Warsaw Uprising 1944: August 8 - POLISH GENERAL DEMANDS WEAPONS

General Sosnkowski

The Polish Supreme Commander in Chief in England, General Kazimierz Sosnkowski has issued an order that allied pilots fly irregardless of the weather and possible losses. He sent a wire to Colonel Hancza, Commander of a Polish liaison base in Italy. Part of this message reads as follows: "Because of the situation of the capital and general policy considerations, today's operations to Warsaw (must get through). English maintain that the difficulties indicate impossibility of dropping supplies over Warsaw. We must demonstrate that Polish flights get through. This may have great impact on the prompt initiation of assistance. I told the English: Poles took Monte Cassino, Poles will do impossible in order to help their brothers who fight alone.Signed Supreme Commander Sosnkowski.”



Today Squadron 1586 is flying two Halifax and one Liberator flew to Warsaw with desperately needed supplies. There is no confirmation by AK units on the ground that supplies were retrieved. The pilots have reported that the city of Warsaw is on fire, making it next to impossible to find the find drop zones. Visibility is close to nil as planes had to fly through thick clouds of smoke. Air drops had to be made at very low altitude putting the planes at great risk of being shot down by German anti-aircraft fire. Meanwhile insurgents attempted to destroy a German armoured train but failed. Heavy German artillery fire has destroyed Polish strongholds in Wola, Old Town and Zoliborz. The Old Town district of Warsaw is under heavy fire from every direction and major fires have been set by the Germans destroying many historic buildings. But by evening the Germans have retreated to their original positions.   

 

German Flakvierling 38 anti-aircraft gun Warsaw Uprising

Polish fighters from "Chrobry II" group have captured the building of the Waterworks and Sewage Headquarters in Starynkiewicza Square. Gen. Reinefarth’s units attack the area of the cemeteries.  Reports indcate that insurgents in the Zoliborz district have taken control of the area around the Institute of Chemistry and barracks on Gdanska Street. However in the Ochota district, the situation is grim and desperation is increasing by the hour:  Polish insurgents have had to retreat and have dug a passage from the basement of the building to the sewers. A new Polish regiment has been formed in Kampinos under the command of  Lt. Adolf Pilch “Dolina” called the "Palmiry -Mlociny” regiment.  Among its ranks are troops from the Nalibocka Forest, units of VIII Area of VII District “Obroza”.  The commander of the AK forces in Kampinos, Captain Jozef Krzyczkowski “Szymon” has ordered his unit to retreat westward toward the Janowek-Brzozowka-Roztoka area in order to avoid getting cut off by enemy fire.  
 

German tank enters Wola suburb of Warsaw

German Brennkommando set fire to buildings in Warsaw

The radio station "Błyskawica" began broadcasting today. Its first message was spoken by Zbigniew Swietochowski in which he said,"Hallo, here is Blyskawica speaking! A radio transmitter of the Home Army in Warsaw, on 32.8 and 52.1 meter bands. The spirit of Warsaw is wonderful. The women of Warsaw are wonderful. They are everywhere, in the front line together with soldiers as nurses or liaison officers. Even children are animated by a wonderful spirit of bravery. We greet all freedom-loving people of the world! Polish soldiers who fight in Italy, Polish pilots and mariners." The radio station is located in the building of PKO (Pocztowa Kasa Oszczędności), that is the Postal Savings Bank on 9 Jasna Street. The transmitter was constructed by Antoni Zebik pseudonym "Biegly". Its signal is the melody of Warszawianka. General Bor, Monter and other AK officers have sent a radio message to Soviet Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky's headquarters asking for assistance. As yet there is no reply.  

Warszawianka (00:02:00m)


 

Rokossovky was born in Warsaw when it was part of the Russian Empire. His family comes from the szlachta, that is, Polish nobility - and a long line of cavalry officers. His father was inspector of the Warsaw Railways and his Russian mother had been a teacher. Rokossovsky was orphaned at the age of 14. During the First World War, he had volunteered to enlist in the Russian Army.

A famous incident occurred between Rokossovsky and Stalin during the planning of Operation Bagration. From June 22, 1944 to August 19, 1944 Soviet forces were engaged in the mission to clear German forces from Belorussian SSR and Eastern Poland.



