Steiger Affair, reflected in Jewish, Polish and Ukrainian periodicals, 1924, 1925, 1924-1928

Collection Overview

Title: Steiger Affair, reflected in Jewish, Polish and Ukrainian periodicals, 1924, 1925, 1924-1928

Predominant Dates:1924 -- 1925

ID: RG-105/RG-105

Creator: Natan Loewenstein, Jewish jurist, lawyer, deputy to the Constituent Sejm in 1919 -1921 (1859 -- 1929)

Extent: 1.0 Boxes

Languages: Polish [pol], Ukrainian [ukr], German [ger]

Abstract

This Collection contains materials, largely in the form of reportages and articles from the newspapers published in 1924, 1925 and later in regard to the Steiger Trial. There are also personal accounts and interviews. The Stanislaw Steiger Trial in Lviv (Lwow), commonly referred as a Steiger Affair was boradly reflected by Jewish, Polish and Ukrainian periodicals as well as by foereing press.

Assassination attempt on the life of Poish President Stanislaw Wojcechowski took place on September 5, 1924, when President visited the city for the opening ofTargi Wschodni (Eastern Trade Fair). It was a bomb thrown at his open carriage. President had not been hurt and nombody sustained any personal injuiries. The bomb did not go off as deivised. It was accidently crashed by a cortege officers' horse.

Stanislaw Steiger who happened to be among spectators behaived nevrously and began to run into safety. He was arrested by the police becaue several bystanders pointed on his suspicious behavior. Some even testified that they saw hem throwing out a package that could have been a bomb.

Stanislaw Steiger, by no means was a culprit, altoough the summary tribunal commenced. This tribunal did not reach a unanimous decision and the case had been passed for further investigation and for trial by juries.

Here the "Steigeriada" how it was often named had began. It lasted until the end of 1925.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The process or the Steiger Trial unfolds via reportages and reports continuously published in Jewish, Polish and Ukrainian periodicals. The court of Juries is presented by an array of conspiracy versions, from a Communist to Zionist to Ukrainian nationalists, not excluding just an anti-Polish plot, perhaps not related to a given ethnonational group. Often it seems that investigation is lost in supporting controversial version, only based on dubious testimonies of a few unreliable witnesses. The criminal police in Lviv (Lwow) often demonstrates inability to filter improbable evidences and to concentrate on conceivable evidence-supported discourse related to the conspiracy masterminded by the Ukrainian Military Organization. It took intervention of the Warsaw political police and its Lviv counterpart to adhere to the Ukrainian-related course of investigation. With a publication in Ukrainian press together with actual confession of Teofil Olshanskii, a militant from the UVO, who escaped to Germany, the court reluctantly accepted a Ukrainian, not Jewish and not a Communist trace in this case. Even with obvious evidences presented by the Ukrainian members of the UVO and confession of the actual culprit, the Steiger defense is of utmost significance. It takes a Jewish lawyer, Natan Lowenstein whose reputation of Polish patriot and unbiased jurist is of no doubts to persuade the Jury (not all members) of Steiger's innocence.

From a broader perspective it was not only a Steiger trial, it was a trial of Polish - Jewish and Ukrainian - Jewish mutual perception presented as ethno-political narrative and standing as a common national minorities discourse of interwar Eastern Galicia.

Biographical Note

<b style="color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Natan Loewenstein, Jewish public and political figure, supporter of acculturation and emancipation of Jews with Polish culture and Polish statehood. </b>

<b style="color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">He played a prominent role in the defense of falsely accused Stanislaw Steiger. In 1926, he published a monograph About the Steiger Case, a reflection on his defense discourse and the win of the case in October -December 1925. </b>

Box and Folder Listing

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 1: RG-105.01, Chwila, October 20, 1925. No. 2367

The Steiger Affair refers to the trial held in Lviv (Lwow) in September of 1924 and in October – December 1925 over a falsely accused Stanislaw Steiger, a Jew and a moderate supporter of the Zionist movement. He was caught on September 5, 1924, he was caught on the spot of assassination attempt to President of Poland, Stanislaw Wojcechowski on one of the central street in the city.

