From “Tobo” to “Lobo”: the arrest and captivity of Józef Łobodowski in Figueras
Klaudia Konieczna
Faculty of Humanities
John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
Published: 23/09/2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31338/ahi.2022.1.13
ABSTRACT: This article is about the imprisonment of Józef Łobodowski in Figueras. Łobodowski was one of the most distinguished Polish writers whose books and poems remain unknown. In 1941, when he arrived in Spain, he was captured and imprisoned in the prison of Figueras in the province of Gerona. The time he spent in Figueras was critical in the poet’s life and probably why he decided to stay in Spain. After his liberation, he moved to Madrid. The poet remained in the capital of Spain until his death in 1988. He collaborated with the magazine Polonia. Revista ilustrada (Poland. Illustrated magazine) and the Polish broadcasting of Radio Madrid. He wrote a book in Spanish about his country: Por nuestra libertad y la vuestra. Polonia sigue luchando (For our freedom and yours. Poland continues to fight), and translated works by Spanish, Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian authors into Polish. He also published numerous essays in magazines in Spain, France and England. In this article, we rely on unpublished archival documentation which reveals unknown details about his capture, his captivity, the court-martial to which he was subjected and the proceedings for his release.
KEYWORDS: Józef Łobodowski, Figueras, Spain, World War II, internment.
