On the law and the courts accounting for conduct during World War II. Adam Dziurok, Osądzenie przestępstw okresu II wojny światowej przez Specjalny Sąd Karny w Katowicach w latach 1945–1946, Katowice–Warszawa 2024, pp. 439

Abstract

Adam Dziurok’s monograph, Osądzenie przestępstw okresu II wojny światowej przez Specjalny Sąd Karny w Katowicach w latach 1945–1946 [Judging Crimes of the Second World War by the Special Criminal Court in Katowice in 1945–1946], explores the judicial proceedings of the Katowice Special Criminal Court, established to prosecute Nazi war criminals under the decree of September 12, 1944. The court operated briefly from January 1945 until October 1946. The book examines the legal framework, structure, and personnel of the court, highlighting the challenges faced during this period. It discusses retroactive justice and the principle lex retro agit in post-war Poland, assessing the court’s effectiveness and fairness, noting many acquittals due to inadequate evidence. This work enhances the understanding of the Polish judicial system’s role in addressing wartime atrocities and Soviet influence on Polish law.