75 - YEARS AK
erstwhile in 1939, as a consequence of the failure of the September campaign, the Polish state was one more time erased from the European maps in history, the conquered nation almost started organizing itself to counter the occupier. The fresh aggressor was more dangerous than those who tormented the Republic for centuries, but this did not offend the independency of the people. In September, the Polish triumph Service was subsequently transformed into the Armed Combat Union. These were the first organizations to lay the foundations for the underground activity of Poles under the central emigration government. As time passed, the Armed Forces Union grew stronger, gaining more and more members and means to fight. All of this made it possible to carry out large-scale activities, especially directed at the German occupier. After the start of the war on the russian front in June 1941, the full pre-war territory of the Second Republic was under German hegemony. Hegemony highly brutal and aimed at destroying culture, economy and yet physical forces of the Polish nation. But the opposition continued, taking on unprecedented sizes. Poles were masters of conspiracy and were able to organize themselves perfectly in the underground, noticing that the main nonsubjective of the fresh activity must be to regain independence. Therefore, pre-war prejudices were pushed to the background, and hostile environments frequently undertook cooperation and joint effort for the good of the country. It was undoubtedly a beautiful charter - in the darkness of the brown business there were brave people, full of zeal and zeal, ready for the top sacrifices - large patriots who were willing to give their lives for the bleeding country.
The Armed Forces Union operating on Polish lands was, in effect, a building of the Emigration Government led by General Władysław Sikorski. The Prime Minister definitely cut off from the pre-war authorities, breaking off the sanitational past. This step has led to various consequences, from which on the first phase we gotta draw the command over the underground created in Poland, which was initially organized by Gen. Michał Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski. In fact, his powers were gradually limited, and he yet got into the hands of the Soviets, which was mostly the consequence of his posting to Lviv. After the first commander of the Polish Underground, he was taken over by Colonel Stefan Rowecki, "Grot", who served in Warsaw. As of June 1940, he was head of the General Command of the ZWZ, following the orders of London. The act of donating to Rowecki the post of commander-in-chief of the organization was highly crucial for shaping all issues related to the activities of the Polish Underground. He gained much greater freedom in decision-making and mostly independent of emigration superiors, although these continued to send binding orders and played a crucial function in shaping structures of the OGM and then the Home Army. The first period of activity of the Polish Underground was highly difficult, which was connected with the general situation on the European fronts, the devastating German advantage and many staff and equipment shortages of organisations resisting the occupier. Rowecki is gaining a stronger position, he besides develops a strong position in the hierarchy of Polish statehood. Even Sikorski, initially reluctant to "Grot", saw his strength and contribution to building the foundation of Underground Poland. On February 10, 1942, he even wrote to Warsaw: "When I returned from Russia, I found with large joy the excellent results which the General achieved in his work conducted in specified tragic conditions. You gave General military activity in the country the right direction, aiming to unify the full military effort to rebuild the Armed Forces to win independency [...]
Victims borne by the National Army on their homeland are of large importance to the contribution to this war of the Fighting Poland". In addition to the highly valuable comments on Rowecki's activities, a tiny item draws attention. The paper dated February 10, 1942 is most likely the first in which Sikorski officially applied the name of the Home Army, although de facto specified a creation did not be yet. However, it is notable that decisions have already been made in London to replace the erstwhile organization under the Immigration Government, the Armed Forces Union. Today, it is hard to find why Sikorski and his associates did so. possibly this was the consequence of clear conspiracy guidelines, according to which a change in the name of the main enemy would have introduced rather a confusion in the German ranks. The name "National Army" itself has been known during respective years of underground activity, however, it was not a binding term, but simply a word of Polish militias operating on the ground. The simple submission of words immediately indicates where Rowecki's soldiers came to operate and the patriotic nature of the organization. These are purely theoretical considerations, so we must now return to February 1942, erstwhile the most crucial decisions for us have been made. On 14 February, a message was sent to Warsaw with the order of the Chief Leader, who spoke about the conversion of ZWZ to AK. It was an act of formal introduction of a fresh name, which has been in force since then. The Polish historiography accepted this date as the day of the creation of the Home Army, although the order of 14 February 1942 changed small in the organizational structures of the Armed Forces Union. Gen. Stefan Rowecki was appointed commander on that day, which was besides symbolic, as he had been officially acting as commandant so far. This was a individual discrimination for him, a logical consequence of praise from Sikorski, who spared no words of sympathy to his subordinate. On May 1, 1942, he awarded him the Virtuti Militari Award, which was the culmination of Rowecki's beautiful career in the Polish Underground and was an incredible discrimination in the field of organization and underground combat.
The concept of underground combat against the German occupier did not change drastically after the EGM was renamed AK. It can be said that Rowecki and his soldiers continued their previously chosen path, although the Home Army has now been assigned an highly crucial task, namely to merge independency groups operating in areas under the jurisdiction of the Home Army Headquarters. This process was slow and with considerable opposition from organisations that decided to cooperate with the underground led by the Immigration Government. Political issues played a large function here, which later translated into, for example, a deficiency of support for the line promoted by Sikorski, Stanisław Mikołajczyk and yet Tomasz Arciszewski. Rebuilt in the underground of the group, despite working together in the field of regaining independence, they frequently organised their own combat facilities themselves, recognizing that this is the shortest way to regain influence in society. Therefore, it must not be amazing the fast improvement of the Peasants Battalions ideologically linked to the People's Party. In fact, these forces in the second half of the business period partially joined the task of merging under the common name of the Home Army. Unfortunately, this process was never completed, and its scope was very limited, precisely for ideological and political reasons. National Army commanders frequently showed insufficient concern for soldiers of another groups, resulting in further dispersal of the roads of individual underground groups. We inactive have time to talk about the full action, now we request to focus on the concepts of the activity that were almost identical to what the Armed Forces Union presented. First of all, we must pay attention to the basic goal of the Polish Underground, which was to organize a universal uprising at the right time.
