District Court in Warsaw Sąd Okręgowy w Warszawie (Sygn. 654/III)

Contains selected files of criminal trials conducted at the District Court in Warsaw during the years 1946-1956. These trials pertain to crimes committed against Jews and Poles during the German occupation in Poland. Trials were based on the Decree of August 31, 1944 (“Sierpniówka”), issued by the Polski Komitet Wyzwolenia Narodowego (PKWN), concerning the punishment of war criminals guilty of murders and persecution of civilians and prisoners of war, and the punishment of traitors to the Polish Nation. "Sierpniówka" was one of the world's first legislation on liability for war crimes committed during World War II. This decree also applied to soldiers of the Home Army (Armia Krajowa) whom the Communist propaganda in the 40’s and 50’s attempted to portray as German collaborators. Copyright Holder: Naczelna Dyrekcja Archiwów Państwowych