TheTrial of the Generals (Polish:proces generałów) was a totalitarianshow trial organized by the communist authorities of theGovernment of thePolish People's Republic, (TodayPoland), between July 31 and August 31, 1951. Its purpose was to cleanse the new pro-SovietPolish Army of officers who had served in the armed forces of theinterwar Poland or in theanti-Nazi resistance duringWorld War II. The trial was used by the authorities in the political struggle for power within the new communist administration, and against Marshal of PolandMichał Rola-Żymierski as well as GeneralsMarian Spychalski andWacław Komar, whose political faction had fallen out of grace. The trial was led by the Stalinist ColonelStanisław Zarakowski.
All of the arrested officers were falsely accused of conspiracy against thePolish United Workers' Party and collaboration withBritish andAmerican intelligence services. The following so-calledTUN court case – an acronym for the names of three most notable participants: Tatar-Utnik-Nowicki, was launched in 1951 against the custodians of the Fund of National Defense (FON) secretly stolen byJakub Berman's security forces in 1947.[1][2][3]
All of the accused generals were sentenced to life imprisonment, includingFranciszek Herman,Jerzy Kirchmayer,Stefan Mossor andStanisław Tatar.[4] The colonelsMarian Jurecki,Marian Utnik andStanisław Nowicki were sentenced to 15 years in prison, while Major Roman and Commander Wacek were sentenced to 12 years. In the so-called "splinter trials", an additional 86 officers of the Polish Army, Navy and Air Forces were arrested and tried. Most of them were tortured by the secret police (Urząd Bezpieczeństwa) underRoman Romkowski.[5] Around 40 indicted officers were condemned to death. Only the first 20 executions were carried out (see also:1951 Mokotów Prison execution).[2][3]
In 1956, after theend ofStalinism in Poland, all of the imprisoned were set free, andrehabilitated soon afterwards during thePolish October, except for Gen. Herman who was killed in prison. It was not until 1990 beforeWar of Laws that all wrongfully accused were fully rehabilitated (except for General Mossor).