Talk:Cursed soldiers

Soviet Propoganda
The section on criticisms is sourced mainly with information that is Soviet backed, and Polish Satallite State propoganda. As such it has no basis in Fact and must be dismissed DESPITE what certain Communist and Socialist editors on this site would believe.

A well-writen article
The editors are to be commended. While I do not have Polish languaage skills to verify the references, I thouht the article was well written (and well translated). It dealt with what is clearly a touchy subject while retaining NPOV.

I did some very light copyediting to make date formats consistent, add some definitive articles that seemed to be missing, replace the abbreviation ps. with pseudonym, eliminate a few run-on sentences, and make all spellings American English (there were only a few thaat were British, such as realised, while the rest were American). Twisted86 05:42, 18 August 2006 (UTC)


 * I second the commendation! I think the original article was written in British English, but little enough remained that removing the remainder was probably the simplest path. --Askari Mark | Talk 01:44, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

Failed "Good Article" nomination
Hello, the reasons why I failed it:
 * 1) There is nothing more than just history.
 * 2) The huge red list is plain ugly.
 * 3) It has only 4 sources, and it's quite obvious that most of the article was taken just from one of them. Dealing with such a sensitive subject it's is clearly not enough.
 * 4) Some "heroic" phrasing borders on POV. 3 quick examples: "...when the (imprisoned) AK and WiN leaders realized their mistake..." & "The NKVD and UB were certainly not beyond using force" & "For the crime of fighting for their homeland..."
 * 5) I think the article needs a bit more time to settle down. Editors with different perspectives should have time to review it. Renata 03:37, 23 August 2006 (UTC)
 * Regarding some of the objections, I'd like to note that most of the text (history...) was taken from AK article, which is a GA itself. But you raise good point that compared to AK it has too little about structure and such. Not sure if I agree with all of your 'heroic' style comments, but if somebody would like to NPOV it, then that would be great.--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus 20:27, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Article from modern newspaper article as a source for remote history
Most of this page is based on and article in a Polish newspaper. Do we know anything about the author of this newspaper article and his credentials of historian? --Irpen 05:15, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
 * The author is Andrzej Kaczyński. Short bio in English. He seems to be a prominent journalist of that newspaper (with the rank of an editor (redaktor) -, , ) with dozens of articles, many of them about Polish history. Some of his articles have even been translated into English, particulary the ones dealing with Jedwabne, and published for example by JewishGen - it was so notable he even got mentioned in an English books - a no small feat for non-English journalist, as I am sure you'd agree. Even more importantly, he has been cited by academics: for example, by Marek Jan Chodakiewicz: , and possibly here ( - couldn't check full text right away, but got a hit for his name) and here ( - as far as I can tell from the snippet). Chodakiewicz also seems to cite him in this book but the snippets are broken. I hope this proves he is an estabilished, reliable journalist with much experience in writing about Polish history.--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus 07:13, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

Lot's of water and no answer. Let me repeat the question then. Is he a historian? --Irpen 19:46, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
 * He is reliable per WP:RS. That's all there is to it, as has been discussed at Talk:Przyszowice massacre and in many different places.--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus 20:21, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

All right, so now without answering a question I did not ask (we will get to that later) I repeat. Is he a historian? --Irpen 20:24, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
 * I don't know. Still, since we are talking about events from about 40 to 60 years ago, with some of the participants still living, why would this be a priori excluded from the province of journalism?  When does history end and journalism begin? Balcer 05:11, 1 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Since you don't know and no one knows of any academic credentials of the author, the article on a historic subject needs rewriting based on something more serious than an article in a modern newspaper. And times of WW2 and immediately after it is certainly history rather than current events. --Irpen 05:34, 4 June 2007 (UTC)
 * As has been pointed to you at Talk:Przyszowice massacre, newspapers are quite reliable; besides, the author of the articles is much more reliable than some historians. This article fits WP:RS, please stop arguing without any policy to back you up.--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus 07:02, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

