Warsaw Uprising 1944: September 6 Communist Takeover Expected

During the night, masses of civilians move from Powisle and Srodmiescie North to the southern side of Aleje Jerozolimskie Street. German armoured trains have been travelling east across Warsaw and 3 west. The Poles have been powerless to disrupt any of this traffic.    

 

Air raids and shelling of Srodmiescie North has continued since early this morning. The insurgent troops have been able to fight off enemy attacks on Nowy Swiat Street from Krakowskie Przedmiescie, on Kredytowa Street from Malachowski Square, on Krolewska Street from the Saski Gardens and on Towarowa Street from the Zawiszy Square area. However, German troops have intensified their attacks with air raids and a general offensive has been launched on Powisle from the north, east and south against the last insurgent positions in the district.   

 

Despite overwhelming German firepower, insurgents continued to fight for the last vestige of territory, engaging the enemy in fierce house to house battles, and sometimes room by room. Polish troops began a gradual retreat to Srodmiescie By evening German troops have taken control of the entire area of Powisle. and insurgents have withdrawn to City Centre sector. The new front line is Nowy Swiat Street. German planes have passed the area dropping leaflets in Polish calling on civilians to leave Warsaw on September 7 and 8th and promise that a cease fire will be in effect during the evacuation. It was signed by von dem Bach.  

 

Lt.John Ward, a British soldier and member of the Armia Krajowa has dispatched an urgent message to London describing the desperate situation of civilians and insurgents and pleaded for help for Warsaw.  
 

Addressed to Colonel P…

Sir, I have seen a radiogram in which it is stated that from four to seven machines daily drop supplies over Warsaw. 

Sir, I can state that these supplies are not dropped in the centre of the city where they are most needed. And I have not heard that there have been any dropped near the city. I have agreed to accept the proposition to act as correspondent to The Times – as communicated to me by E…, subject to your agreement.  
 

The situation in the City Centre is still in Polish hands. After the fall of the Old Town the enemy turned all his artillery and air force against the centre of the city. The attacks are now practically without any break. Many of the streets have been systematically destroyed house by house. The enemy aircraft fly at roof-top height. Electric works which have been in the hands of the Home Army since the first day of the uprising were damaged 47 hours ago. It is doubtful whether the damage will be repairable.  
 

General Bor and the Delegate of the Polish Government dispatched a message to the Polish Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief in London, reporting on the critical situation in Warsaw. In this message he raised the concern about Polands future after the war. In his message he stated this:

 "We think that the defeat of the Uprising of Warsaw will have not only military effects after the war, but political one. If both the Polish Government and its allies could appreciate this now, it might be useful during political bargaining. It is obvious that, after the Uprising in Warsaw collapses, power will pass into Communist hands not only in Warsaw, but also in the whole country. Immediate assistance from you in the form of bombardments and supplies can improve the situation and slightly delay the crisis.”