A FORGOTTEN HERO: JAN MORAWIŃSKI (1907–1949)

Notes of a Curator at the National Museumpublished in 1970 in the second volume of the bookStruggle for Cultural Goods is the only generally availabletestimony to saving the Wilanów historic monuments byJan Morawiński, a forgotten hero from the times of WW II.Additionally priceless because of Morawiński documentingthe looting of 137 paintings belonging to the pre-WW IIBranicki collection at Wilanów. The above-mentioned Noteswere published by the Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy afterthe manuscript kept in the private archive of the author’sdaughter Agnieszka Morawińska. The notes, however,resemble pieces of paper torn from a notebook in whichan earlier chapter is missing. The missing chapter does exist,yet for unknown reasons was omitted in the two-volumeStruggle for Cultural Goods. Warsaw 1939–1945 edited byProf. Stanisław Lorentz.The present paper is based on Morawiński’s hand-writtentestimony, supported by archival sources and recollectionsof his colleagues from the National Museum in Warsaw(MNW). From August 1939 to August 1944, Jan Morawiński,together with others, was involved in saving precious museumexhibits in the Museum building, but also throughoutWarsaw. He was involved in packing the historic monumentsinto crates which were to help them survive the toughesttimes, and he helped to put out fires at the Museum, riskinghis own life. Moreover, he rescued the Royal Castle collectionsduring the hardest bombing of Warsaw, transportingthem to the storages in Warsaw’s Jerozolimskie Avenue. Forhis dedication he was awarded the Virtuti Militari Cross ofthe 5th class by Gen. Juliusz Rómmel.After Warsaw’s surrender, he was assigned Head ofMNW’s storerooms and inventories: when Director Lorentzwas absent, he acted as his deputy. In the first period ofthe Nazi occupation he courageously faced German officials.Furthermore, he headed the clandestine action of inventoryingand documenting German destructions and plundering.The knowledge amassed in this way was extremely helpfulin the restitution of the looted historic monuments, not onlymuseum ones. He also contributed to documenting the destructionof the Warsaw Castle. Imprisoned by the Nazis, hewent through Gestapo’s hands at Daniłowiczowska Streetin Warsaw. Later on, he became manager of the Museumof Old Warsaw in the Old Town, at the same time actingas a guardian of the Wilanów collection. Following the defeatof the Warsaw Uprising, he participated in the so-calledPruszków Action in whose course he was badly injured.