This plan was implemented consistently, almost from the beginning of underground activity, although many stages of struggles were waiting on the way to the fight for liberation. In general, in 1940, guidelines were created for an open fight with Germany, which was associated with expanding reports of the invaders' savagery and fresh crimes committed on the Polish population. The information run covered wide circles primarily in areas covered by the brown occupation, where the Polish component was stronger and better organized. The territories occupied by the russian massacres did not have specified a large and effective staff, as evidenced by the fast arrests of their groups by the perfectly functioning NKVD, which destroyed any underground initiatives in the seed. Stefan Rowecki was aware of the moods in the underground, and he besides knew that inaction could deactivate soldiers and undermine assurance in the Emigration Government, which had to gain support in the occupied homeland, preparing a plan for the triumphal return of political elites to the postwar Republic. The first year of business did not favour actions straight directed at the occupier. His advantage was besides great, and the forces of the Polish Underground were fewer and unprepared to put up fierce resistance. Rowecki and the emigration centre decided to limit sabotage and diversion actions, waiting for the right moment. A much more crucial problem was the completion of the command staff, the construction of uniform structures of the organization, and the accumulation of the essential equipment. The plans for a universal uprising had to be postponed for an indefinite future. At the same time, orders were issued, among which the "Instruction for General Action" included plans to sustain the fighting spirit of the nation, to prevent demolition of the nation's physical forces and to destruct Polish property without reasoning and to inform the planet public about the drama on Polish lands and the organisation of the Armed Forces Union. The fight guidelines included sabotaging German regulations and making the occupier of life little crucial aspects of civilian combat. The consequence of this was criticism of leftist groups that postulated regular revolution, not counting the real forces of the Polish Underground and the tragic situation on occupied lands. precisely 1 year before the Home Army was established, on 14 February 1941, Gen. Sikorski ordered "Grot" to increase the sabotage action, although the strength of operations was inactive limited. The outbreak of the russian run powerfully stirred the ranks of the commanders of the Polish Underground, although most of them favored the thesis that it was a chance to regain independence, as 2 invaders faced each other. This in turn translated into an evolution of plans to organize a universal uprising, which was reflected in further studies sent to London and London. At the same time, it became clear that the Armed Forces Union, and then the National Army, must make all effort to maximise the military possible of the 3rd Reich on the back of the east Front, to aid the russian ally and to bring about the collapse of German forces, which was 1 of the main reasons for the outbreak. It was considered possible to cooperate with the Soviets, but neither in 1942 nor in the beginning of 1943 the Polish Underground and partially the Emigration Government did realize that Joseph Stalin was not a suitable partner for talks, and in subsequent clashes he would talk from the position of force. In the "Operation study No 154", Rowecki writes: "Insurgency action I intend to shield the diversion and guerrilla action from the east, in specified a way as to interrupt for any time, and in worst case limit the supply of transports of German troops returning from the east to the area occupied by the uprising". This was an open announcement of the action "Burza" and a summary of the mission received by the organization "Wachlarz" established inactive within the framework of the structures of the Armed conflict Union.
Its operation was initiated in the autumn of 1941, and the main task of the soldiers was to destruct the back of the German front on the east outskirts of the Republic. The full was calculated for the future recovery of these areas, which was contrary to Stalin's ideas. In parallel, the Union of Retaliation developed, which was assigned the current sabotage-diversity activity, which was a logical consequence of expanding the effort aimed at the occupier. Both organizations did not accomplish the expected successes, which resulted in a combination of the efforts of the Zoo and the "Wachlarz" into a unified organization of Diversion Management with Colonel Emil Fieldorf ps. "Nil" at the head. The transformation operation was carried out at the turn of 1942 and 1943, so Kedyw was already a typical AK-a superstructure and fulfilled its objectives and mission. We will talk about his activities a small later, dealing with the achievements of the Home Army. In March 1943, the command of the Home Army commander presented guidelines for combat activities, in which we find, first of all, the slogans of attacking communication, the war industry, administration and the increase of panic against the Volskdeutschs, Gestapo, police, SS and retaliatory actions for mass murder, displacement and persecution of the Polish population. Although Sikorski wrote to Rowecki in June 1943, "Therefore, I urge to the General, until he gives definitive orders, a regulation to self-defense of retaliatory action likely to origin repression", however, many steps have been taken to intensify the active opposition which the outlet found primarily in the end of 1943 and in 1944.
We presented a way to intensifying the underground fight, which was a long and rather hard process. Detailed guidelines were created in late 1943, which is already connected strictly with the action "Burza" and the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising. The period from January 1944 to January 1945 should be treated separately in discussing the past of the Home Army. This active the abrupt successes of the Red Army on the east front and entering pre-war Polish lands. The russian offensive of the East Edges was a step on the way to subjugate these lands of the russian Union. The Home Army decided to organize a preemptive action of the Soviets in this evil course, but its effects were mediocre or distorted by the relations of Polish and russian forces. The gradual shifting of the front to the west put the further functioning of the Polish Underground in east areas at question. As a result, the local groups either dissolved, either decided to uncover themselves to the Soviets, or were destroyed by Stalin's subordinates who did not deal with a partisan independent of Moscow. The tense situation on the prefields of Warsaw and the drama of the AK soldiers in the east areas of the organization's operation led to a dramatic decision to initiate a universal uprising in the capital on 1 August 1944. After 2 months of fighting, Germany took the top and crushed Poles fighting for Warsaw, thus dispelling the hope of the Home Army Command to liberate the capital before the Soviets did and rebuild the structures of an independent Polish state. The following months only worsened the strategical situation of the Polish Underground, which prompted General Leopold Okulicki to issue an order to dissolve the Home Army. The soldiers only partially left the underground, fearing clash with the fresh occupier. This function was played by the russian Union, whose people immediately began organizing the state in a communist way. Most of the soldiers of the National Army decided to proceed the conspiracy, although many of them later came before Soviet-Polish tribunals, who judged the actual heroes of the conflict for freedom and independency of the Republic. Finally, fewer decided to support the Okulicki initiative and were part of a fresh underground organization aimed at the Soviets. "No" took over the National Army schedule, however, the achievements of this part were small, and soldiers slow caught the communists, destroying the staff and organizational structures.
In addition to the concept of combat, political concepts are very clearly drawn, which is linked to the extended cooperation of successive AK commanders with representatives of pre-war parties who decided during the business to descend underground and resume limited activity. The cooperation went back to the times of the Armed Combat Union, of course, and during the period of operation of the AK took various forms. possibly the best synthesis of complex political relations in the underground is the past of the Government Delegation to the Country and the preceding creations in which activists from the pre-war People's Party, National Party, Polish Socialist organization and Labour organization led. Unofficial cooperation was replaced by authoritative activities for the Emigration Government erstwhile in the summertime of 1940 the government delegation for the country began to be organized. The improvement of the delegation continued continuously until 1944, erstwhile the structures of the organization were worked out by communists, threatening the uniform activity of delegates and their associates. In November 1942, Jan Piekałkiewicz decided to honour the Government Delegation on the ground included in the Reich, the Government Delegation on the ground incorporated into the USSR and the Government Delegation on the General Governorate, which allowed to gain stableness and separate any of the competences between the field activists. The 4 main parties signed an agreement on 15 August 1943, in which they undertook to make a National Political Representation, as a substitute for an underground parliament. Subsequently, on 9 January 1944, the NRP was converted into the Council of National Unity, which allowed to keep a balance in relation to subsequent Communist buildings usurping themselves the right to exercise authority on Polish lands. The National Unity Council was a wider political representation, and its activities covered the period until 1 July 1945. During this time, she constantly contacted London regarding the common policy and rescue of the internationally threatened Polish case. The RJN meetings were attended very frequently by representatives of the National Army, including commandants who consulted the political base. The very fact of the Warsaw Uprising organization has already encountered considerable discrepancies in the camps of parties and military camp, which prompted the Polish Underground to face the sentences and make a compromise, which turned out to be initiating the fighting for Warsaw. Political representations primarily promoted the political line chosen by the Emigration Government, preparing the ground for taking power in post-war Poland. The public was informed, fresh members were recruited and events on the military and political front were widely commented on. All this made RJN and her predecessors next to the Home Army the main force of the Immigration Government on occupied lands, representing him where he was most needed.
