Agnieszka Holland’s father fell out of the window. For some it was suicide, for others a “political murder”

The father was well-known in Poland, sociologist and communist activist Henryk Holland. From an early age he was interested in politics, and his views were strictly oriented. As a 15-year-old, he joined the Communist Union of Polish Youth, and later joined the ranks of the Polish Workers’ Party. In turn, in 1948 he became a member of the Polish United Workers’ Party. – He was deeply convinced that the most important task after the war was to build a system that would not allow a repeat of what happened during the war – many years later the director.

Information from the secret meeting leaked. Agnieszka Holland’s father was targeted by the authorities

It all began in October 1961, when during the closing banquet of the 22nd Congress of the CPSU, Nikita Khrushchev told about the events that took place in Moscow after the death of Joseph Stalin. The members of the meeting counted on discretion, but the head of the Central Committee’s Press Office, Artur Sarewicz, broke the rules and told Stanisław Brodzki about it. A month later, the journalist met with Henryk Holland, his wife’s ex-husband, and gave him the news. In turn, during a meeting with his long-time friend, Le Monde correspondent Jean Wetz, he revealed what he knew. Thus began the avalanche.

Wetz provided the information to the journalists of “Daily Express” and the Reuters agency, and a few days later articles about sensational reports appeared in the Western press. A scandal broke out. Gomułka summoned the staff to determine who was behind it as soon as possible. The investigation led to Holland. On December 19, he was detained and transported to the Ministry of the Interior for interrogation. Under pressure, he revealed who had informed him of Khrushchev’s revelations, admitting at the same time that it was his fault that secret information had been disseminated on an international scale. Thus, Wetz was expelled from Poland, and Gomułka ordered Holland to be arrested and an investigation to be launched to establish his links with the West. A few hours later, he was charged with espionage, which was punishable by death at the time.

Holland jumped out of the window? Many do not believe it

Two days after the arrest, Holland’s apartment on Nowotki Street in Warsaw was searched. He was transported from the detention center by the Security Service officers, who were also accompanied by an interpreter. Soon after, information appeared that the journalist fell from the 6th floor, dying on the spot. He was 41 at the time, and his daughters, Agnieszka and Magdalena, were 13 and 7 respectively. They learned about their father’s tragic death from the press. An investigation was launched on the spot, and it was announced to the public that the activist had committed and no third parties were involved in the incident. Due to the events taking place earlier, few believed in this version of events, accusing the authorities of “political murder”.

In 2006, the book “The Case of Henryk Hollanda” appeared on the publishing market, in which the author, Krzysztof Persak, concluded an investigation that had been conducted for many years. Analyzing the events minute by minute, he concluded with all conviction that the father actually took advantage of the moment when he was alone in the room. But the family doesn’t believe it. – My husband was murdered because he got into the cogs of the machine of intra-party settlements – said the journalist’s widow Irena Rybczyńska-Holland during the premiere.

If you are experiencing difficulties and are thinking about taking your own life or want to help a person at risk of suicide, remember that you can use the free help numbers:

• Support Center for Adults in Mental Crisis: 800-70-2222
• Helpline for Children and Youth: 116 111
• Emotional support phone for adults: 116 123

Here you will find more information on how to help yourself or others, as well as contacts to organizations that help people in crisis and their loved ones.

If your life is at risk due to suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide, for immediate crisis intervention, call the police on 112 or go to the A&E department of your local psychiatric hospital.