 

Stalin,Vasilevsky and Rokossovsky

 

During the planning stages Rokossovsky had disagreed with Stalin, a move that was considered by many as suicidal. Despite pressure from Stalin to "go and think it over" Rokossovsky refused to cave in and insisted on "two break-throughs, Comrade Stalin, two break-throughs." After a third attempt, Stalin remained silent, walked over to Rokossovsky and put a hand on his shoulder. There was considerable tension in the room as everyone expected Stalin would rip off the epaulettes from Rokossovky's uniform. Uncharacteristically, Stalin supported his decision, and appeared visibly impressed with Rokossovsky's sound judgement. Stalin gave the order to attack according to Rokossovsky's plan. The battle was succesful. Rokossovsky's armies are now making their way towards Warsaw.


 

Warsaw Uprising 1944: August 7 POLES ASSASSINATE TOP NAZI OFFICER

Polish Victims of Wola Massacre Warsaw Uprising

Reinefarth’s SS units continue their murderous rampage in Wola while Polish insurgent battalions Parasol and Zoska continue to put up a very strong defense against German fire power. The citizens of Warsaw have endured unimaginable persecution.  Reports have come in that the gangs belonging to the SS Dirlewanger have arrested and shot Polish families, including the elderly and children, in house to house searches. They have stormed into hospitals killing patients and medical staff. Several patients were burned alive in their beds. More than 15,000 civilians have been slaughtered in the past two days. The scenes are horrific and macabre. But the brutal Nazi suppression has not deterred the AK, and the Poles are as determined as ever to free their beloved city.  Meanwhile, Polish civilians have set up a barricades in City Centre Sector, an area which remains the only connecting passage between the northern and southern parts of Warsaw.


Lao Che - Barykada (Wola) (00:04:03m)

 

Kutschera Dead

 
The Parasol battalion is famous for its many military actions in the years 1943-1944. Among their missions they have organized several assassinations targeting high-level Gestapo officers and Nazi German officials. Many of their attempts were successful. Their most famous plan, called Operation Kutschera, called for the execution of Franz Kutschera, SS and Police leader in the Warsaw District. He was gunned down in February 1944 right in front of Warsaw SS Headquarters. Kutschera was given a death sentence by the Court of the Polish Underground State for crimes committed against the Polish nation, in particular the mass murder of hundreds of thousands of Polish civilians. The execution order was given by Polish Brigadier General Emil August Fieldorf (pseudonym Nil) the commander of KeDyw Battalion and was approved by the Polish government in exile in London. The execution was carried out by members of the Szare Szeregi.

 

Nazi Bulletin announcing Death of 100 Polish hostages

The Germans have tightly reinforced their positions on the avenue linking Old Town and Centre City Sector and the entire zone is heavily fortified with machine guns, artillery and armoured trains. The Old Town is cut off from Zoliborz sector, and the open fields between these two sectors are under German command. The Old Town sector, still in Polish hands has been reduced to approximately a two square mile zone and has been completely encircled by Germans forces. In the afternoon Polish units under the command of Maj. Stanislaw Steczhowkski (pseudoynm Zagonczyk) launched a counterattack on Mirowski Square but by evening enemy forces had pushed them back to Grzybowska Street and Grzybowski Square. Meanwhile, Col. Karol Ziemski "Wachnowski" commander of the North Group has organized the defence of the Old Town. Faced with fierce enemy fire his unit was unable to get through to Zoliborz. Insurgents began construction today of a trench and barricade to cover the crossing of Aleje Jerozolimskie from the north to the south, that is from the house at No. 20 to that at No. 17.  It will provide secure contact between troops from the two parts of Srodmiescie, as well as an escape route for civilians.  German fire is very heavy coming from the Gospodarstwa and the Main Rail Station.
 

Soldiers from Gustaw Battalion use trench crossing Aleje Jerozolimskie 1944

Service of the Scouts Field Post Office continues today during which the young couriers managed to deliver over 900 letters. Armia Krajowa’s radio station, “Lightning” located in Warsaw began live broadcasts and announced their a schedule of three reports daily. Included in broadcasts will be official combat communiqués issued by AK Command Headquarters. They are making urgent appeals to the allies for assistance.

Lt. John Ward

Lt.John Ward, a British soldier and member of the Armia Krajowa has dispatched the first of what will be a series of special secret to London reporting on conditions in Warsaw.  Here is what Ward had to say: At 5 p.m. yesterday German tanks of 'Tiger' type came through streets of Warsaw with women captured in houses specially for purpose tied on to prevent action from Polish troops. One tank was destroyed by means of petrol bottles owing to lack of anti-tank guns. Warsaw has excellent chances and the greatest part of the City is in Polish hands. Please send us weapons and ammunition as soon as possible.

Polish insurgents listening to Underground radio reports