The last issue that we request to address erstwhile discussing the concepts promoted by the command of the National Army is the problem of merging with another armed organisations that were de facto not subject to the Immigration Government. Stefan Korboński ("Polish Underground State") calls this even "the most crucial organizational task of the Headquarters". We will not dig into the details of the merge action, adequate to say which organizations at least partially subjugated the Home Army and which remained independent until the end of the war. Among those who managed to attract to the AK the early place is occupied by the Peasants Battalions as a typical of the military People's Party. In practice, as we have already said, the process of merging was slow, and in many places there was no interaction, let alone the dependence of BCh on the AK. In theory, the National Army was subordinated to the National Military Organization as the armed arm of the National Party, the Socialist Combat Organization as a PPS building and insignificant organizations: the PPS-WRN People's Guard, the Fighting Poland Camp, the Polish Secret Army, the "Racławice", the Armed Confederation, the National Armed Forces and many others, frequently of a local character.
On the another hand, the People's defender and the People's Army did not comply as a force of the communist organization led mainly by Moscow and part of the National Armed Forces, whose structures were not uniform, but heavy dismembered and descended from various political factions.
We have already said that in structural terms, the National Army was a decline in the legacy of the Armed Forces Union. It was during the period of operation of the ZWZ that the field cells and the office of the independency organization were educated and only to a tiny degree this form was transformed with the passing time, political-military developments and actions of the AK leadership. The number of organizations changed rather drastically, which was related to the verbund action, the taking of active action (the population attracted the slogan of the open fight against the occupier) and the conduct of the merge action, which although in any part resulted in the form of members of another organizations who joined the ranks of the Home Army. The past of the organization besides shows that frequently members of underground groups moved to the ranks of the AK. Migration besides continued in the other direction and cases were encountered erstwhile soldiers of the National Army decided to support the Peasant Battalions, or even military leftist groups, including the People's defender and the People's Army. In total, however, the number of organisations ranged within 300,000 members, with a evidence of 380 1000 people estimated to be the number of people in the summertime of 1943. The enlisted members of the delegation were to work in the field or the Headquarters. In February 1942, the text of the National Army oath was approved, which is worth quoting:
A associate of the organization stated:
"In the face of Almighty God and Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Polish Crown, I lay my hands on this Holy Cross, a sign of Passion and Salvation, and I curse to be faithful My homeland, the Republic of Poland, stand firm to defender her honor and to free her from captivity to fight with all her strength – until the sacrifice of my life.
I will obey the president of the Republic of Poland and the orders of the Chief Leader and the commander of the National Army appointed by him, and I will keep my secret firmly, whatever would happen to me. So aid me God."
To which the recipient of the oath replicated:
"I accept you in the ranks of the Polish Army, fighting the enemy in a conspiracy for the liberation of Homeland. Your work will be to fight a weapon in your hand. triumph will be your reward. Betrayal is punishable by death."
This beautiful ceremony survived until the end of the period of operation of the Home Army and had a symbolic pronunciation. Many of those who joined the organization received awards for their same - sacrificing service, and as markings of the AK soldiers served as a white-red band worn on the shoulder.
We will now proceed to discuss the organizational structures of the Home Army, starting with the "mountain" at the levels of the underground hierarchy, namely the Headquarters. First of all, we must address the AK commanders and the scenes of their appointment and dismissal. The first of them was Gen. Stefan Rowecki, ps. "Grot", who received the nomination as a logical consequence of commanding the Armed Forces Union. He held his office until June 30, 1943, erstwhile he was arrested by the Gestapo. Most likely the reason for the dump was denunciation, and "Grota" was betrayed by Blanka Kaczorowska, Ludwik Kalkstein and Eugeniusz Świerczewski, who informed the Germans that the commander of the AK was in the premises at 14m 10 Spiska Street. Rowecki did not see the end of the war and was killed in Sachsenhausen camp just after the Warsaw Uprising. He most likely refused to cooperate and did not decide to support the Germans in their anti-Polish aspirations, despite the threat of death.
His place in the Home Army was entrusted to General Tadeusz Komorowski, ps. "Bór", who already took over the duties of "Grota" on 1 July 1943. On July 17, authoritative notification of the appointment of the Immigration Government came to Warsaw. "Bór" was previously a deputy to Rowecki, both in the EGM and the AK and natural it became that he would take over the agenda after "Grot". It was he who made the decision about the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising and after the fall of the armed revolt he was taken prisoner in Germany. In the meantime, on September 30, 1944, he received, rather symbolically, the position of Chief Leader. Finally, on 4 October, General Leopold Okulicki, ps. "The Bears", became the commandant of the AK, although the authoritative confirmation of the nomination by London dates to 21 December 1944. He was an AK commander until it was resolved. Later, he was tried by the Soviets in a trial of sixteen and died under unexplained circumstances in a russian prison. He was most likely murdered by Stalin's hatchets. Now we'll take care of the structure of the General Command.
NATIONAL ARMY HEADCOMENDA
Commanders - Gen. Stefan Rowecki, Gen. Tadeusz Komorowski, Gen. Leopold Okulicki
Deputy Commander - Gen. Tadeusz Komorowski, Brig. Gen. Tadeusz Pełczyński pp. "Adam", "Grzegorz", "Robak" - in addition, the Head of the office of the Home Army, participated in the Warsaw Uprising, got into German captivity.
Head of the General office of the AK - Brig. Gen. Tadeusz Pełczyński, then Colonel Janusz Bokszczanin ps. "Lech", "Sęk", "Wir"
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Home Army - Brig. Gen. Stanisław Tatar, Colonel Janusz Bokszczanin, Brig. Gen. Leopold Okulicki, Colonel Józef Szostak
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Home Army for technical, command and communication - Colonel Kazimierz Pluta-Czachowski ps. "Gołdyn".
Deputy Chief of Staff of the AK office for Organizational Affairs - Colonel Antoni Sanojca ps. "Knapik".
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Home Army for Quartermasters - Colonel Sigismund Milkowski ps. "Denhoff", Colonel Karol Strusiorchi ps. "Karol"
Civil Combat Management - Stefan Korboński ps. "Nowak".
Office of Finance and Control (often treated as a separate Division VII) - Colonel Stanislaw Thun ps. "Leszcz".
Office of Information and Propaganda (as a consequence treated as Branch VI) - Colonel Jan Rzepecki - later commander of WiN.
- Faculty of Current Propaganda - Major Tadeusz Wardejn-Zagórski ps. "Gozdawa".
