Szubienica na Woli War memorial

Whispers of defiance echo through the years at Szubienica na Woli. This chilling war memorial, located on Mszczonowska Street in Warsaw’s Wola district, stands as a stark reminder of Nazi brutality during World War II. Szubienica na Woli, meaning “gallows” in Polish, isn’t a traditional monument. It is one of the original gallows constructed by the German occupiers in October 1942. These gallows were a direct response to a daring act of sabotage by the Polish resistance, known as the Home Army. On the night of October 7th, 1942, under the codename “Wieniec” (Wreath), resistance fighters disrupted crucial railway lines, derailing a German freight train. The Nazis retaliated swiftly and brutally. They executed 39 prisoners from the infamous Pawiak prison and publicly hanged 50 more across Warsaw. Szubienica na Woli is the only remaining gallows from this horrific act of reprisal. Three weathered telegraph poles, ironically produced before the war in Ostrowiec Mazowiecki, form the grim structure. Imagine the fear and defiance of those who faced their deaths here. A plaque designed by Karol Tchorek now marks the site, a testament to the courage of the Polish resistance and the barbarity of the Nazi occupation. Szubienica na Woli stands as a chilling reminder. It is a reminder of the price of freedom and a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Polish people. The land where this chilling memorial stands belongs to the State Treasury. It is currently managed by PKP S.A., the Polish state railway company.