Antoni Łyko (English)

Z Historia Wisły

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Antoni Łyko (born on 27.05.1907 in Kraków, killed on 03.07.1941 in Auschwitz concentration camp) was a football player, left-winger, representing Wisła Kraków from 1930 till 1939. He played twice for Polish national team and was a member of the squad for 1938 World Cup. Łyko scored 30 goals in his 109 appearances in the Polish league.

One of Łyko's most memorable performances happened on 24th of May 1936. In a friendly match celebrating the club's 30th anniversary, Wisła defeated Chelsea London. Łyko scored the only goal of that afternoon - his shot from the penalty spot sent the record crowd of 15 000 spectators ecstatic.

Back in those days professionalism in Polish football was prohibited, Łyko made his living as locksmith.

Antoni Łyko as a prisoner No. 11780 in AuschwitzArchives of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
Antoni Łyko as a prisoner No. 11780 in Auschwitz
Archives of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.

During the II World War he participated in underground football games (under German occupation organized Polish sport was formally forbidden), he was also a member of the resistance movement. His group was composed of employees of Krakow Waterworks, a public utility company headed by Wisła's chairman, Tadeusz Orzelski. In the spring of 1941 many members of the resistance were detained by Germans - among them Łyko, who was initially taken to the Montelupich prison. On 5th of April 1941 he was transferred to Auschwitz concentration camp, where was was registered as political prisoner #11780.

Survivors confirmed that Łyko participated in football games held at the camp. Sport in Auschwitz was a wicked entertainment for the guards, but also a mean of terrorizing the prisoners through physical exhaustion.

On 3rd of July 1941 Łyko was executed along with approximately 80 other victims. This was part of "retaliatory measure" by SS in response to further activities of the Polish resistance. Łyko and other prisoners had their hands tied with barbed wire. Former Wisła player survived the first shot and tried to get back on his feet. At that moment he was killed with a shot in the head by an SS officer. Witnesses informed Łyko's family after the war that standing in front of the firing squad, Łyko started singing Wisła's anthem "Jak długo na Wawelu".

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