- Information Department - Major Jerzy Makowiecki ps. "Tomasz", cf. Aleksander Gieysztor ps. "Lisowski".
- Department of Mobilization Propaganda - Captain Tadeusz Żenczykowski ps. "Kania".
- The Department of Colportage - Wanda Kraszewska-Ancerewicz ps. "Lena".
- Department of Anti-communist Propaganda - Lieutenant Tadeusz Żenczykowski ps. "Kania".
- Secret Military Publishing Works - Jerzy Rutkowski ps. "Kmita".
"Zenon" is the department liable for maintaining a conspiratorial contact with Poles outside the country and for planning current activities and issues of individual organization. It distinguishes:
- individual Office - Major Jerzy Antoszewicz ps. "Iwo", Colonel Stanisław Juszczakiewicz ps. "Kornik", Colonel Jan Gorazdowski ps. "Wolański".
- National Reserves Command - Brig. Gen. Albin Skroczyński ps. "Chrabąszcz", Brig. Gen. Jan Skrebohaty-Jakubowski ps. "Kaczmarek".
- Military Service of Women - Colonel Maria Wittek ps. "Mira".
- Justice Service - Colonel Konrad Zieliński ps. "Karola".
- Duszpasterska Service - Fr Tadeusz Jachimowski ps. "Budwicz", Fr Jerzy Sienkiewicz ps. "Guzenda".
2nd Division of Information and Intelligence - Colonel Wacław Berka ps. "Brodowicz", Colonel Marian Drobik ps. " Dzięciał", Colonel Kazimierz Iranek-Osmecki ps. "Antoni", Colonel Bohdan Zieliński ps. "Legus" - as the name suggests, intelligence and counterintelligence issues were submitted to the department. In addition to this, communication matters have been dedicated to Branch II.
Highlighted:
- Intelligence Department - Colonel Francis Herman ps. "Bogusławski".
- Office of Studies - Major manager Bohdan Zieliński ps. "Titus".
- defence Intelligence - Bernard Zakrzewski ps. "Oskar"
Division IIIa Operational - colonel Stanisław Tatar, colonel Józef Szostak, colonel Jan Kamieński ps. "Konar".
Branch III b Training - Colonel Kazimierz Bąbiński ps. "Boryna" - Branch III dealt primarily with issues of planning the current armed conflict and preparations for the outbreak of the universal uprising. The operational guidelines have been developed and detailed information on how to organise a universal fight. Major departments or cells:
- Department of Infantry and Training - Colonel Karol Ziemski ps. "Wachowski".
- Artillery Department - Colonel Jan Szczurek-Cergowski ps. "Slawbor".
- Department of fast Arms - Colonel Janusz Bokschanin ps. "Sęk".
- Bomb Squad - Colonel Franciszek Niepokołczycki.
- Aviation Department - Colonel Bernard Adamecki ps. "Gozdawa".
- Naval Division - Com. Constanty Jacinich ps. "Witold".
Division IV Quartermaster - Colonel Adam Świtalski ps. "Dąbrowa", Colonel Kazimierz Iranek-Osmecki, Colonel Augustyn Walus ps. "Kornel", Colonel Stefan Górnisiewicz ps. "Mountain" - conspiracy production, weapons, intent.
In addition:
- Armoured Service - Colonel Jan Szypowski ps. "Lesnik".
- Service of the Intendency - Colonel Henryk Bezeg ps. "Gil".
- wellness Service - Colonel Dr. med. Kazimierz Baranowski ps. "Kazia", Colonel Dr. Leon Strehl ps. "Felix".
- Geographical Service - Colonel Mieczysław Szumański ps. "Bury".
- Department of Conspiracy Production - Lieutenant-Ing. Witold Gokiel ps. Richard".
Department of V Command and Communications - Colonel Józef Kazimierz Pluta-Czachowski - communication between individual areas and abroad, reception of droplets, courier service, reception of quiet people.
Highlighted:
- Faculty of method Communications - Major inż Józef Srebrzyński ps. "Józef", Colonel Jerzy Uszycki ps. "Jurski", Major Stefan Jodłowski ps. "Grabowski".
- The Managing Board of the Drops - Colonel Konstanty Kulagowski.
- Conspiracy Communications Division - Major Janina Karasiówna ps. "Bronka", Major Julia Piwonska ps. "Henryk".
Division VI of Information and Propaganda - Colonel Jan Rzepecki, Captain Kazimierz Moczarski ps. "Borsuk" - 1 of the most crucial branches, existing in the structures of SZP and ZWZ.
His main task was to conduct documentation, inform the Polish society and the planet about the fight led by the Polish Underground and paper the crimes committed by the occupier (the structure was discussed erstwhile describing the Information and Propaganda Office - these concepts are identical).
Division VII of Finance and Control - Colonel Stanisław Thun ps. "Leszcz", Colonel Antoni Kruczyński ps. "Pirat", Major Jerzy Michalewski ps. "Precise", Colonel Edward Lubowice ps. "Górnik" - widely understood collection, disposal and control of funds passing through the National Army.
Retaliation Union - Colonel Franciszek Niepokołczycki,
"Wachlarz" - Colonel Jan Włodarkiewicz, Colonel Remigius Grocholski.
Diversion management - Brig. Gen. August Emil Fieldorf, Col. Jan Mazurkiewicz ps. "Radosław".
Head of Military Offices - Colonel Louis Musician ps. "Benedict".
Military Insurgency Protection Service - Colonel Władysław Galica ps. "Bródka", Colonel Józef Koczwara ps. "Zbigniew" - was formally subordinate to the 4th Quartermaster's Division.
Troops in Hungary - Colonel Korkozovich.
The National Army's terrain structures had an indescribable impact on its operations. Thanks to the excellent field organization, the AK members could scope almost all area occupied by the land, and the invader could anticipate to strike anywhere. The office decided to divide the full occupied territory, so 3 Areas were obtained in February (South-East Area we number as 1 component of the structure), 16 Districts and insignificant structural units. They were about divided by voivodships or groups of voivodships according to the pre-war division. The Circuits were built in the Districts, and these in turn could be divided into Rejony and yet the Stations, which created a circumstantial hierarchical ladder in the structures of the AK. The final phase of formation of the groups was the formation of plutonium, which counted respective twelve people operating in the given area. At the beginning of 1944, the AK included more than 6,200 platoons in a full lineup and more than 2,600 in a part-time lineup. Let us so look at the local structures of the 1944 organization:
The Warsaw area - Colonel Albin Skroczyński ps. "Łaszcz":
- east Subdistrict - Colonel Jerome Suszczyński ps. "Szeliga".
- Western Subdistrict - Colonel Franciszek Jachieć ps. "Roman".
- Northern Subdistrict - Colonel Zygmunt Marszewski ps. "Kazimierz".
South-East Area - Colonel Władysław Filipkowski ps. "Janka".
