The case of so-called “Goralenvolk” still needs to be deeply researched.
The background ws created by the Germans who seen Gorals (highlanders) as a part of Nordic race, not polish ethnic group. That idea came from the obvious observation that Gorals got their own sophisticated culture, music, art, local version of polish languge.
Anyway, since fall of 1939 Germans were trying to establish close relations with people who were willing to represent “Goralenvolk” and collaborate with the Nazis. One man seemed to be a perfect candidate - Waclaw Krzeptowski. Member of a respected goral family become their main partner. They made him a president of the Goralisches Komitee (some kind of government) in 1942. They started issuing blue “kenkarte” with a letter G on it. There were certain benefits like right to buy goods in special shops, etc. The number of people who got these card remains unknown. The motives were various - fear of being sent to Auschwitz or taken to slavework camp, acceptance of German occupation, servility towards the Nazis, etc.
In January 1943 they started forming Goralische Division SS. Instead of expected 10000, only 300 volunteered. After basic medical examination a 100 was sent home. Remaining 200 were invited for a feast with tables fully set with vodka and food. When the party was over, they were put on a train which was to take them to SS training camp for foreigners in Trawniki. On the next day, when volunteers finally sobered up, they realized what was going on and decided to go back home, simply by jumping off the train. Less then 20 made it to Trawniki. In addition some 60 polish POWs were brought there from the Reich. Since the very first day they got involved in conflicts with the Ukrainians who were also stationed there. More of the gorals decided to go home, so Germans had no choice and sent the remaining group as slaveworkers to the Reich.
After Goralische Division SS fiasco, Germans were not interested in Goralenvolk anymore. What is more Krzeptowski become an outlaw and was chased by the gestapo. He was hiding with soviet partisan unit in Slovakia for some time, but when the Germans were getting close to him, he came back to polish side of the border. In 1944 gestapo, soviet partisans and Home Army were after him.
Finally he was caught by a a death squad lead by Lt. Tadeusz Studziński.
Caught on 20th of January 1945, he was refused to be shot (as traitors do not deserve that) and was hanged on a tree. 9 days later Highlands were free of the Germans.
There are some rumours about Krzeptowski, that need to be investigated.
First, that he was using his position to help poor people and those who were threatened by the Germans.
And what is more misterious - that before WW2 he was an polish intelligence officer responsible for preparation of paramilitary organisations for the time of occupation.
Finally, to maintain an objectivity when writing about the Goralenvolk, I need to mention the Tatra Confederation (pol. Konfederacja Tatrzanska). Since the very beginng, the Goralenvolk movement and Goralisches Komitee were actively engaged by the Tatra Confederation and later by Roch and Armia Krajowa. The structures of anti-Nazi ressistance were very well developed and active in fight against German occupation. So, it would be injurious to say that Gorals were collaborators. No, they were not. Some of them were looking for a way to survive the occupation (accepting the blue kenkarte), few of them were traitors. Many more were against any collaboration and many were fighting Nazis.
