Were killed because were Poles (1) - Stefan Bryła

One of the most well-known photographs depicting the Warsaw Rising in 1944 shows the highest sky-skraper of the time - The Prudencial building being hit by German artillery's Karl-Geraet 2- ton missile. There are so many stories hidden behind the picture...

Prudential Building, 28 August 1944, photo by Sylwester Braun "Kris"

Let us plunge into those times and start with the story of the architect of the building Stefan Bryła. He planned such a great steel construction for Prudential that heavy bombardments and the fact that it was struck by a 2-ton missile did not destroy the building. Bryła (born in 1886) was a professor at the Polish universities in Lwów and Warsaw. He continued his work in conspiracy teaching future adepts of architecture during WWII, which led to his imprisonment and execution. As he was a pioneer in welding steel structures technology (the constructor of the very first road welded bridge in the world), Germans counted on him being 'useful' to the them. However he prefered to be executed rather than serve the Third Reich. He was one of the victims of the mass public executions in the streets of Warsaw which were held during German occupation of the city during WWII (executed on 3 december 1943).

Stefan Bryła

Images source: Internet

 

 

As for the Warsaw Rising, the Prudential Building was taken over Polish insurgents on the very first day of the Rising i.e. 1 August 1944. Polish white and red national flag was placed on the top. Ahead of two months of heavy fighting, terrible bombardments and German war crimes on civilians.

 

For more information on Warsaw Rising visit www.warsawrising.eu and the Warsaw Rising Museum: www.1944.pl/en/