- territory of Lviv - Colonel Władysław Smereczyński ps. "Esem", p.o. Colonel Adolf Galinowski ps. "Robert", Colonel Ludwik Czyżewski ps. "Franciszka", Colonel Stefan Czerwiński ps. "Karabin".
- Stanisławów territory - Colonel Jan Rpogowski ps. "Jastrzebiek", Major Władysław Herman ps. "Globus".
- Tarnopol territory - Colonel Franiszek Studziński ps. "Kotlina".
Western Area - Colonel Zygmunt Miłkowski ps. "Denhoff".
- Pomorze territory - Colonel Rudolf Ostrihansky ps. "Aureliusz", Colonel Janusz Pałubicki ps. "Piorun", Major Franciszek Trojanowski ps. "Fala".
- Poznań territory - Major Wacław Kotecki ps. "Kotowski", Colonel Henryk Kowalówka ps. "Skawa", Colonel Andrzej Rzewuski ps. "Abrek".
Divided districts:
- Białystok territory - Colonel Władysław Konarski ps. "Mścisław".
- Kielce-Radom territory - Colonel Felix Jędrychowski ps. "Ostroga", Colonel Stanisław Dworzak ps. "Daniel", Colonel Jan Zientarski ps. "Ein".
- Kraków territory - Zygmunt Miłkowski ps. "Wrzos", colonel Józef Skuchalski ps. "Luty", colonel Edward Godlewski ps. "Garda", Brig. Gen. Stanisław Rostorowski, colonel Edward Godlewski, colonel Przemysław Nakonieczkow-Klukowski ps. "Kruk II".
- Lublin territory - Colonel Ludwik Bittner ps. "Tarnowski", Colonel Kazimierz Tumidajski ps. "Marcin", Colonel Franciszek Żak ps. "Wir".
- territory Łódź - Colonel Stanisław Juszczakiewicz ps. "Kornik", Colonel Ludwik Czyżewski ps. "Julian", Colonel Michał Stempkowski ps. "Barbara".
- territory of Novgorodek - colonel Janusz Pradzic-Szlaski ps. "Borsuk", colonel Adam Szydłowski ps. "Poleszuk", colonel Maciej Kalenkiewicz ps. "Kotwicz", rt. Jan Skorb ps. "Boryna".
- territory of Polesie - Colonel Franciszek Józef Faix ps. "Ordyński", Colonel Stanisław Dobrski ps. "Żuk", Colonel Henryk Krajewski ps. "Lesny".
- Silesian territory - Colonel Henryk Kowalówka ps. "Skawa", Colonel Paweł Zagórowski ps. "Andrzej", Colonel Zygmunt Janke ps. "Gertrude".
- Warsaw-City territory - Brig. Gen. Antoni Chrosiel ps. "Monter".
- Vilnius territory - Colonel Aleksander Krzyżanowski ps. "Wilk", Colonel Julian Kulikowski ps. "Drohomirski", Colonel Stanisław Heilman ps. "Tomach".
- Volyn territory - Colonel Kazimierz Bąbiński ps. Luboń, Colonel Jan Wojciech Kiwerski ps. "Director".
The synthesis of all military activities of the Home Army is highly hard due to the amount of action that this organization has carried out on the way to regaining independence. As we know, they were aimed mainly at the Germans, although there were no shortages and those in which the number 1 goal was to harm the Soviets. We will focus primarily on the actions against the German occupier, who most powerfully impressed the Poles of the business period. The strength of the activities of the Home Army was variable and related to the general guidelines presented by the Headquarters, which had to match the functioning of the organization to the political and military situation at the time. In any periods, therefore, the focus was primarily on the attacks on the occupier's communications and economy, which would aid the fighting Red Army. There were besides moments erstwhile the Polish Underground decided to take terrorist action against the occupier, thus rematching for the magnitude of crimes committed in the Polish nation. After the crisis of Polish-Soviet relations, which was connected with the discovery of Katyń graves, successive commanders of the National Army did not so willingly support the east front and the ally, who resisted Wehrmacht. In the spring of 1943, Rowecki ordered that the diversion be limited, so as not to contribute to the successes of the Red Army, which became an increasingly little desirable ally. In our short or anyway, the proceeding on the past of the Home Army cannot take into account all the combat actions that this organization has performed over the course of respective decades of its activity. specified a census would be impossible to draw up due to the tremendous quantity of operations of Polish underground soldiers. Therefore, we will focus on the most crucial events in the organization's combat history, listing the most crucial actions and discussing respective of them. Our consideration must be preceded by a general summary of the National Army's military effort (partly besides the Armed Combat Union). A list of combat actions for the period from 1 January 1941 to 30 June 1944. These figures were included in the authoritative study of the Home Army Headquarters, which wanted to summarise the organisation's achievements to date. Although they contain more than 13 months during which combat activities were carried out under the name of the Armed Forces Union, the reader can inactive gain useful insight in the combat situation of the largest Polish underground organization. And so (for "Warsaw Uprising", Jerzy Kirchmayer):
Damaged locomotives - 6930.
It's been kept in the repair of steam cars - 803.
Transports were derailed - 732.
Transports were set on fire - 443.
Railway cars were damaged - 19 053.
Electrical networks on the Warsaw node were interrupted - 638.
Military cars were damaged or destroyed - 526.
Rail bridges were blown up - 38 aircraft damaged - 28.
Gas tankers destroyed - 1167.
Tons of petrol destroyed - 4674.
The oil wells were pinned down, 3.
Wood wool (wagons) was burnt - 150.
Military warehouses burned down - 122.
Military food retention incinerated - 8.
Production in factories was temporarily disabled - 7.
The aircraft engine parts were defective - 4710.
The guns - 203 were defective.
Artillery missiles were defective - 92,000.
Air radios were defective - 107.
Made defective for the electrical capacitors manufacture - 570.000.
The device tools were defective - 1700.
Important machines were damaged in the factories - 2872.
Various acts of sabotage were carried out - 25 145.
The assassinations of the Germans were carried out - 5733.
Perhaps the data are not a complete calculation of sabotage-diversity actions undertaken by the Polish Underground, but they show how much commitment the occupier's operations enjoyed in 1 way or another. peculiar attention is paid to the last box, which shows the number of attacks on Germans, due to the fact that specified actions were the most spectacular and frequently at top risk. The business manufacture was greatly affected by acts of sabotage carried out in factories, on roads, on railways, in transports - this was peculiarly related to the "battery for track" (the slogan was promoted mainly by the People's Army), which contributed to weakening the back of the Wehrmacht in the era of the German-Soviet War. However, we know that this kind of activity has been carried out for any time, and later we note a crucial simplification in the railway diversion due to tight Polish-Soviet relations. The period of the turn of 1943-44 is, above all, the time of the "Burza" plan. It culminated in the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, the most crucial and largest military action of the Polish Underground, which fundamentally ended the larger activity of the Home Army. The pop-up period is not only limiting the action of "Burza" to a minimum, which was clear from the order of the fresh commandant of the National Army, but besides the slow expiry of the AK's opposition due to the shifting front and anti-partisan activity of the Soviets (obviously, in relation to organizations not ideologically unrelated to Moscow). Let us so follow the most crucial actions organized by the National Army over the years 1942-44.
