James Bond of the Tatras

R J Evans’ article about aerial tramways reminded me of a story I heard since I was a child. In Poland, where I was born, there is a famous aerial tramway line onto Kasprowy Wierch. The story goes that during the war, a member of the resistance jumped off one of the wagons (while it was in the air) to escape from Nazis waiting for him at the other end. I decided to investigate.

Image via Wikipedia Meteorological Observatory on top of Kasprowy Wierch.

The Mountains

Kasprowy Wierch is a mountain which lies in the south of Poland, right in the heart of the Tatra Mountains. The border between Poland and Slovakia passes right across it, so that when you go to the top, you can have one foot in either country. Kasprowy’s elevation is 1,987 meters above sea level (6,519 feet). It is fairly tall. I remember taking the aerial tram to it once in the middle of a hot summer day. The peak was covered in snow. The tramway was built in 1935 to 1936 and is one of the oldest in Europe.

Image via Wikipedia

The people of the Tatra region of Poland were always extremely patriotic. Zakopane, the region’s main city was an important centre for the underground resistance during World War II. It served as a throw-over point to those trying to escape to the west to join Polish forces there (there was a Polish government-in-exile operating in London). The route led from Zakopane through the mountains to Slovakia and then on to Hungary. Mountain guides, skiers, mountain climbers, and members of the pre-war mountain rescue teams circulated regularly between Zakopane and Budapest. They smuggled money, weapons, and people. Notably, Jozef Krzeptowski, the “king of the couriers,” made the crossing more than 50 times between 1939 and 1944.

The Stuff of Legend

Jozef Uznanski was born in Zakopane in 1924. Like most young people of the region, he learned to ski early and took part in many competitions. In 1939 the Germans came to Zakopane. Skiing was only allowed on short skis, no longer than 180 cm. Most good skiers played an active role as guides in the resistance.

At the end of February 1944, the 20 year-old Uznanski was on his way to Slovakia. He took the aerial tramway. The Germans patrolled the station at the peak of Kasprowy vigilantly, checking papers and work permits. Uznanski was on the wanted list. Before the departure of the tramway, he noticed a known Gestapo collaborator and was in turn noticed by him. It was too late to turn back. On the way up to the peak, the conductor, who was known to Uznanski, tipped him off that the Nazis were waiting at the other end. He also told him that when the little car came right up the peak, but before it reached the station, it was invisible to those above. Uznanski made his decision and waited for his chance. He put his skis near the door and pretended to be checking his bindings, but in fact put his skis on. The car was almost at the top. The conductor began to open the door. Jozef pushed through and jumped. Someone tried to grab his collar. Quickly he skied down the steep groove in the mountain side and into the valley below. There were no shots fired. It all happened too quickly. He had made his escape.

I wonder sometimes whether Ian Fleming could have used Uznanski as an inspiration for James Bond doing his fantastic ski jumps in “For Your Eyes Only.” After all Fleming was in the British intelligence and could well have heard of Uznanski’s jump. But perhaps the timelines are wrong. It really doesn’t matter. Jozef Uznanski’s story is better than anything in any Bond book.

For references on this story, see http://naszkasprowy.pl/ludzie-kasprowego,3,Jozef_Uznanski.html and http://turystyka.interia.pl/wiadomosci/news/kolejka-uratowala-zycie,1031454.