The Activity of Special Courts Considering Documentation from the German Prison in Janów Lubelski

This article examines newly uncovered archival documentation related to the activities of Nazi Special Courts (Sondergerichte) in the Lublin District of the General Government during World War II. While existing scholarship has extensively studied the organizational framework of these courts, research on their local operations has remained limited due to the destruction, dispersion, and scarcity of sources. Based on an extended query conducted at the State Archives in Lublin in March 2025, the study identifies significant materials within the collection of the German Prison in Janów Lubelski (reference no. 1034). These records, including personal prisoner files, court judgments, and penal orders, shed new light on the functioning of the Special Courts in Lublin, Zamość, and Chełm. Statistical analysis reveals 90 individuals subjected to Special Court rulings, with Poles (64%) and Jews (35%) forming the majority of those convicted, and nearly 40% of verdicts issued in the form of penal orders. The findings highlight the prison’s role as both a transitional and punitive institution within the Nazi repressive system. By reconstructing microhistories of victims and exposing the systemic use of judicial terror, the study underscores the critical importance of integrating fragmented archival materials to advance research on Nazi occupation policy in Poland.