Jewish, Polish and Ukrainian public and political figures became associated with this trial and its discourse vividly illustrated almost irreconcilable controversies and prejudice between ethnonational communities and the Polish state itself.

Subject/Index Terms:: Reflections and discourse of Steiger Trial by Chwila, 1924 -- 1925; Chwila, continuous reportages and discourse on the Steiger Trial, October - December 1925; Stanislaw Steiger, development of affair, Chwila, 1924 -- 1925; A Ukrainian trace in regard to the assassination attempt of President Wojcechowski, 1924, 1925; Teofil Olshanskii, Ukrainian militant, implementer of the failed attempt on President Wojcechowski; Teofil Olshanskij, member of the Ukrainian Military Organization, a militant; Role of Teofil Olshanskij in implementation of the assassination attempt on President Wojcechowski; Ukrainian Military Organization in regard to publicity of Teofil Olshanskij role in failed attempt; German Government conveys to Poland the circumstances of Olshanskij's role in the failed attempt; Stanislaw Steiger, court session, Lviv (Lwow), October 19, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Stanislaw Steiger, court session, testimonies of witnesses, October 19, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Periodicals, Jewish, interwar Poland; Chwila, reflections on political trials, interwar Galicia, Lviv (Lwow); Documents in Polish language; Narratives in Polish language

Creators:: Chwila (the Moment), editorial board and contributors (1919 -- 1939); Chwila Publishing Association, 1920 -- 1939; Reporters and correspondents of Chwila at the Steiger Trial, October - December 1925 (September 1924, October - December 1925); Stenographic reports from the Steiger Trial, 1924, 1925 (September 1924, October - December 1925)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 2: RG-105.02, Chwila, October 21, 1925. No. 2368

Subject/Index Terms:: Stanislaw Steiger, development of affair, Chwila, 1924 -- 1925; Steiger Affair and Trial, 1924 -- 1925; Reflections and discourse of Steiger Trial by Chwila, 1924 -- 1925; Steiger trial, court in session, October -- December 1925, testimonies of witnesses, Chwila, 1925; Steiger Trial, testimonies of witnesses, court in session, October 20, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Wojcech Bill, policeman, witness in the Steiger Trial, court in sesssion October - December 1925; Steiger Trial, policeman Wojcech Bill testifies, court in session, October 19, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Periodicals, Jewish, interwar Poland; Jewish periodicals in Polish language, interwar Poland; Periodicals Jewish in Polish language published in Lwow (Lviv), Chwila, 1919 -- 1939; Dr. Grek, attorney at law, defense lawyer in Steiger Trial, 1924, 1925; Dr. Landau, attorney at law, defense lawyer in Steiger trial, 1924, 1925; Defense lawyers in the Steiger Trial, Lwow (Lviv), 1924 -- 1925; Natan Loewenstein, attorney at law, defense lawyer in Steiger Trial, former parliamentarian; Dr. Ringel, attorney at law, defense lawyer in Steiger Trial, 1924, 1925, Chwila, 1924, 1925; Dr. Rosenkranz, attorney at law, defense lawyer in Steiger Trial, 1924, 1925; Stanislaw Steiger Trial, testimony of Wladyslaw Walczynski, Coourt in Session, October 19, 20, 1925; Chwila, reflections on political trials, interwar Galicia, Lviv (Lwow); Documents in Polish language; Narratives in Polish language

Creators:: Reporters and correspondents of Chwila at the Steiger Trial, October - December 1925 (September 1924, October - December 1925); Chwila Publishing Association, 1920 -- 1939; Chwila (the Moment), editorial board and contributors (1919 -- 1939); Stenographic reports from the Steiger Trial, 1924, 1925 (September 1924, October - December 1925)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 3: RG-105.03, Chwila, October 22, 1925. No. 2369

The Steiger Affair refers to the trial held in Lviv (Lwow) in September of 1924 and in October – December 1925 over a falsely accused Stanislaw Steiger, a Jew and a moderate supporter of the Zionist movement. He was caught on September 5, 1924, on the spot of assassination attempt to President of Poland, Stanislaw Wojcechowski on one of the central street in the city.

