Operation AB (Extraordinary Pacification Operation) was a mass extermination action carried out by the Nazis in occupied Poland from May to July 1940. Its aim was to murder Polish intelligentsia and social elites. As a result of the operation, approximately 6,000 people were arrested, of whom over 3,500 were murdered in mass executions, mainly in Palmiry near Warsaw.

Operation AB was one of the most tragic events in Polish history during World War II. Conducted by the Nazis as part of the Extraordinary Pacification Action, it aimed to exterminate Polish intelligentsia and social elites.

This operation, also known as Außerordentliche Befriedungsaktion, was part of a broader plan to Germanize the occupied Polish territories. Its course and exact dates are crucial for understanding the scale of terror inflicted upon the Polish population in the first years of the war.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the chronology of Operation AB, its course, and consequences for Polish society. We will also explore the circumstances that led to its beginning and end.

Operation AB represented the culmination of Nazi plans to exterminate Polish intellectual and social elite. Its roots date back to the first days of German occupation in Poland, when the Third Reich authorities began systematic actions aimed at destroying Polish national identity.

After the invasion on September 1, 1939, Poland fell under brutal German occupation. The Nazis divided the country into several administrative zones:

• General Government
• Territories directly incorporated into the Reich
• Białystok District

In each of these zones, terror and repression against the Polish population were implemented. The Germans:

• Closed Polish universities and high schools
• Liquidated Polish cultural institutions
• Introduced food rationing system
• Began mass deportations of Poles from territories incorporated into the Reich

The economic situation deteriorated dramatically. The Germans:

• Confiscated Polish industrial plants
• Transported raw materials and goods to the Reich
• Introduced forced labor for Poles

From the beginning of the occupation, the Nazis sought to annihilate Polish elites. Their plans included:

1. Physical elimination of the intelligentsia:

• Arrests of university professors
• Executions of teachers, lawyers, doctors
• Deportations to concentration camps

1. Destruction of Polish culture:

• Burning of libraries and archives
• Destruction of monuments
• Ban on Polish scientific institutions

1. Germanization of the remaining population:

• Introduction of German as the official language
• Changing Polish place names to German ones
• Forced enrollment on the Volksliste

The AB Action was a central element of these plans, aimed at quickly and effectively eliminating the Polish leadership class. The Nazis believed that a society deprived of its elites would be easier to control and Germanize.

The AB Action, carried out by the Nazis in occupied Poland, was characterized by systematic and brutal actions targeted at Polish intelligentsia. This operation, lasting from May to July 1940, was carefully planned and executed with ruthless precision.

The AB Action began on May 16, 1940, when Hans Frank issued a secret order for its implementation. The first arrests took place on the night of May 20-21, primarily in Warsaw and its surroundings. Nazi security forces, including the Gestapo and SD, conducted coordinated raids on homes, workplaces, and public institutions. The arrests encompassed thousands of people who were then transported to prisons and transit camps.

The main targets of the AB Action were representatives of Polish intelligentsia and social elites. The particularly vulnerable groups included:

• Scientists and academic lecturers
• Secondary and primary school teachers
• Doctors and lawyers
• Clergy of various denominations
• Artists and writers
• Political and social activists
• Military and police officers

The Nazis arrested approximately 6,000 people, of whom over 3,500 were executed in mass executions. The execution sites included the Palmiry forests near Warsaw, Winnica near Pułtusk, and Kabacki Forest. Victims were often tortured before execution, and their bodies were buried in mass graves. Operation AB covered not only Warsaw but also other regions of the General Government, including Kraków, Lublin, and Radom.

Operation AB, carried out by the Nazis in occupied Poland, lasted from May to July 1940. This short but intensive period was characterized by systematic and brutal actions targeting Polish intelligentsia and social elites.

Operation AB officially began on May 16, 1940, when Hans Frank issued a secret order for its implementation. The first mass arrests took place on the night of May 20-21, 1940, focusing mainly on Warsaw and surrounding localities. The operation continued until July 1940, although the exact end date is not precisely determined. During these few weeks, the Nazis arrested approximately 6,000 people, of whom over 3,500 were executed in mass executions.

Summer 1940 brought a significant intensification of actions within Operation AB. The Nazis increased the number of arrests and executions, aiming to quickly eliminate Polish elites. June and July saw the highest number of mass executions, including those in the Palmiry forests near Warsaw. The operation expanded its reach to increasingly larger areas of occupied Poland, extending beyond Warsaw to other cities and regions. The intensification of actions in summer 1940 aimed to maximize the operation's effects before its official conclusion.

Operation AB covered a significant part of occupied Poland, focusing mainly on the territories of the General Government. This Nazi operation aimed to eliminate Polish intelligentsia and social elites in key regions of the country.

