its framework, the S.C. "Szczawnica" Police Station was established in Szczawnica, subordinate to the S.C. "Sącz" Inspectorate. The police station staff in 1926 consisted of: the head of the police station - deputy commissioner Jan Pawłowski, assistant to the head of the police station - senior leader Józef Ciepiela.
The Szczawnica police station was subordinate to the following posts: "Szczawnica", "Pieniny" (on the Pieniny Glade - between the Szopka Pass and the Siodło Pass under Three Crowns), "Biała Woda", "Jaworki", "Szlachtowa", "Sromowce Niżne", "Sromowce Wyżne".
In 1927, the Polish-Czechoslovak border crossing Szczawnica Niżna-vrch, Kaca-Leśnice was opened on the Pieniny Road. It was a transit point with the right to clear border residents, without goods, during and on the terms applicable to customs offices located on roadways. Small border traffic was permitted. Crossing the border was based on passes: single, permanent and economic.
In 1928, the Customs Guard was replaced by the Border Guard. Border Inspectorate No. 18 "Nowy Targ" was established in Nowy Targ, to which the S.G. "Krościenko" police station in the Pieniny Mountains was subordinated with the following command: Deputy Commissioner Roman Bogdanowicz (1928-1929), Chief Commissioner Paweł Herburt (1929-1930), Deputy Commissioner Tadeusz Kuryłowicz, Commander - Senior Lieutenant Michał Lubieniecki (1932-1939), Deputy Commander of the Police Station Senior Guard Adam Faron (1 May 1939 - 1 September 1939). In September 1929, in 1931, in 1935, the following posts were subordinated to the Krościenko nad Dunajcem police station: "Kacwin" - transferred in 1938 to the "Łapsze Niżne" police station, "Niedzica" - transferred in 1938 to the "Łapsze Niżne" police station, "Sromowce Niżne", "Szczawnica" - transferred in 1938 to Leśnica, "Jaworki".
Since March 1939, due to the growing threat of war, the Pieniny section of the southern border of the country was reinforced with soldiers of the Border Protection Corps - "Żytyń" Battalion.
SEPTEMBER 1939
World War II in the Pieniny Mountains began on September 1 after the advance guard of the German 2nd Mountain Division crossed the state border near Sromowce Niżne and on the Pienińska Road on the Dunajec River.
The border was defended by the Border Protection Corps outposts, which, with much smaller forces, after an unequal fight, were forced to withdraw towards Nowy Sącz. As early as September 8, the German occupation apparatus began to be located in Szczawnica: the Gestapo, the Blue Police, the Grenzschutz border guard, whose guardhouses were built in Biała Woda, Szlachtowa, Czorsztyn and Sromowce.
World War II in the Pieniny Mountains began on September 1 after the advance guard of the German 2nd Mountain Division crossed the state border near Sromowce Niżne and on the Pienińska Road on the Dunajec River.
The border was defended by the Border Protection Corps outposts, which, with much smaller forces, after an unequal fight, were forced to withdraw towards Nowy Sącz. As early as September 8, the German occupation apparatus began to be located in Szczawnica: the Gestapo, the Blue Police, the Grenzschutz border guard, whose guardhouses were built in Biała Woda, Szlachtowa, Czorsztyn and Sromowce.
GREEN BORDER – TRANSFERS AND COURIER
One of the main transfer and courier routes ran through the Małe Pieniny mountain range.
Immediately after the September defeat, refugees began to arrive in large numbers from the occupied country to the south of Poland. They were mainly civilians, but also soldiers who wanted to get to the Polish Army being formed in France. Transfer and liaison points were established in Szczawnica. The refugees were received by the villas: Marta, Wanda, Panorama, Biały Domek, Batory, Poleska, Helena, highland cottages: Franciszek Ciesielka, Józef Hurkała and others, including the houses of the Ruthenians in Szlachtowa and Biała Woda, forest lodges in the forests of Adam Stadnicki and shepherds' huts, the rectory. Usually, groups numbering from several to a dozen people were transferred.
After crossing the border (the trail ran between the peaks of Jarmuta and Łaźnich Skały), guides led the escapees through the forests. They headed to the Spišská Nová Ves railway station or to the point where Józef Lach, a taxi driver from Poprad who worked with the couriers, was waiting with a Tatra car. They then went to Kosice, from where they reached Budapest. On their way back, the couriers brought money, press, secret orders, weapons, explosives, etc. to the country and escorted emissaries, military instructors and other people.
The most famous couriers from Pieniny included: Franciszek Koterba from Krościenko, and from Szczawnica: Jan Kowalczyk, Franciszek Ciesielka, Józef Hurkała, Adolf Kapłaniak and many others. The liaison officers were: Maria Zachwiejowa, Wanda Marossanyi, Zofia Pourbaix, Barbara Wierzejska and others.
One of the main transfer and courier routes ran through the Małe Pieniny mountain range.
Immediately after the September defeat, refugees began to arrive in large numbers from the occupied country to the south of Poland. They were mainly civilians, but also soldiers who wanted to get to the Polish Army being formed in France. Transfer and liaison points were established in Szczawnica. The refugees were received by the villas: Marta, Wanda, Panorama, Biały Domek, Batory, Poleska, Helena, highland cottages: Franciszek Ciesielka, Józef Hurkała and others, including the houses of the Ruthenians in Szlachtowa and Biała Woda, forest lodges in the forests of Adam Stadnicki and shepherds' huts, the rectory. Usually, groups numbering from several to a dozen people were transferred.
After crossing the border (the trail ran between the peaks of Jarmuta and Łaźnich Skały), guides led the escapees through the forests. They headed to the Spišská Nová Ves railway station or to the point where Józef Lach, a taxi driver from Poprad who worked with the couriers, was waiting with a Tatra car. They then went to Kosice, from where they reached Budapest. On their way back, the couriers brought money, press, secret orders, weapons, explosives, etc. to the country and escorted emissaries, military instructors and other people.
The most famous couriers from Pieniny included: Franciszek Koterba from Krościenko, and from Szczawnica: Jan Kowalczyk, Franciszek Ciesielka, Józef Hurkała, Adolf Kapłaniak and many others. The liaison officers were: Maria Zachwiejowa, Wanda Marossanyi, Zofia Pourbaix, Barbara Wierzejska and others.
