LOSY PAŃSTWOWEGO INSTYTUTU GEOLOGICZNEGO W CZASIE II WOJNY ŚWIATOWEJ – WSPOMINAJĄC TYCH, KTÓRZY ODESZLI

Abstract

THE FATE OF THE POLISH GEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE DURING WORLD WAR II – REMEMBERING THOSE WHO HAVE GONE

Abstract. Polish Geological Institute was reorganized during Word War II renamed for Amt für Bodenforschung and included in the German geological survey. At that time, Polish geologists employed in “Amt” were performing mainly applied geological studies and scientific investigations were very restricted. Before the Warsaw Uprising most precious materials had been secretly hidden. Unfortunately, some of the documents were carried away to Germany. During occupation, part of the PGI staff was actively engaged in underground resistance. It specialized in delivery of cartographic materials and plans of the German military constructions to the underground army. German director of the Amt, Prof. R. Brinkmann behaved in such a way no employee was arrested, besides the case of L. Horwitz. Nevertheless, the personal losses were significant. Many employees and collaborators of the Institute perished in concentration camps, during the Warsaw Uprising, due to the hard conditions of the war or were murdered by the Nazi or, like B. Bujalski, by Soviet occupants.