Subject/Index Terms:: German authorities in regard to Steiger Trial, communication of the role of Olshanskij, October 20; Stanislaw Steiger, court session, testimonies of witnesses, October 19, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Stanislaw Steiger, development of affair, Chwila, 1924 -- 1925; Reflections and discourse of Steiger Trial by Chwila, 1924 -- 1925; Steiger Trial, testimonies of witnesses, court in session, October 20, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Dr. Natan Loewenstain, Steiger Trial, Declaration of the Defense team, October 20, 1925, Chwila 1925; Witness Walerijan Wiczynski, Commandant of a district State Police, Steiger Trial, court in session; Inspector Lukomski, investigation of the failed assassination, Steiger Affair, 1924; Stanislaw Steiger Trial, testimony of Stan Jarosz, court in session, October 20, 925, Chwila, 1925; Stanislaw Steiger Trial, testimony of Ruwen Reisz, court in session, October 1925, Chwila, 1925; Stanislaw Steiger Trial, testimony of Zdislaw Flach, court in session, October 1925, Chwila, 1925; Stenographic reports of the Steiger Trial in Chwila, October -- December 1925; Cross examination of witnesses in the Steiger Trial, October 1925, stenographic report, Chwila, 1925; Chwila, reflections on political trials, interwar Galicia, Lviv (Lwow); Failed assassination attempt on President Wojcechowski in Lwow (Lviv), September 5, 924, landmarks; Periodicals, Jewish, interwar Poland; Jewish periodicals in Polish language, interwar Poland; Periodicals Jewish in Polish language published in Lwow (Lviv), Chwila, 1919 -- 1939; Documents in Polish language; Narratives in Polish language

Creators:: Reporters and correspondents of Chwila at the Steiger Trial, October - December 1925 (September 1924, October - December 1925); Chwila Publishing Association, 1920 -- 1939; Chwila (the Moment), editorial board and contributors (1919 -- 1939); Stenographic reports from the Steiger Trial, 1924, 1925 (September 1924, October - December 1925)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 4: RG-105.04, Chwila, October 23, 1925. No. 2370

The Steiger Affair refers to the trial held in Lviv (Lwow) in September of 1924 and in October – December 1925 over a falsely accused Stanislaw Steiger, a Jew and a moderate supporter of the Zionist movement. He was caught on September 5, 1924, on the spot of assassination attempt to President of Poland, Stanislaw Wojcechowski on one of the central street in the city.

