Jeniec specjalny – Jakow Dżugaszwili (1907–1943). Nieznany epizod w Oflagu 56 Prostken (Bogusze/Prostki)
Special POW – Jakov Dzugashvili (1907–1943). An unknown episode in connection with Oflag 56 Prostken (Bogusze/Prostki)

Summary/Abstract: The article presents the biography of Jakov Dzugashvili (1907–1943) – the eldestson of Josef Stalin, complemented with an episode which is connected with Oflag56. Until today there has been a lot of controversy connected with the capture,detention and the death of the son of the Soviet dictator. The history connectedwith the alleged proposition of an exchange of Dzugashvili, who was taken captive,for some Germans, including the most often mentioned Marshal Friedrich vonPaulus, has remained debatable until today. In this article, the source which pro-vides new knowledge on the fate of the most famous POW of the Third Reich isthe photo album of German officer – Lieutenant Ernst Kühnast. In July 1941, hewas responsible for taking care of Dzugashvili and delivering him to Oflag 56. Thecamp was located in Boguszyce in the former Polish-German frontier, although inGerman sources the oflag is referred to as the camp in Prostki (Prostken). A uniquephotograph from Kühnast’s collection shows Dzugashvili while being interrogatedin Oflag 56 in Boguszyce (c. 20 July 1941). The photograph and the record made after the war point to the fact that Oflag 56 was the first camp in which Dzugashviliwas detained. This fact is confirmed by the Russian historian, A. Militin, who ren-dered the content of the relevant registration card from the camp that is available.Kühnast’s note confirms also the archival information on the attempt to escape byDzugashvili in civilian clothes, following the defeat of his detachment. The rema-ining fragments of the biography of Stalin’s eldest son were reconstructed on thebasis of literature on the subject as well as archival documents.

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