Leon Powolny. Hero of Fight for Polishness of Opole Silesia or Defrauder?

Abstract

In the paper „Leon Powolny. Hero of fight for Polishness of Opole Silesia or defrauder?” one of fewer known episodes was presented from the honoured fighter for the Polishness of Opole Silesia. Leon Powolny – as the source materials indicate – was also a thief, defrauder who robbed the bank in which he worked. By the German jurisdiction he was sentenced to imprisonment and he most likely served that sentence. Afterwards he functioned in the minority movement at exposed posts, he was a commander of the conspiracy structures during the Second World War and he died a martyr’s death in the German prison in Brandenburg where his head was cut off by means of an axe. On the question how to bring together those two attitudes, the author with humility answers: I do not know! Perhaps wider developed archive research will allow replying such a question asked.