“Imagine bullets flying and grenades exploding.” Right here before us stands the Jerzy Horczak “Wróbel” stele. It marks a place of incredible courage. It remembers a young man’s defiant stand against the Nazi occupation.
Jerzy Horczak, nicknamed “Wróbel” meaning “Sparrow,” was born in Vilnius in 1927. He died in Warsaw in September 1943. He was a corporal in the Home Army. He served as a section leader in the “Sad” troop of the Assault Groups of the Gray Ranks. From September 1 1943 he was in the “Zośka” battalion. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari.
Horczak finished elementary school in Warsaw in 1939. During the German occupation, he studied in secret at the Tadeusz Reytan Gymnasium. He belonged to the school’s underground scouting troop. This was the 1st Warsaw Scout Troop. It was named after Romuald Traugutt.
As a member of the Gray Ranks Assault Groups he participated in actions of the “Wawer” Small Sabotage Organization. He also took part in the failed attempt to free the chief of the Gray Ranks. Florian Marciniak was the chief. The action was codenamed “Mexico IV” and took place on May 8 1943.
In the spring of 1943 Horczak became a weapons storekeeper for the “Sad” troop. This took place in a villa at 36 Różana Street in Warsaw. He lived there with his twelve-year-old cousin Teodor Wołoszczuk. In August 1943 the house was surrounded by German policemen. Horczak fired at them with a machine gun. He threw hand grenades. He then managed to safely retreat with his cousin. This action was widely publicised in Warsaw.
A few days later Horczak was arrested on Nowy Świat Street. He was caught by a “Kripo” officer. Władysław Urbański was the officer. Horczak was imprisoned in Pawiak prison. He died in September 1943. He was tortured during interrogation. He did not betray anyone.
Jerzy Horczak’s parents were Józef Horczak an agricultural engineer and Maria Horczak. They were involved in underground activities in the Polish Underground State. They perished in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Until 1935, Jerzy lived in Kalisz. Teodor Wołoszczuk survived World War II.
Jerzy Horczak is one of the heroes of Aleksander Kamiński’s book “Stones for the Rampart.” He also features in the documentary “They Marched in the Gray Ranks.” Franciszek Przybylski played him in the film’s fictionalised segment. Juliusz Bogdan Deczkowski’s book “‘Wróbel’ from ‘Stones for the Rampart’: A Remembrance of a Friend” is also about him.
Jerzy Horczak is commemorated with a plaque on the Pawiak Tree Monument in the courtyard of the Pawiak Prison Museum. He is listed among the fallen soldiers of the “Zośka” battalion. This is on the Symbolic Mound in the battalion’s quarter at the Powązki Military Cemetery.
On May 12 2018 a memorial plaque dedicated to him was unveiled at 36 Różana Street in Warsaw. This marks the site of the former underground weapons depot of the “Sad” troop of the Gray Ranks Assault Groups.
The Jerzy Horczak “Wróbel” stele is a testament to a young man’s bravery. He stood against tyranny. His spirit lives on in Warsaw’s memory.