Subject/Index Terms:: Stanislaw Steiger, development of affair, Chwila, 1924 -- 1925; Steiger Affair and Trial, 1924 -- 1925; Chwila, reflections on political trials, interwar Galicia, Lviv (Lwow); Reflections and discourse of Steiger Trial by Chwila, 1924 -- 1925; German Government conveys to Poland the circumstances of Olshanskij's role in the failed attempt; Prussian Minister of Interior, update of Teofil Olshanskij in Germany, Steiger Trial, October 1925; Stanislaw Steiger Trial, court in session, testiomonies of witnesses, October 21, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Steiger Trial, testimonies of Wojcech Jadra, court in session, October 21, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Cross examination of witnesses in the Steiger Trial, October 1925, stenographic report, Chwila, 1925; Cross examination of witnesses, court in session, Steiger Trial, October 21, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Failed assassination attempt on President Wojcechowski in Lwow (Lviv), September 5, 924, landmarks; References to streets' landmarks in cross examination of witnesses, Steiger Trial, 1925, Chwila; Steiger Trial, court in session, testimony of Emilia Mrkowna, October 21, 1925, Chwila, 1925; The site of failed attempt on President Wojcechowski, landmarks, Kopernika Street, Lwow (Lviv), 1924; Site of failed attempt on President Wojcechowski, landmarks, Boulevard Legionow, Lwow (Lviv), 1924; Site of failed attempt on President Wojcechowski, landmarks, Marjacki Square, Lwow (Lviv), 1924; Interpellation of Dr. Natan Loewenstein in regard to the testimony of Marja Harnisch, Steiger Trial; Steiger Trial, Marja Harnish, testimony given to Dr. Loewenstein privately, October 1925, Chwila, 1; Cafe de la Paix, Lwow (Lviv) in regard to observation point, testimonies of witnesses, 1924m 1925; Site of failed attempt on President Wojcechowski, landmarks, Cafe de la Paix on Kopernika, Lwow 1924; Steiger Trial, court in session, testimony of Leon Tennenbaum, October 1925, Chwila, 1925; Steiger Trial, court in session, testimony of Emanuel Klaphoz, October 1925, Chwila, 1925; Witnesses in the Steiger Trial, Lwow (Lviv), 1924, 1925, Chwila, 1924, 1925; Site of failed attempt on President Wojcechowski, Bank Schultz and Chajes, Kopernika Street, Lwow; Steiger Trial, court in session, testimony of Jans Skowron, October 1925, Chwila, 1925; Site of failed attempt on President Wojcechowski, Bukda (Booth), Koperniak Street, Lwow, 1924; Site of failed attempt on President Wojcechowski, Latarnia (Lamp Poll), Kopernika and Legionow, Lwow; Site of failed attempt on President Wojcechowski landmarks Brama N.1 on Legionow (building entrance); Steiger Trial, court in session, testimony of Samuel Katz, October 1925, Chwila, 1925; Site of failed attempt on President Wojcechowski, landmarks, Beyer Store on Legionow, Lwow (Lviv); Interpellation of Dr. Landau in regard to ineffectiveness of court proceedings, Steiger Trial, 1925; Periodicals, Jewish, interwar Poland; Periodicals Jewish in Polish language published in Lwow (Lviv), Chwila, 1919 -- 1939; Jewish periodicals in Polish language, interwar Poland; Documents in Polish language; Narratives in Polish language

Creators:: Reporters and correspondents of Chwila at the Steiger Trial, October - December 1925 (September 1924, October - December 1925); Chwila Publishing Association, 1920 -- 1939; Chwila (the Moment), editorial board and contributors (1919 -- 1939); Stenographic reports from the Steiger Trial, 1924, 1925 (September 1924, October - December 1925)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 5: RG-105.05, Chwila, October 24, 1925. No. 2371

The Steiger Affair refers to the trial held in Lviv (Lwow) in September of 1924 and in October – December 1925 over a falsely accused Stanislaw Steiger, a Jew and a moderate supporter of the Zionist movement. He was caught on September 5, 1924, on the spot of assassination attempt to President of Poland, Stanislaw Wojcechowski on one of the central street in the city.

Subject/Index Terms:: Stanislaw Steiger, development of affair, Chwila, 1924 -- 1925; Reflections and discourse of Steiger Trial by Chwila, 1924 -- 1925; Role of Teofil Olshanskij in implementation of the assassination attempt on President Wojcechowski; German Government conveys to Poland the circumstances of Olshanskij's role in the failed attempt; Teofil Olshanskij German discourse in regard to the Steiger Trial in Lwow (Lviv), 1925, Chwila, 1925; Polish Ministry of Justice, conference in the Steiger discourse, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Cross-examination of witnesses, prosecution and defense, the Steiger Trial, court in session; Steiger Trial, reflections of experts in explosive materials, court in sessions, October 1925; Steiger Trial, court in session, testimony of Marjan Laniewicz, expert, October 1925; Steiger Trial, court in session, a street plan of the site of failed attempt, Lwow, Chwila, 1925; Steiger Trial, court in session, expertise of the explosive device, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Steiger Trial, court in session, cross interviews of experts in explosive devices, 1925; Periodicals, Jewish, interwar Poland; Jewish periodicals in Polish language, interwar Poland; Periodicals Jewish in Polish language published in Lwow (Lviv), Chwila, 1919 -- 1939; Documents in Polish language; Narratives in Polish language

