The property of the Polish intelligence officer Major Jan Henryk Żychoń in the Free City of Gdansk (1928–1939) – an outline of the issues

Abstract

Captain Jan Henryk Żychoń was designated for Gdañsk to take over the No.7 Agency called “BIG” . The intention was to expand its activity and face the aggressive actions of German intelligence. Żychoń soon proved himself to be an excellent agent and outstanding organizer of the intelligence work. Within a few years he managed to transform his Gdańsk post into a flourishing mechanism of gathering information about Poland’s western neighbor. Until today still some tangible legacy of his Gdańsk presence can be observed. It is mainly the places he was working and staying in. The most significant was the tenement house at 117 Grunwaldzka Street, the address inhabited by him for the longest time. It is also there that Captain Żychoń organized his famous gatherings and that a certain fatal accident took place. It is impossible to get a full picture of different aspects of his intelligence work without describing his particular actions. All the above mentioned elements constitute his full personality, a man of utmost diligence, an efficient and effective agent being, at the same time, a controversial Polish officer.