Stanisław Trzeciak: Polish Priest and Nazi Collaborator Who Spread Antisemitic Propaganda

Stanisław Trzeciak, a Polish Catholic priest and Nazi collaborator, became one of the most prominent voices spreading antisemitic propaganda during the Second World War. A Catholic priest turned ideologue of hate, Stanisław Trzeciak emerged as one of Poland’s most outspoken antisemites and Nazi collaborators during the Second World War. Educated across Europe and the Middle East, Trzeciak was once known for his academic and religious contributions. However, by the 1930s, he had become a prominent voice spreading conspiracy theories and antisemitic propaganda under the guise of Catholic nationalism. He openly praised Adolf Hitler, promoted the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and blamed Jews for communism and the decay of Christian civilization. Trzeciak traveled extensively across Poland, delivering incendiary lectures that incited antisemitic violence. In one notable case, a speech he gave in Łódź was followed by a deadly knife attack on Jewish civilians. He was closely associated with far-right groups like the National Radical Camp (ONR), and later co-founded the National Radical Organization, a pro-German, antisemitic group that supported Nazi occupation policies. His writings, including Ritual Slaughter in the Light of the Bible and Talmud, directly contributed to anti-Jewish legislation and public hatred. Trzeciak actively collaborated with the Gestapo, even denouncing fellow priest Tadeusz Puder, a Jewish convert, which led to Puder’s arrest. While he sometimes used his influence to help individual Poles, his broader legacy was one of betrayal. Nazi propaganda published his articles, and he was awarded the Order of the German Eagle by Hitler’s regime. Despite this, during the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944, Trzeciak was executed by a German soldier during a forced expulsion from the city. Today, Trzeciak’s name is a stark reminder of how religious authority can be weaponized in service of hate. His life illustrates how collaboration with oppressive regimes is not always driven by fear or survival, but often by ideology. Though buried in Warsaw’s prestigious Powązki Cemetery, his legacy is permanently marked by his alliance with Nazi Germany and his role in the persecution of Poland’s Jewish community.This episode is part of the series Fascist Collaborators.Watch the full documentary and explore hundreds of historical films at:WorldHistory.tv