On 16 April 1942, 2 months after the authoritative creation of the Home Army, a reproduction of the sign of Poland Fighting, an anchor composed of the letters P and W, was published in the "Information Bulletin", which would become a symbol of the fight against the occupier. It is estimated that the text which explained the rules of the usage of the anchor mark was written by Aleksander Kamiński. It is worth quoting a passage of the statement: "A sign of an anchor is drawn on the walls of Warsaw for a period now. [...] Sealed possibly by a band - this sign has already become universal property. all day abrasions from the walls appear on these walls again, drawn by unknown thousands of hands [...]". Indeed, the anchors appeared spontaneously in many places in the country and became a counterweight to the everywhere German swastika. The importance of the symbol in Warsaw was peculiarly powerfully emphasized, where members of the Grey ranks took up active activity, as it were the heirs of pre-war scouting.
Among them, the protagonists of the book Kamiński entitled "Kaminie na szaniec" - Jan Bytnar ps. "Rudy" and Alexy Dawidowski ps. "Alek". Both of them had extraordinary courage and ingenuity in the field of fighting the occupier. "Alek" became the hero of 1 of the most celebrated actions in the fight for culture. On February 19, 1942, he decided to take a bravado action to download a plaque covering the average inscription on the monument of Mikołaj Copernicus in Warsaw. The Germans decided to obscure the commemorative plaque in Polish, which expressed their gratitude to the nation for the outstanding astronomer, “Mikołaj Copernicus – Rodacy”, and alternatively put their own: “Dem Gross Astronomen”. The monument was now to express the Germanic origin of Copernicus, which Germany had long postulated. "Alek", many risking (the memorial was located other the grenade police building), turned off the brass record. This act upset politician Fischer, who ordered the elimination of the monument of Jan Kiliński in retaliation for Davidowski's attack. And this time "Alek" showed that he deserves the name of an outstanding activist of the underground Poland, due to the fact that not only did he manage to buy the sword of Kiliński from the dismantled monuments, but besides to mark the place in which this quilt was transported (he went to the National Museum). Of course, there were more specified actions, frequently of a spectacular nature, and it was more frequently decided on tiny blows to the occupier's policy, specified as hanging up Polish flags or drawing mocking symbols of the Nazis. These were morally crucial actions (supported the population) but the occupier suffered little. On July 24, 1942, Rowecki reported to Gen. Sikorski that a fresh phase of diversion-sabotage activities has begun since September. The National Army planned to increase operations against the Germans, and the best evidence of this was to organize the "Wieniec" action on the night of 7-8 October 1942. It was the first specified strong attack of members of the Polish Underground on the transport of the occupier. The action succeeded almost entirely and for respective hours, and in any places even days, paralyzed the railway traffic around Warsaw. erstwhile the Diversification Board was established in November, it took on the burden of action. Active activity replaced the existing anticipation for the improvement of the situation, which, of course, immediately translated into the popularity of the Home Army in the occupied homeland. A summary of the return in Rowecki's diversion policy was the actions organized in Zamość in late 1942 and 1943. Soldiers of the National Army actively fought against German attempts to exterminate the local population, opposing attempts to displace the inhabitants of Zamość. The Peasant Battalions, the most dynamic organization in the area, besides contributed enormously to building self-defense. January 1943 brought 2 crucial issues in terms of the activities of the Home Army. On the 18th day of this month, a pin action was organized, which allowed the reflection of members of the Polish Underground imprisoned by the occupier. The impact was performed highly efficiently, and behind the action were mainly Kediv's troops. Unfortunately, in the following months, the same people were to fall victim to Nazi extermination policy again. Nevertheless, the January action was a success. 4 days later, the AK commander issued an order ordering the marking of the actions carried out by his subordinate organization. From then on, clear marks and markings were left at the site of the job, showing who was behind the hit. It was a valuable initiative on the way to building the power of the Home Army, which could not be abandoned since. On March 26, the most celebrated action of the Polish Underground was most likely held, in which the main roles of the already-known Bytnar and Davidowski played. A fewer days earlier, "Rudy" was caught by the Germans, prompting his colleagues to organize an action to recapture Bytnar at the hands of the occupier. On March 26, a convoy carrying prisoners was struck, and from the scene of the attack the operation was called an operation under Arsenal.
It ended with a half-life success - while prisoners transported by a truck were liberated, nevertheless it was not possible to keep alive "Rudy" whose rescue was the main nonsubjective of the action. Worse still, "Alek" was besides killed in combat, receiving fatal gunshots. "Rudy" died of injuries sustained during a violent interrogation. Bytnar's death brought a bloody retaliation of the Polish Underground, which eliminated the oppressors of a friend. This was, in fact, a period in which the National Army matured, in effect, until the action aimed at individual units of the Nazi panic apparatus. A number of assassinations on crucial personalities were initiated on 20 April in Krakow erstwhile attempts were made to liquidate SS-Obergruppenführer Friedrich Wilhelm Krüger, SS and Police commander of the General Governorate. Although the action ended with a fiasco, it showed that no 1 can feel safe, especially erstwhile many crimes are committed against the Polish population. At the same time, dramatic events took place in the Warsaw Ghetto, where the uprising of the judaic population began. The National Army somewhat supported the ghetto fighters by organising respective actions. The area was difficult, however, the conditions prevented the active support of Jews in their heroic effort. On June 30, the National Army suffered an unrepeated failure in the form of the arrest of Gen. Stefan Rowecki. His successor, Tadeusz Komorowski, did not show specified an invention and feeling in organizing the work of the Underground Poland, nevertheless he decided to proceed the way chosen by the predecessor and did not avoid active opposition to the Nazi occupier. On August 12, soldiers of the "Motor" branch operating within Kedyw attacked a car carrying money from the emanation Bank. The action was successful, although losses were not avoided - 2 members of the Polish Underground were injured. However, nearly 105 million zlotys were seized, which allowed strong support of the National Army's cash register. In the following months, the situation in east areas, where Red Army soldiers were about to enter, became increasingly important. This prompted the command of the National Army to initiate Operation "Burza", at the same time, a trial with the gangs that were out there. On September 15, Komorowski issued instructions, which made it clear that his soldiers were to destruct the bandit element, which could sometimes lead to confrontation with communist militants. In November, the signal arrived about the launch of "Burza" action. The liberation of the east territories before the Red Army forces entered was a right initiative, but the effectiveness of the "Burza" left much to be desired. Although troops of the Home Army engaged in fighting for a number of localities, frequently working with the Soviets, these actions were doomed to failure. This was confirmed by the tragic events in Vilnius, where in July the AK-ows engaged in the fight for the liberation of Vilnius and were subsequently arrested by russian forces. In the following days, akin destiny was met by members of the National Army who participated in the battles for the Lviv. The Red Army disarmed Poles, and on July 27, the Commandant of the Lion Area ordered the dissolution of its subordinate troops, deciding to take this step against russian demands. It was the only way to defend the subordinates from repression by the Red Army and the NKVD. The "Burza" action not only did not bring the expected results, but besides contributed to the demolition of the Home Army by ideological enemies controlled by Moscow and Joseph Stalin. Unwarranted aggression put an end to the anticipation of cooperation between both parties in building anti-German and independent Poland. But let us return to the beginning of 1944. On 1 February, an assassination of SS-Brigadeführer Franz Kutschera was organised in Warsaw. This time the bombers succeeded in carrying out the task and eliminating the zealous Nazi business machine. It was an action from the series "Heads" - a series of strikes on German dignitaries.