Creators:: Reporters and correspondents of Chwila at the Steiger Trial, October - December 1925 (September 1924, October - December 1925); Chwila Publishing Association, 1920 -- 1939; Chwila (the Moment), editorial board and contributors (1919 -- 1939); Stenographic reports from the Steiger Trial, 1924, 1925 (September 1924, October - December 1925)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 6: RG-105.06, Chwila, October 25, 1925. No. 2372

The Steiger Affair refers to the trial held in Lviv (Lwow) in September of 1924 and in October – December 1925 over a falsely accused Stanislaw Steiger, a Jew and a moderate supporter of the Zionist movement. He was caught on September 5, 1924, on the spot of assassination attempt to President of Poland, Stanislaw Wojcechowski on one of the central street in the city.

Subject/Index Terms:: Reflections and discourse of Steiger Trial by Chwila, 1924 -- 1925; Stenographic reports of the Steiger Trial in Chwila, October -- December 1925; Stanislaw Steiger, development of affair, Chwila, 1924 -- 1925; Role of Teofil Olshanskij in implementation of the assassination attempt on President Wojcechowski; Teofil Olshanskij, Polish discourse in the Steiger Trial, 1924, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Witnesses in the Steiger Trial, Lwow (Lviv), 1924, 1925, Chwila, 1924, 1925; Steiger Trial, testimony of Marjan Swolkien, Warsaw political police, Lwow, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Dr. Grek, defense attorney, Steiger Trial, examination of witnesses, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Dr. Landau, defense attorney, Steiger Trials, remarks at the court sessions, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Steiger Trial, Inspector Swolien in regard to political discourse of the act, analysis, 1925; Steiger Trial, Inspector Swolkien, political police in regard to Ukrainian political parties, 1925; Steiger Trial, Inspector Swolkien, political police in regard to Ukrainian communist party, 1925; Steiger Trial, Inspector Swolkien, political police in regard to Jewish political parties, 1925; Steiger Trial, Inspector Swolkien reflects on the discourse of Olshanskij, 1925, Chwila, 1925; The act of Fedak in 1921 and Ukrainian Military Organizaiton in regard to Steiger Trial, 1925; Dr. Grek, lawyer, remarks in regard to criminal and political police, Steiger Trial, 1925; Dr. Grek, lawyer, remarks in regard to Olshanskij, Steiger Trial, 1925; Dr. Landau, lawyer, remarks in regard to Olshanski and political discourse, Steiger Trial, 1925; Dr. Rosenkranz, lawyer, remarks in the Steirger Trial, political discourse, 1925; Stansiaw Steiger, responses to witnesses testimonies and questions, Steiger Trial, 1925; Steiger Trial, court in session, testiomony of Anetta Franzos, 1925, Chwila, 1925; Steiger Trial, police materials in regard to Olshanskij sent to the Lwow (Lviv) police, 1925; Periodicals, Jewish, interwar Poland; Jewish periodicals in Polish language, interwar Poland; Periodicals Jewish in Polish language published in Lwow (Lviv), Chwila, 1919 -- 1939; Documents in Polish language; Narratives in Polish language

Creators:: Reporters and correspondents of Chwila at the Steiger Trial, October - December 1925 (September 1924, October - December 1925); Chwila Publishing Association, 1920 -- 1939; Chwila (the Moment), editorial board and contributors (1919 -- 1939); Stenographic reports from the Steiger Trial, 1924, 1925 (September 1924, October - December 1925)