Warsaw Uprising
Background
The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army (Armia Krajowa) to liberate Warsaw from German occupation. The uprising was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union's Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces. However, the Soviet advance stopped short, enabling the Germans to regroup and demolish the city while defeating the Polish resistance, which fought for 63 days with little outside support. The Uprising was the largest single military effort taken by any European resistance movement during World War II.
Prelude to the Uprising
In 1943, the German administration in occupied Poland announced that it would now be governed by the General Government. The Home Army, loyal to the Polish government-in-exile, decided to prepare a plan of uprising, named Operation Tempest. The main objective of this plan was to seize control of the cities and areas occupied by the Germans while the latter were preparing their defenses against the advancing Soviet Red Army.
Outbreak of the Uprising
The Warsaw Uprising began on 1 August 1944, as part of a nationwide rebellion, Operation Tempest. The main Polish objectives were to drive the Germans out of Warsaw while helping the Allies defeat Germany. An additional political goal was to underscore Polish sovereignty by empowering the Polish Underground State before the Soviet-backed Polish Committee of National Liberation could assume control.
The Course of the Uprising
The uprising began on 1 August 1944, and within a few days, much of Warsaw was in Polish hands. However, the Germans regrouped and began a systematic effort to retake the city, block by block. The resistance was able to hold out for 63 days, with little outside support, before finally capitulating. The fighting was brutal, with both sides committing numerous atrocities.
Aftermath
The aftermath of the Warsaw Uprising was tragic for the Poles. The city was almost entirely destroyed, and the surviving population was expelled. The Soviets then moved in, establishing a communist government in Poland. The Warsaw Uprising remains a symbol of heroic resistance in the face of hopeless odds.
Legacy
The Warsaw Uprising is remembered as a symbol of heroism in the face of despair. It is commemorated in Poland with yearly ceremonies and is seen as a national symbol of the struggle for independence. Despite the tragic outcome, the uprising demonstrated the courage and determination of the Polish people.