Along with spectacular successes, major disasters have besides been recorded, which cost the lives of many Home Army soldiers. The worst undertaking of the AK was definitely fighting the occupier in Solska Forest in the second half of June. Surrounded forces of the Polish Underground fought with regular German units to which they surrendered, losing respective 100 soldiers. It was the biggest defeat of the AK-ows until the Warsaw Uprising. It exploded on August 1st. The fight for Warsaw was primarily an initiative of the AK command there, which felt that it had adequate forces to free the capital. Although a large part of the city managed to master the insurgents by 4 August, the initiative has since passed into the hands of the Germans, who gradually liquidated another opposition point of the Home Army soldiers. Isolated districts collapsed, and the opposition of the AK was highly costly. Above all, the civilian population, which was mass execution by Nazi troops, suffered. It was 1 of the largest acts of German force on the susceptible population. The city was besides devastated. The failure of civilians is estimated at up to 150 000 people. So many were murdered at the site, many later killed in German camps or in subsequent months of war. The Warsaw Uprising, completed on 2 October 1944, was fundamentally the end of the active activities of the Home Army. The larger shares were later recorded in Kraków, Częstochowa. The fight for the capital, however, was the largest and most tragic episode of AK activity - an episode which not only did not bring the desired freedom, but besides deprived the command of the Polish Underground of a immense amount of forces wasted in fighting Germany.
The fall of the Warsaw Uprising was another landmark date in the past of the Home Army. It is amazing how much hypocrisy communist activists could do. Just before the outbreak of the fighting, they called for a fight for the liberation of the capital, and then clearly cut off from events in Warsaw. Stalin himself refused to interfere with this "failure" and refused to aid the fighting underground. It is worth noting that both from a political and military point of view the Warsaw Uprising proved to be a complete failure. Allied allies had a legitimate claim to the Immigration Government that this self-decidedly chose specified a risky operation without consulting the allies. This was not a good forecast for the Polish cause, as insubordination in the ranks of the coalition and constant friction on the Warsaw-Moscow line undermined the trust in the Emigration Government and its military and political underground in the occupied homeland. As far as military issues are concerned, the outbreak of the uprising has forfeited the chances of resisting the Soviets, if any. The Polish Underground and Germany destroyed each another in two-month battles, crushing the structure of the Polish partisan, which was to fight for independency of the homeland, developed over the years. Now these opportunities were forfeited, as many soldiers were taken into German captivity, and from there they did not have the chance to support those who were ready to face the fresh invader, as the russian Union and the Red Army, which liberated the pre-war territories of the Second Republic. Losing in equal combat with Germany besides ruled out further action on the way to liberation of the country before the Soviets did. It is not hard to see that the fall of the uprising has had considerable consequences for the political underground. It was in the capital that a fresh government was to be installed, which was to be created by members of the Council of National Unity, a legal substitute for the underground parliament. The plans of the Immigration Government were clear and transparent - with Warsaw in his hands, he could play the last cards he had left in the end of 1944. 1 of them was the support of Anglo-Saxons for the functioning in Poland and the emigration of Polish authorities.
Unfortunately, now these authorities had to conspire even deeper, fearing the designation by the forces of the NKVD and the Red Army and the communist underground, which started increasingly rapidly on Polish lands, and even tempted to make its own substitute government, which became the Provisional Government in early 1945.
Gen. Komorowski decided on October 4, 1944, to give a farewell order, in which he informed his subordinates about the nomination for General Leopold Okulicki and the limitation of the action "Burza". On October 7, "The Bear" informed London that he was in Czestochowa and included command of the National Army. Strangely enough, London has not decided to express clear support for Okulicki's actions. In replacement, it was decided to appoint the commander of the Polish Underground General Stanisław Tatar, which was an thought so missed that he stayed in London and was not able to direct the activities of the Home Army. The deficiency of authoritative nominations and hostile moves of the Emigration Government undermined powerfully the assurance in Okulicki, who had to deal additionally with opposition in the womb of the organization, which he had de facto led since October. However, he obtained support at least part of the political underground with delegate John Stanisław Jankowski at the head, which put him in a somewhat more favourable position than initially. Only on December 21, 1944, was the confirmation of the appointment and designation of Okulicki as the legal commander of the Home Army. This confusion was not conducive to the Polish cause, due to the fact that the Polish Underworld was getting weaker at the time due to the devastating fighting against Germany and the arrests which the Soviets carried out in east and subsequent areas covered by the Red Army offensive. Although Komorowski limited the provisions of the "Burza" plan and followed him and Okulicki, giving an order on 26 October to halt operations for the winter period, in any places the fight continued in early 1945. This was the case in the Radom and partially Warsaw districts. In Częstochowa there were groups of Colonel Mazurkiewicz, protecting the monastery on Jasna Góra. The number of the National Army was inactive impressive, and in any areas the pre-war units of the Polish Army were inactive being played, which was 1 of the assumptions of the action "Burza". As we have not dealt with this problem so far, we should mention the applicable data from individual districts, which will show us how dynamic the Polish Underground was and how large it was to operate under hard conspiracy conditions. The 2nd Division of Legion Infantry of the AK "Pogoń" was formed in Radom. Next to it functioned the 7th Division of Infantry AK "Earl", the 28th Division of Infantry AK named after Okrzei. The 6th AK Infantry Division "Retaliation", the 21st AK Infantry Division, the 22nd AK Infantry Division, the 24th AK Infantry Division and the 106th AK Division were recreated in Kraków. AK Infantry Division. The 3rd AK Legion Infantry Division, 9th Podlasie AK Infantry Division, was noted in Lublin. The 5th AK Infantry Division, the 11th Carpathian Infantry Division, the 12th AK Infantry Division, was formed in Lviv district. The 27th Volynth AK Infantry Division was rebuilt in Volyn, which the Soviets then crashed. There were 30 in Polesie. AK Infantry Division, in Białystok 29. AK Infantry Division. Finally, 26 functioned in the center of the country, in Łódź. AK Infantry Division, 25th AK Infantry Division and 10th AK Infantry Division. besides in Warsaw, there were attempts to mention to pre-war traditions - the 8th AK Infantry Division was established there. any of the units ceased operations before the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, any functioned after it ended. The 8th AK Traugutt DP was part of the units fighting for the capital. Furthermore, part of the soldiers consisted of freely functioning guerrilla groups that gradually decomposed, went into deeper conspiracy, or were dissolved as a consequence of russian activities.