Please stop disrupting the integrity of an encyclopedia through writing articles about hisotry referenced to newspapers. Since you refuse to correct, the article tagged. --Irpen 08:28, 4 June 2007 (UTC)
 * As has been explained to you on Talk:Przyszowice massacre, and our policies cited numerous times, the information is reliable. Please stop disrupting the project by misusing tags.--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus 17:53, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Icorrect, no policies were clearly cited and invited editors were split on the issue whether newspaper writings by an author with no credentials in history can are reliable. Not only the source is unreliable, but the entire article is based on a single (and unacceptable) source. I will mark it as such as well. Instead of revert warring, I suggest you improve the article and its sourcing. --Irpen 18:24, 5 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Incorrect. Article by a reliable journalist in a reliable newspaper is reliable, per WP:RS. While more sources would be nice, one source is enough. Unless you have contradictory references, there is nothing to question the reliability of this article; that you dislike newspapers doesn't matter as long as their use is permitted by our policies. Let me quote from our policies: Reliable sources: Wikipedia articles should therefore ideally rely on all majority and significant-minority treatments of a topic, scholarly and non-scholarly. While scholarly sources are preffered and overrule non-scholarly, if we lack scholarly sources that contradict non-scholarly ones, and there are no concerns with 'undue weight' and such, non-scholary publications are considered reliable. Further, No_original_research excplicitly states: In general, the most reliable sources are books and journals published by university presses; mainstream newspapers.... --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus 20:55, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Name of the article

 * I don't think "cursed" is the best translation of the original word "wyklęci". It's more like a copy to English, which does not reflect its meaning. The word in question comes from polish word for curse, but has different connotation. It's something between outcast, expelled or banished and condemned or damned, with the latter two being closest in my opinion. The meaning of original phrase "Żołnierze wyklęci" has that kind of connotation. The other way, from English to Polish "cursed" would be "przeklęci", and not "wyklęci". These are not the synonims, and "cursed soldiers" sounds like inaccurate translation to me.
 * So, is the name ORish too? How is the subject of the article called in English? Or did the author come up with the term himself? --Irpen 18:26, 5 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I think you may be right on that. Cursed soldiers seemed like the best translation, but indeed it's not perfect, outcast or damned would be as correct as 'cursed'. I am not sure however what would be a better title: Anti-communist resistance in Poland is about both violent and non-violent resistance forms, and 'violent resistance' is not a term used much in English.--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus 21:05, 5 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Maybe you should consider "Armed anti-communist resistance in Poland", I know it's long as hell, but at least it is entirely precise. Then you could link it to many articles concerning post-WWWII Poland history. "Cursed" is related only to the source article, and foremost IMHO it's really unfortunate translation - I would drop it completely if I were you. "Outcast" or "damned" would be a lot better. Also, if you don't mind the suggestion, I believe you should put the list of soldiers in separate article (or stub) linked to this one, that will make the article less red and more clear. Another thing is what the discussion was above - the sources. I think you can find many information concerning individual soldiers and the whole movement (mainly witnesses or autobiographic relation type) in "Karta '44" periodics - they show up every 2 or 3 months and I suppose they collect them in most public libraries in Poland (shouldn't be difficult to obtain if you live in one of the major cities). Other than that I think the article is well written and you should keep up the good work.87.206.24.237 01:57, 6 June 2007 (UTC)Pawel


 * I saw Piotrus' query on Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Military history. My suggestion would be to keep the title as "Cursed soldiers". For one thing, that's the only way I've ever seen it in English. "Damned soldiers" comes across more like an insult to soldiers, but "Cursed soldiers" actually has a certain brave, but ironic "cachet" about it – that being the heroism of fighting against impossible odds. Kirill Lokshin also had some suggestions worth considering, but Żołnierze wyklęci is unrecognizable to English-speakers like me who actually are familiar with topic. Askari Mark (Talk) 23:42, 6 June 2007 (UTC)


