Leon Skosowski

The Second World War - Criminals - Jewish getto - Poland - Warsaw
Gestapo - Group 13 - Jewish collaborators - Żagiew

Leon Skosowski (Lejb Skosowski, aka "Lolek") was a Jewish collaborator from the network Żagiew managed by the Gestapo(german: Geheime Staatspolizei) The Secret State Police established in the Third Reich, which ruthlessly fought against all forms of resistance in the occupied territories. Identified with the most terrible German crimes against Poles, and after 1942 also against Jews. Disbanded with the fall of the Third Reich in 1945. Recognized as a criminal organization by the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg.. He was directly involved in the plan of the Polski Hotel and was appointed, along with Adam Żurawin, as a co-organizer of the scandal, causing the deportation of 2,200-3,200 Jews to German extermination camps (number estimated based on the number of his "clients" and survivors). Other sources say that he is directly responsible for the deaths of 2,500 Polish Jews and several hundred Poles.

Lejb was a simple textile technician from Łódź, quite wealthy even before the war. Behind the ghetto walls, he became one of the most devoted activists of Group 13 and Żagiew. His cooperation was so close that all underground organizations were after him. On February 21, 1943, he was shot, but after healed his wounds, he quickly resumed his activities.

Press announcement of the Skosowski Textile Factory on January 1, 1939

He made his greatest fortune in the "Hotel Polski" scandal. Thanks to the efforts of diplomats and other personalities from Switzerland and the USA, some Jews from the Warsaw ghetto were allowed to obtain passports so that they could emigrate to South America. However, the documents sent at the turn of 1942 and 1943 did not go to the owners, but to Skosowski and his associate Adam Żurawin.

They sold passports to Jews in hiding, and their price was as high as PLN 300,000 apiece. However, there was no shortage of people willing. Jews who managed to buy a passport were interned in the Hotel Polski at Długa street in Warsaw. The entire venture looked plausible. The internees were representatives of the Jewish resistance movement and Gestapo collaborators (including Gancwajch's wife).

However, the Germans finally realized that they were dealing with a scam. They began to carefully check the documents, and all those who did not have passports were shot.

Skosowski led a debauched and comfortable life. He spared no alcohol and the company of prostitutes. However, not for long. He finally died at the hands of the Home ArmyHome Army (AK, polish: Armia Krajowa) – the clandestine armed forces of the Polish Underground State during World War II. on November 1, 1943.

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