In turn, Matylda Linert was born on January 28, 1917 in Komorowice Krakowskie into a peasant family, the daughter of Konstanty Pikoń and Tekla Pikoń, née Pyś. From an early age, brought up in the spirit of Catholicism and hard work on the farm, as well as with a deep patriotic awareness, she began her education in 1923 at the local five-grade primary school in Komorowice Krakowskie. In the years 1931-1933 she attended Saint Hildegard’s Private Teachers’ Seminary in Biała, and then transferred to Queen Jadwiga’s State Teachers’ Seminary in Kęty, where she passed her high school final exams in 1936. Initially, she started working as a part-time teacher on September 1, 1937 at the Primary School in Komorowice Krakowskie.
During her high school years, from June 6 to July 5, 1935 she participated in a course organized by the State Office of Physical Education and Military Training in Garczyn near Kartuzy. She recalled the circumstances of her participation in it as follows: “My parents didn’t want to let me go, so I saved for the whole year (PLN 10) and crocheted scarves. I said that I had been selected by the school and that it was free of charge. I came from a village where girls were not educated, but were intended to live in a family. At home during the holidays I had to work on the farm.5”
Fascinated by the atmosphere during the FMT (Female Military Training) camp, the following year she participated in a third-level instructor course at the camp organized as part of the central training conducted by the Organization for the Training of Women for Home Defence and received the qualifications of a poviat instructor of Physical Education and Military Training as well as permit no. 308. Continuing her interest in state defence, in the summer of 1936 she additionally completed a general military course of the 2nd degree of Military Training and received the officer rank of “Guide” with permit no. 133, issued on September 15, 1936 by the Poviat Military Training Command in Biała of the 3rd Podhale Rifle Regiment. For this reason, in the years 1936-1939, as an instructor of Female Military Training, she conducted training for the FMT troop, of which she was the commander, existing at the Seminary for Preschool Teachers. She conducted similar training at the Vocational School of Cutting and Sewing in Biała, where she conducted anti-gas defence and first aid classes. She conducted further training during the summer months at camps in Garczyn, Redłowo near Gdynia and in 1938 in Spała near Warsaw. At the same time, a year before the outbreak of the war, she co-organized the consolidation of a troop in Istebna.
The mystery of her involvement in FMT activities during the occupation is revealed in her memoirs written on November 5, 1974: “The drill training developed in me a soldier’s attitude, boldness and energy in expressing myself. I got rid of shyness and fear, and gained self-confidence and the desire to imitate and impress others with my actions and dedication to others.6” This last statement of hers seems to contain an answer to her need to constantly act for those in need, regardless of unfavourable circumstances and her own safety. At the same time, answering the question about how she assessed the influence of FMT on shaping her personality, she further noted: “It stimulated my self-esteem and I got rid of the feeling of inferiority.”
In the months before the outbreak of World War II, in August 1939, she participated as part of Female Military Training in Biała in the preparations of the “Emergency Service” rally under the command of the head of FMT, Elżbieta Zawadzka, pseudonym “Zo.” Therefore, when war broke out, as part of the FMT Social Emergency Service, she was assigned to auxiliary military service and received an order to assist in the evacuation of the civilian population in Komorowice. After the war, Elżbieta Zawadzka wrote in an opinion piece issued for her: “On my orders she remained in Komorowice after the Germans entered. From XI 39 to XII 40 she was a member of the Silesian underground PWK network, led by me on the orders of Janina Karaś, the chief of O V-K. [The abbreviation refers to the V-K Division of the Main Headquarters of the Union for Armed Struggle]. At the time, I was simultaneously the head of communications of the Zagłębie Sub-District of the SZP/ZWZ [Polish Victory Service of the Association of Armed Struggle], and then the head of communications of the K. O. Śląsk Conspiracy, and I remained in indirect contact with “Matylda”. She was active in social welfare and in smuggling people 'burned' into the GG (General Government).” [Witness Elżbieta Zawadzka's statement of 29 October 1987 found in Teczka Matylda Pikoń zam. Linert nr. 269/WSK, pp. 40-41. Collection of the Archive of the General Elżbieta Zawadzka Foundation. Archive of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Digital Library].
While remaining in her family home, over time she received an order from the commander of FMT, Elżbieta Zawadzka, to remain silent, not to correspond with anyone and to work to the detriment of the occupier without anyone’s orders or commands. She did not come to the so-called Arbeitsamt (Labour Office), despite her duty, and stayed at home, helping her parents with farm work and taking care of her younger siblings, two brothers Stanisław and Kazimierz, and her youngest sister Genowefa. When her mother died on May 5, 1940, she was responsible for running the household, because her father, Konstanty, worked for the railway as a conductor.
During the occupation, initially until December 1940, her duties included providing aid, led by Janina Kanas, in the transfer of people identified as activists from Silesia to the General Government. Then, in accordance with her education, she attempted to organize secret schools, which, according to her accounts, initially took place in Komorowice from November to December 1939, and then they were liquidated7. As a result, on her own initiative, from March 1940 to December 1942, she conducted secret schools for about 20 children aged 8 to 11, which were also conducted in a similar form in Komorowice by Józef Krawczyk at that time who was also a teacher. Classes in the field of mathematics, reading and writing, as well as biology, geography and history were held twice a week in her family home. The children only brought blank sheets of paper and a pencil with them.
6 Ibid, p. 11: https://kpbc.umk.pl/dlibra/publication/201065/edition/202732 [Access May 22, 2024].