Warsaw Uprising 1944: August 10 - Secret Polish Radio Stations

Polish-controlled area (in red)

The Brigade SS-RONA continues its killing spree in Ochota. Hundreds more fall victim to random shootings. Meanwhile, in City Centre the Germans are attempting to clear an East-West artery but are meeting heavy resistance from Polish insurgents.

Much of the Polish stronghold has steadily been lost to the Germans. In Wola, German offenses escalate however Polish insurgents continue to hold their positions in Okopowa Street, the cemeteries and Stawki Street. Meanwhile insurgents in Powisle have strengthened their positions. German artillery continues to bomb the power station that supplies Warsaw with electricity. There is no report on the degree of damages sustained.

Soldiers from Kolegium "A" of Kedyw on Stawki Street in Wola district

During the afternoon German airplanes flew over Warsaw dropping leaflets all over the city. The message calls on Varsovians to leave the city and promises them accomodations, jobs and medical care but threatens "consequences" to those who do not comply.

During the night British planes flew over Srodmiescie and Mokotow and made successful airdrops of arms and ammunition. For the first time since the Uprising began, Polish troops in Kampinos receive their first airdrop of arms and ammunition.

The BBC announced acknowledged today that they have been receiving broadcasts from Station Lighting for the past few days. The mood among Polish fighters is one of elation. It has provided them with assurance that the outside world has heard them and that allied intervention is very near.

There are 57 secret Polish radio stations spread out all throughout Nazi-occupied Poland. But shortly after the Uprising began over a week ago, numerous stations have lost direct contact with London. A few stations are still on the air including the one under the direction of Stefan Korbonski, Head of the Department of Civil Resistance. He is sharing radio facilities with other Polish stations including the radio station of the Polish Peasant Party. Polish radio is being transmitted in several languages (Polish, English and German), and to several target areas: to the Polish Supreme Commander-in-Chief in London, to Polish base near Bari, Italy,  and to insurgents fighting in Warsaw, and other areas throughout the nation.

There is constant danger that the Germans will discover the location of the secret radio stations. Needless to say it is most dangerous during broadcasts. German planes have increased their reconnaissance activities in an all-out effort to pinpoint the precise locations of these secret Polish radio transmissions.  If  found, Germans troops are under orders to destroy them with heavy artillery fire and bombs.  Many insurgents are acting as look-outs; some have been spotted clinging to rooftops watching the skies, ready to give the alarm as soon as German planes are spotted on the approach.

Polish Underground Radio

Fake Polish Orders (by Germans)

The Germans have set up a shadow radio station operating under the same frequency as that of the Polish station Lightning. They are broadcasting in the Polish language, supplying misinformation and misleading orders from “Polish Command” in an effort to disrupt Polish communications. On the second day of the Uprising, German planes dropped leaflets claiming to be orders from Polish General Bor, urging Polish insurgents to join the German army in its fight against Soviet troops.

Tass, the Soviet news agency is also conducting extensive interference over Polish radio. It is interesting to note that just days before the Warsaw Uprising broke out the Soviet-based Kosciuszko radio station broadcast a rallying cry for all Poles to begin the Uprising. Tadeusz Kosciuzko was one of Poland’s greatest heroes. He was the Supreme Commander of the Polish Armed Forces and led the 1794 Kosciuszko Uprising against Russia and Prussia. Prior to that he was a Colonel in the Continental Army and fought in the American Revolutionary War. For his meritorious service he was given rank of Brigadier General and became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America.

Colonel Mitkiewicz

Colonel Mitkiewicz was in contact with Polish military headquarters in London and complained that he was stonewalled when he had requested the Combined Chiefs of Staff to provide assistance to the insurgents in Warsaw. The CCS asserted that the decision could only be made by British officials in London, but when Mitkiewicz directed his requests there, he was told that Warsaw is within the zone of activity of the Soviet military. As such, it was impossible for London to intervene without the knowledge and approval of Soviet Command.

Warsaw 1944 (00:03:31m)