Gostynin–Bogulin: Patients Murdered after Transport to Śrem

The route through Śrem

Investigation S.23.2017.Zn found that 59 Polish patients from Gostynin were brought by train to Śrem and then murdered in the Bogulin forests. The notice identifies June 1941 as the month of the crime. A later paragraph gives 1940; this is an internal inconsistency in the publication, not a basis for describing a second transport. [1]

Killing in the forest

According to the prosecutor's findings, victims were killed in a sealed vehicle by feeding poisonous gas from cylinders. We do not replace this with an account of engine exhaust. The Museum in Żabikowo also links the group from Gostynin to killing in a gas van, distinguishing it from earlier victims of Fort VII. [1] [2]

Why there is no complete nominal history

The museum study describes the later exhumation and burning of bodies by the German Wetterkommando and renewed masking of the terrain. Graves at Sowinki and Nowinki included different groups. The destruction of remains hinders identification, and the number of all people buried in this complex cannot be equated with the 59 patients from Gostynin. [2]

Limits of the findings

The exact date of the killing of the whole group has not been established. The notice contains a mistaken year in a later paragraph and an irrelevant reference to Kościan in the section on perpetrators; its unambiguous subject and findings on Gostynin were used. Individual responsibility of every executor has not been resolved. [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.