Operation AB concentrated primarily on the areas of the General Government. It included:

• Warsaw and its surroundings
• Krakow and Lesser Poland
• Lublin and Lublin region
• Radom and Radom region
• Częstochowa and its surroundings

The Nazis conducted arrests and executions in both large cities and smaller towns. Particularly intense activities took place in Warsaw, which was the center of Polish intellectual and cultural life.

The Nazis used numerous locations for mass executions during Operation AB:

• Palmiry Forest near Warsaw
• Winiarki Forest near Nowy Sącz
• Krzesławice near Krakow
• Rury Jezuickie in Lublin
• Firlej near Radom

These locations were chosen due to their distance from human settlements and the possibility of concealing the crimes. Palmiry Forest became a symbol of Operation AB, where over 1,700 people were murdered, including many representatives of Polish intelligentsia.

Operation AB had a devastating impact on Polish society, causing irreversible losses in the intellectual and cultural layer of the nation. Its consequences were felt for many years after World War II and influenced the shape of post-war Poland.

Operation AB led to the mass extermination of Polish intellectual elite. Over 3,500 representatives of intelligentsia were killed, including:

• 700 professors and academic teachers
• 500 doctors and pharmacists
• 300 lawyers and judges
• 200 journalists and writers
• 100 artists and musicians

These losses dealt a significant blow to Polish science, culture, and social life. Eminent scientists, artists, and social activists were murdered, causing a generational gap in many fields. The loss of experienced specialists and lecturers negatively impacted the development of education and scientific research in post-war Poland.

Action AB had far-reaching effects on Poland and its people:

1. Weakening of social structures: The elimination of leaders and moral authorities hindered the organization of social and cultural life.
2. Hampering scientific development: The loss of scientists and researchers slowed progress in many fields of science.
3. Impoverishment of cultural life: The death of artists and creators limited the development of Polish culture and art.
4. Difficulties in country reconstruction: The lack of qualified specialists hindered the post-war reconstruction of Poland.
5. Social trauma: Mass executions and repressions left deep psychological wounds in the nation's consciousness.
6. Demographic changes: Action AB contributed to changes in social structure, particularly in cities.
7. Impact on education: The killing of teachers and professors lowered the quality of education in schools and universities.
8. Weakening of national identity: The elimination of elites aimed to destroy Polish culture and national consciousness.

The effects of Action AB were felt for decades, influencing Poland's social, cultural, and scientific development. The losses suffered during this operation posed a serious challenge for the post-war reconstruction of the country and the formation of a new generation of Polish intelligentsia.

After World War II, the memory of Action AB became an important element of Polish national identity. Initially, the communist authorities did not place much emphasis on commemorating this tragedy, focusing instead on promoting their own vision of history.

In the 1960s, there was a shift in the approach to commemorating Action AB. The first monuments and memorial plaques were erected at mass execution sites, such as Palmiry. Official ceremonies commemorating the victims were organized, although they often had a propagandistic character.

The 1980s brought increased interest in Action AB among historians and researchers. The first detailed academic studies were published, shedding new light on the scale and course of this crime. Social initiatives aimed at preserving the memory of the victims also emerged.

After 1989, there was a breakthrough in commemorating Action AB. New museums and memorial sites were established, such as the Mausoleum of Struggle and Martyrdom in Palmiry, opened in 2011. Non-governmental organizations and state institutions undertook intensive educational activities aimed at spreading knowledge about this crime.

In the 21st century, the memory of Action AB is preserved through:

• Annual anniversary commemorations at memorial sites
• Educational programs in schools and museums
• Academic and popular science publications
• Film and documentary productions
• Projects digitizing documents and victim testimonies

Today, Action AB is recognized as one of the key events in the history of German occupation in Poland. It serves as an important element in shaping the historical awareness of young generations and reminds us of the necessity to preserve the memory of totalitarianism's victims.

• The AB Action was carried out by the Nazis from May to July 1940 as part of their plan to exterminate Polish intelligentsia and social elites.
• The operation began on May 16, 1940, on the orders of Hans Frank and primarily covered the territory of the General Government.
• As a result of the AB Action, approximately 6,000 people were arrested, of whom over 3,500 were executed in mass executions.
• The main execution sites were the Palmiry forests near Warsaw, Winnica near Pułtusk, and Kabacki Forest.
• The effects of the AB Action were long-lasting and led to significant weakening of Polish science, culture, and social life.
• The memory of the AB Action is currently preserved through museums, memorial sites, and educational programs.

The AB Action was a brutal chapter in the history of German occupation in Poland. The operation carried out from May to July 1940 aimed to destroy Polish elites and weaken the spirit of the nation.

Its effects were catastrophic for Polish society, causing irreversible losses in the intellectual and cultural sphere. Nevertheless, the memory of these tragic events has survived.

Today, the AB Action is an important element of Polish national identity. Commemorating the victims and educating young generations helps preserve historical awareness and pay tribute to those who died fighting to preserve Polish culture and identity.