The end of Underground Poland, which had to find itself in a fresh reality, was sad.
The period we mentioned was the most hard for underground activity, although paradoxically it was then that the German occupier was the weakest and the Polish forces should be guaranteed the support of the Red Army. Unfortunately, Stalin's plans, in favour of the silent approval of the Western Allies, were not in line with the views of the Home Army Command and another independency organizations that did not originate from the communist background. At the time erstwhile the Soviets entered the Polish lands, there was no longer talk about the functioning of an independent armed organization, which brought together thousands of associate masses. Therefore, it should not be amazing that there were more and more arrests among the National Army staff, even erstwhile these soldiers decided to lay down their weapons before the Soviets and offered to cooperate in order to break up the Germans. The act of aggression against Poles, and this most active in independence, was justified only from a political point of view, had no premises in the events at the front, as evidenced, for example, by the cooperation of the AK and the Red Army during the storm of Vilnius or Lviv. Both cities were lost to Poles, and the conflict for granting them to the Republic of Poland was lost to Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who during the large 3 conference did not decide to make a common Anglo-Saxon front and argue Stalin. The fight for free Poland fell on the shoulders of the Poles themselves, but these were incapable to defy the strong and well-equipped Red Army, which passed through Polish lands like a ram and in May 1945 ended its victorious march to Berlin and Prague. In early January 1945, General Leopold Okulicki realized that the further functioning of the Home Army was pointless in relation to the liberation of most of the Polish lands and the crushing advantage of the Soviets on the front. Attacking the Red Army or the Provisional Government already operating on Polish lands was not an option, as it could besides complicate Poland's hard situation in the ellipse of Allied allies, who did not favour the centrifugal tendencies and the will to fight Poles. Okulicki knew that the National Army would not last in its unaltered shape, so he decided to make a "No" organization that would take over the agenda after his predecessor and focus on fighting for actual independency and independency distant from soldiers sent from the russian Union. Okulicki consulted his decisions with the Emigration Government, which agreed to the position of commander of the AK. The delegate Jan Stanisław Jankowski expressed a akin opinion, who besides did not hide that this is the best way out of the situation. In addition, he could thus defend his subordinates, for whom there was no place in communist Poland, where the safety and safety Service in cooperation with the NKVD would join mass arrests and persecutions. Finally, on January 19, 1945, he decided to issue a dramatic order that is worth quoting:
"The fast-moving russian offensive can lead to the Red Army taking over Poland in a short time. However, this is not a triumph for the right origin we have fought for since 1939. In fact, despite the created appearances of freedom, this means changing 1 business to another, conducted under the cover of the Provisional Lublin Government, a slow tool in Russian hands.
Soldiers! Since 1 September 1939 the Polish people have been fighting hard and self-sacrifice for the only origin for which it is worth surviving and dying for their freedom and freedom of man in an independent country.
The expression and spokesperson for the Nation and this thought is the only and legal Government of Poland in London, who fights for breaks and will proceed to fight for our legitimate rights.
Poland, according to the Russian prescription, is not the Poland for which we fight for the sixth year with Germany, for which the sea of Polish blood sailed and suffered a large deal of torment and demolition of the country.
We do not want to lead the fight against the Soviets, but we will never agree to another life, but in a completely sovereign, independent and justly socially decorated Poland.
The current russian triumph does not end the war. We must not lose religion for a minute that this war can only consequence in the triumph of the righteous Cause, the triumph of good over evil, freedom over slavery.
National Army soldiers!
I give you 1 last order. proceed your work and activities with the spirit of regaining full independency of the State and protecting the Polish population from destruction. effort to be guides to the Nation and builders of an independent Polish State. In this action, each of you must be your commander. In the belief that this order will be carried out, that you will stay faithful only to Poland forever and to facilitate your further work - under the authority of the president of the Republic of Poland I release you from your oath and dissolve the ranks of the Home Army.
On behalf of the ministry, I thank you for your dedicated work so far.
I firmly believe that our Holy origin will prevail, that we meet in truly free and democratic Poland.
Long live Free, Independent, Happy Poland".
It was not, of course, the end of the Home Army, but only from a formal point of view it ceased to exist. The soldiers continued to stand ready for further combat, and many of them undertook an open fight with the fresh invader. On 8 February, in the radio speech, the order was confirmed by the president of Poland Władysław Raczkiewicz. At the same time, in Yalta, decisions were made, which yet determined the form of post-war Poland, giving it to the russian Union. Another episode, which only strengthened the conviction of Poles that Stalin is not a friend of the Polish nation, took place in the end of March 1945. respective invited to talks with Soviets representatives of the Underground Poland were secretly arrested and transported to Moscow, where they were judged in the alleged trial of sixteen. Among the accused were Gen. Okulicki, for whom this sad event ended the independency work and organizing the Underground Poland. On March 7, General Fieldorf was arrested, which crossed the meaning of the "No" organization. On 22 March, Colonel Antoni Sanojca became the fresh head of the organization. At the same time, the last structures of the AK-owskie were liquidated, and in the summer, the "No" organization was no longer mentioned. The activities were undertaken by informal armed groups, which consistently destroyed safety workers and the NKVD. It is estimated that in only the Belarusian territory since 15 August 1944 almost the full Polish Underground had been destroyed, and the forces of the NKWD fought 109 battles with Polish troops. By the end of 1945, the percent of shares in Belarus had increased, which was reflected in the data of the Belarusian MWD, which estimated the breakdown of 533 "bandit groups" and 37 organizations. Nearly 8,000 people were killed, 2200 arrested. In Lithuanian areas data for the same period talk of over 12,000 arrested and nearly 2,500 killed. The consequence of the coordinated action of the NKVD was the arrest of 16,289 AK soldiers (numbers from mid-1945) and 50,000 household and underground members. They were transported to the USSR, where many of them were facing death. There were dozens of processes in the country aimed at erstwhile members of the Polish Underground, who were accused of the slightest offenses. Only to a tiny degree was the substance mitigated by amnesty actions guaranteed by the communist government. Subsequent arrests reconciled the inactive existing independency organizations, including Freedom and independency led by Colonel Jan Rzepecki. Many self-sustaining troops subjugated WiN, but the organization itself failed due to strong environmental surveillance and frequent arrests. Between November 1945 and February 1946 364 death sentences were filed against independency activists.
In fact, the remains of the WiN survived until the early 1950s, but the importance of the organization was not to the estima which erstwhile enjoyed the National Army, the largest underground armed force in the world.
Author Mateusz Łabuz, co-operation of Alexander Szumański
"CREATE INFORMATION SERVICE"
Source:
FANPAGE VITRINE: planet War II
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