Buttons from the grave of “Zapora” and his men

More than twenty buttons from German uniforms were recovered from the burial pit of Hieronim Dekutowski, known as “Zapora”, and his men. Their remains were found in 2012 at “Łączka”, beside Powązki Military Cemetery. The pebbled buttons, known in Polish as “groszki”, preserve a physical trace of the humiliation inflicted on the accused Polish underground soldiers. They appeared in court wearing German uniforms imposed on them.

Władysław Siła-Nowicki, a defendant in the same trial, recalled passing through the prison gate on 15 November 1948 in this clothing. He emphasised how degrading the treatment was for Home Army soldiers and WiN officers. In “Evidence of Crimes”, the buttons are presented alongside his account, so their German origin does not obscure the victims’ identity. Other remains of murdered prisoners displayed in the exhibition include fragments of Colonel Stanisław Kasznica's footwear.