 |
Christina KrahelskayaPolish ethnographer-folklorist, poetess, member of the Resistance
Date of Birth: 24.03.1914
Country:  Poland |
Content:
Youth
Kristina Krahelska was born into a leftist family in Mazurki, a family manor in the Baranovichsky district of the Minsk governorate. Her family's political beliefs influenced her involvement in the resistance. Her sister, Galina, was a writer and member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party who participated in the October Revolution. Her cousin, Wanda, was an artist and Polish socialist who participated in an assassination attempt on the Governor-General of Warsaw. Both sisters later became involved in the Polish resistance.
Education and Folklore Research
In 1921, the family moved to Polish territory. From 1928 to 1932, Kristina was a member of the Polish Scouts (Harcers), where she led a troop of younger scouts. She also attended the Romuald Traugutt Gymnasium in Brest and later studied history, geography, and ethnography at the University of Warsaw. During this time, she researched Belarusian folklore and performed folk songs on the radio.
Participation in the Resistance
During the occupation, Kristina lived in Warsaw and Puławy, working as a laboratory assistant at the Warsaw University of Agriculture and in her father's hospital. She was a member of the underground Home Army (Armia Krajowa) under the pseudonym "Danuta." In 1943, she wrote the song "Hej, chłópcy, bagnet na broń!" ("Hey, Boys, Fix Bayonets!"), which became a popular anthem in the resistance and the Warsaw Uprising.
Warsaw Uprising and Death
During the Warsaw Uprising, Kristina served as a medic in the 7th Regiment of Lublin Uhlans. On August 1, 1944, her unit stormed the Printing House, but was forced to retreat. Kristina evacuated two wounded soldiers and was herself shot multiple times. Despite surgery, she died on August 2.
Legacy
Kristina Krahelska was posthumously awarded the Cross of Valor. She served as the model for the Warsaw Mermaid monument, created by sculptor Ludwika Nitschowa. Kristina's life and contributions to the resistance continue to be remembered and honored in Poland.