 * The original Polish title has nothing to do with their odds against the enemy. Furthermore - the word "wyklęci" does have pejorative connotation. It means they were expelled from the society, history and public memory by the communist authorithies. They were also condemned and their goals denied recognition until recent times. They were meant to be forever forgotten, stripped of their glory and honor in the eyes of general audience. Nevertheless, knowing original word and English being my second language, I believe it is more "damned"(in the meaning - condemned for eternal punishment, but it's not an insult in this case, becase the condemners are considered evil) than "cursed", while actually neither of these words are accurate translations. So I think "oucast" would do best, as I believe it reflects the original word quite accurately.87.206.24.237 05:39, 7 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Why don't we simply state in the lead that the Polish term is difficult to translate into English, and that a number of translations are possible, followed by a list of those suggested here. As long as we do that, there is no reason to worry too much about the precise title used for the article.Balcer 05:45, 7 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Such a footnote would certainly be useful. It would be even better if we could point to various sources and their terms, alas, this issue is simply mostly unmentioned in English literature. The refs are few and far in between, and the terminology varies, usually being quite general: for example, Marek Jan Chodakiewicz uses the term independentist insurgency. Would Polish anti-communist independentist insurgency be better, I don't know - it's certainly LONG (and we need Polish and anti-communist for disambig).--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus 17:42, 7 June 2007 (UTC)
 * A footnote is an excellent idea! This subject needs as much explanation as it can get. From what is written above, it would seem like the closest rendering might be something like "The Forgotten Soldiers", but that's too close to Sajer's book, "The Forgotten Soldier". I don't believe "independentist" is a real word, but "Polish anti-communist insurgency" might be a good substitute title – unless it might be confused with activities between the two world wars. Askari Mark (Talk) 22:27, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

IMHO mayby good alternative would be Polish post war world II anti-comunist guerillas or something like that. Radomil talk 08:52, 8 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Personally I think this should become a big section within a very large, general feature on "Civil Unrest in Poland from 1944-1948: from the Lublin government to the PRL". Point is, much like Iraq today, there was all kinds of violence, and it is often difficult to distinguish between each type: political insurgencey, state oppression, Red Army indiscipline, political rivalry among insurgent groups, violent organized crime, ethnic and religious violence, violent competition for scarce housing in urban districts, anarchy and opportunist looting, violence caused by forced population transfer, NKVD agent provocateur action, and alleged British-backed "terrorism". It is a huge, fascinating subject worthy of a feature. And there are several sources - I`m sure Piotrus knows a few as well. -Chumchum7 (talk) 06:36, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

If the current title, "Cursed soldiers", is to be kept, it should be cast in good English: "Accursed soldiers", as the soldiers were the objects of the curse or curses. Has anyone the ability to change the title to proper English? Firstorm (talk) 15:11, 9 December 2011 (UTC)

To what extent does the term outlaw have the right connotations? Jackiespeel (talk) 14:02, 19 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Nothing beyond some similarity in concept. Cursed soldiers were outlaws to the communists. Why? --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus&#124; reply here 16:35, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

I am a PL o EN translator and I don't believe there is a term in EN that conveys the exact meaning of the PL "wyklęci". One can resort to the terms like "anathemised" or similar, but this sounds quite Baroque. As close equivalents in meaning, if not literal translations, I suggest "banished" or "proscribed" soldiers? Both terms convey condemnation, denunciation and exclusion. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 178.36.43.52 (talk), ISP: Netia SA, Poland (Mazowieckie), Warsaw; 01:09, 15 December 2013 (UTC)


 * Obviously, you didn't check any of the references provided. Poeticbent talk 05:07, 15 December 2013 (UTC)

Yo. How about "Forsaken"? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.73.82.134 (talk) 22:35, 1 March 2015 (UTC)

translation needed
It would be nice if someone would translate the abbreviations of army rank in the list from Polish to English. Thanks Hmains (talk) 22:42, 3 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Done Radomil talk 13:55, 4 July 2009 (UTC)

Historical background section
I appreciate that the background to this story could go back centuries, but I felt that it would benefit readers to know about events from 17 Sept 1939 onwards. I think we could give an account of how the Soviet Union suddenly invaded and annexed eastern Poland in September 1939 whilst Poland was fighting the Third Reich. A link to the article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_invasion_of_Poland would help, with a brief synopsis of the Soviet ocupation of eastern Poland until the Third Reich went to war with the Soviets in June 1941; I think it will add understanding if we mention that the Soviet invasion and repression had added to antagonism between Poles and the USSR, and the resistance offered by AK and others to the Lublin poles from 1944 onwards had its roots in this previous invasion and repression.

