On 1 February 1944, the Polish resistance carried out the assassination of Franz Kutschera, known as ‘the executioner of Warsaw’.

On 1 February 1944, the Polish resistance carried out the assassination of Franz Kutschera, known as ‘the executioner of Warsaw.




The assassination of this SS officer and police commander in the Warsaw District of the General Government was one of the most spectacular operations in the history of the Home Army (Armia Krajowa), because never before or after was such a high-ranking Nazi officer eliminated in Poland.

Despite being fully aware of the cruel reprisals, that the Germans would do, , the Home Army command decided to launch the so-called “Operation Heads” (Akcja Główki).

Its goal was to eliminate the most cruel Nazi officers. Among them was Hans Frank, general governor of the occupied Polish territories.

The assassination attempt took place on a train, 29 January 1944 and was carried out thirty kilometers east of Krakow. Frank survived because the explosive was triggered too soon.

In retaliation, a massive execution of several hundred Poles detained in the Krakow prison on Montelupich Street was carried out. Nevertheless, Franz Kutschera was the next target of the Polish resistance.

The executioner of Warsaw’ came from Austria. Even before the Anschluss, he had become the head of the NSDAP in Carinthia. In September 1943, he was appointed head of the SS and the police in Warsaw.

The city was the most dangerous place for Germans in the occupied territories; several dozen occupants died on the streets of the city each month. In retaliation, Kutschera introduced previously unknown heights of terror.

The operation was scheduled for 28 January 1944. However, it turned out that Kutschera had not come to work that day.

In addition, during a detention attempt not related to the assassination, ‘Żbik’ was seriously wounded, which necessitated changes in the group. Finally, the assassination took place 1 February 1944.

Just after 9:00 am, Home Army soldiers cut the SS limousine off and within a few dozen seconds had fired several bullets at Kutschera from a short distance away. 

He was killed on the spot, along with four other Germans. Home Army drivers appeared on the spot to help the members of ‘Pegaz’ get away.

In retaliation for Kutschera’s death, the Germans arrested and shot several hundred people. A reparation payment was imposed on the city and Poles were forbidden to drive their own cars.

However, this does not change the fact that after the death of ‘the executioner of Warsaw’ the terror on the city streets, up until the day of the Warsaw Uprising, significantly decreased.

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