Śrem: Defenseless Residents of a Poorhouse Selected for Death

A sentence concealed in selection

According to the Poznań branch of the IPN, Wiktor Ratka assessed residents in brief interviews. People deemed unable to work were selected. The institution was run by Otto Fischer. The victims were 56 Poles in the care of the poorhouse. [1]

Removal to Bogulin

The investigation describes the removal of wards over two days and their murder in the forest in a gas van. Gas was supplied from cylinders. Polish prisoners of Fort VII were forced to prepare graves. They were not voluntary staff carrying out the crime. [1]

One place, a separate group

The Museum in Żabikowo identifies residents of the Śrem poorhouse and patients from Gostynin as two groups of victims from June 1941 in this forest complex. Later destruction of graves impeded identification of remains. The number 56 concerns the poorhouse alone, not all people murdered or buried in Bogulin. [2]

The crime should be described as the killing of people dependent on care, not a military execution. The brief investigative account documents selection and the method of killing, but does not justify adding individual scenes of violence or wards' final statements. [1]

Limits of the findings

The notice does not allow the fate of every resident to be reconstructed. The group of 56 is not part of the 59 patients from Gostynin; both nevertheless belong to one operation covered by the same investigation. When comparing events, this operation must not be multiplied by the number of its descriptions. [1] [2]

Sources and notes

Footnote markers identify the basis for specific findings. Bibliographic records remain in their original language; the notes indicate how each source is used.

The bibliographic record and source-use note are retained in Polish to preserve the original scholarly citation.

1. Sylwester Napieralski. Umorzenie śledztwa S.23.2017.Zn w sprawie zagłady w czerwcu 1941 r. w kompleksie leśnym Nadleśnictwa Bogulin. IPN Poznań.

   komunikat śledczy · Komunikat z 16 maja 2018 r.; ustalenia postanowienia z 10 maja 2018 r., sygn. S.23.2017.Zn · Dostęp: 2026-09-05.

   Use of this source: 56 polskich podopiecznych ze Śremu i 59 polskich pacjentów z Gostynina; selekcja i zabijanie gazem podawanym z butli.

2. opracowanie muzealne, podpis P.M. Sowinki i Nowinki – mogiły zbiorowe w Nadleśnictwie Bogulin. Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie.

   opracowanie instytucjonalne · Treść hasła: grupy ofiar, samochód-komora gazowa oraz zacieranie śladów przez Wetterkommando · Dostęp: 2026-09-05.

   Use of this source: Lokalizacja grobów, odrębność grup z Gostynina i Śremu, niszczenie mogił.