I'm happy to create an extra paragraph along these lines but don't want to amend someone else's work without discussing it first Any thoughts? Mungo Shuntbox (talk) 12:19, 13 January 2012 (UTC)

Literally no mention of their crimes comitted on Ukrainians (Wierzchowiny) and Leftis anti-German movements. The article is very one sided, as if it was written by a Polish right-wing historian.

5.172.252.171 (talk) — Preceding undated comment added 09:51, 3 October 2014 (UTC)


 * I agree, there is not even a single mention of the massacres, e.g. at Zaleszany and Wierzchowiny, and no mention of the great number of ideologically motivated murders they committed. --Tweenk (talk) 18:43, 27 March 2015 (UTC)

B-class review
I've added a missing ref, and I think this article passes B-class criteria. As a major contributor, I'll ask for another review (from the MILHIST project), and till then, the WP:POLAND assessment will match MILHIST. --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus&#124; talk to me 23:51, 4 May 2012 (UTC)

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Reliable sources, etc.
Let's discuss the sources used here. In particular, let's discuss the Jan Tomasz Gross source and possible charges of antisemitism. Please. &mdash; Javert2113 (talk) 16:35, 9 April 2018 (UTC)

Oh, lest I forget:. Sorry to drag you all into this. &mdash; Javert2113 (talk) 16:37, 9 April 2018 (UTC)
 * Don't worry. You didn't drag, I stepped into it. Kleuske (talk) 16:39, 9 April 2018 (UTC)
 * Eh bien. As you say. I admit that I know next to nothing about this subject, but the sources mentioned prima facie look fine. &mdash; Javert2113 (talk) 16:42, 9 April 2018 (UTC)

Soviet backed propoganda sources that were used at the time to smear anti communist resistance. The satallite state were routinely executing polish officers who fought in the war and were as well smearing any group that would speak out against their glorious revoloution, a revolution which helped the nazis invade in the first place. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2602:306:8389:4120:3C38:D701:3A6E:B5A0 (talk) 16:46, 9 April 2018 (UTC)


 * I have to agree with the IP contributor (apparently unwilling to reveal his WP identity perhaps for a reason), because the addition is completely WP:UNDUE in this specific article. The sources are fine (11 functionaries killed in one place, 3 in another), but this was war, I mean, it was a full-blown anti-communist insurrection and of course, there were casualties... on both sides, how else.  Poeticbent  talk 17:47, 9 April 2018 (UTC)

Mass murders on civilians

 * Unsourced. Please quote your sources.
 * Now the subsection describes one pacification. Either several crimes are decribed here or this subsection should be removed.Xx236 (talk) 08:24, 22 August 2018 (UTC)

Instytut Pamięci narodowej published materials on Dubingai Massacre (victims include small children) commited by group of Szendzielarz "Łupaszko" and on numerous murders of group of Rajs "Bury". I'm quiet surprised you are not aware of them and are proposing removal. We can probably even add Kuraś "Ogień" to that group because of his Jewish and Slovak victims. Is Insytut Pamięci Narodowej realiable for you? (+ +)MagicalFaces(+ +) (talk) 23:51, 22 August 2018 (UTC)
 * Please discuss the page, not my awareness. You may add anything. Please remeber the difference between the two pages you comment. The Dubingai Massacre doesn't belong here. Xx236 (talk) 06:06, 23 August 2018 (UTC)

In popular culture
I have removed the unsourced text. The mentioned book was a Communist propaganda tool. The context should be explained. Xx236 (talk) 08:53, 22 August 2018 (UTC)

"Pacification"
Not a native English speaker--but is "pacification" a good phrasing in the last section? Almost 600 people were (probably) massacred, "pacification" sounds like whitewashing. --Kraligor (talk) 11:58, 27 May 2019 (UTC)
 * See Pacification of Algeria or Pacification of Manchukuo - pacification by military means is generally violent (e.g. Convair B-36 Peacemaker). Icewhiz (talk) 12:58, 27 May 2019 (UTC)

Spelling fix request
Please change the spelling of  to. The spelling "Belarusan" is outdated, to my knowledge. It yields 541,000 results on Google, while Belarusian gets 34,400,000 results. The Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries both use "Belarusian", and Belarusians themselves also use "Belarusian", not "Belarusan", e.g., the English website of the Belarusian State University. Nakonana (talk) 09:32, 28 May 2023 (UTC)