page_title: Operation Kutschera
section_title: The execution
hierarchical_section_title: Operation Kutschera / The execution
caption_attribution_description: Polski: Kondukt pogrzebowy Franza Kutschery na Adolf-Hitler-Platz (placu Piłsudskiego) w Warszawie English: Franz Kutschera's funeral procession in Adolf-Hitler-Platz (Piłsudskiego Square) in Warsaw
context_page_description: Operation Kutschera was the code name for the successful execution of Franz Kutschera, SS and Reich's Police Chief in German-occupied Warsaw, who was shot on 1 February 1944 by a combat sabotage unit of Kedyw of the Home Army mainly manned by members of scouting and guiding Gray Ranks. This special action was a part of the larger Operation Heads - the code name of a series of executions of Nazi officials by the Polish Resistance.
context_section_description: At 9:09 am Kama (who was standing near the entrance to Ujazdowski Park) signalled that Kutschera was leaving his house at Aleja Róż number 2, in his limousine. As he approached the gate of the SS HQ, he was blocked by the car driven by Miś.
  Lot and Kruszynka left the car, approached the limousine and opened fire on it at close range, killing the driver and badly wounding Kutschera. Miś then exited the car as well and finished off Kutschera with a gunshot to the head. They then searched his body for documents. Meanwhile, the two other getaway vehicles moved into position and German guards stationed nearby opened fire on the executioners. An intense firefight ensued between the Germans and the covering team (Cichy, Olbrzym and Juno). At this critical moment, Ali was unable to open his briefcase, in which several hand grenades were concealed. Cichy, Lot and Olbrzym were all wounded in the firefight.
  Due to his injury, Lot's call to withdraw was not loud enough to be heard and as a result the shootout was unnecessarily prolonged, but all the executioners were able to eventually get into their cars and drive away.
  The original medivac scheme failed, and a frantic search for a hospital willing to defy the Germans and operate on the heavily wounded Cichy and Lot began. It took several hours and five attempts before a hospital finally admitted them. As a result of the delay, both men died within a couple of days. Meanwhile, Sokół and Juno were intercepted while driving across the Kierbedź Bridge. After a short exchange of fire, they jumped into the Vistula river where they were shot at. Later, according to a German schupo report, the Germans recovered their bodies. Sokol was shot and had his ID with him which later caused German reprisal against his family. Juno drowned, and when his body was recovered he had no documents and could not be identified by the Germans. To help conceal Juno's identity and his connection to Operation Kutschera, the AK later took his railway hat and documents from his family in Piastow and later delivered them to a pro German Blue Police station in the suburb of Grojec city. It is unknown what the Germans did with the bodies they recovered.
caption: Kutschera's funeral procession in Adolf Hitler Platz in Warsaw
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