The Circumstances of the Fatal Accident of Lieutenant Edmund Grunwald of 2 June 1929 in Interwar Gdańsk

Abstract

Edmund Grunwald came from a family with well‑established military traditions and quickly rose through the ranks in his military career. Additionally, he was a handsome man who was unfortunately in love with a well‑known and beloved artist. However, during that time, his beloved was in a relationship with another man. To help Lieutenant Grunwald in this difficult situation, he was assigned to serve in Gdańsk alongside Captain (later Major) Jan Henryk Żychoń.

Edmund Grunwald was well‑liked by his peers, and his immediate superior held him in high regard. However, it was precisely in Gdańsk that tragedy struck. On 2 June 1929, he accidentally shot himself with the weapon he carried with him at all times. Despite investigations by the Polish gendarmerie and the Gdańsk police, rumours and speculation quickly arose about the circumstances of his death. The chief of Polish intelligence in the Free City of Gdańsk, Captain Jan Henryk Żychoń, was also implicated, as the accident occurred in his apartment.

The article sheds light on the circumstances surrounding Lieutenant Edmund Grunwald’s death, describes the investigation conducted in this case, and raises new questions about the weapon that caused the fatal shot. It turns out that the weapon indeed belonged to Żychoń, though it was Grunwald who used it on a daily basis.