Warsaw Uprising 1944: September 23 Nazi SS Execute Over 200 Polish Insurgents

Reverend Jozef Stanek "Rudy"

The Czerniakow beachhead falls. Upper Czerniakow has been captured by the Germans during the night.  Polish defenders have made an attempt to fight their way through to Srodmiescie but only a small group get through. Five men under the command of Captain Ryszard Bialous "Jerzy" got through and made it to the YMCA building on Konopnieckiej Street, which is still held by the insurgents.  The rest of the Polish unit was captured by the Germans. SS officers have executed by firing squad and hanging over 200 injured Polish insurgents, messengers and nurses. A Pallotine priest, Reverend Jozef Stanek “Rudy”, chaplain of the “Kryska” group was also executed on Solec Street by the Germans by hanging. 

Germans have stepped up the pressure on the district of Mokotow, which is now the chief target of General von dem Bach. They have also prepared to attack Zoliborz.  Hermann Göring  has selected additional division units to join the campaign.  Artillery fire and air raids grow stronger. The area of Aleje Niepodleglosci Street is particularly hard hit.

Polish insurgents are besieged in three areas of the city: Srodmiescie, Zoliborz and Mokotow. The Uprising is now a one-sided war of attrition, or rather a struggle for acceptable terms of surrender.

For the past several days, German attacks near the Vistula have been escalating as they attempt to prevent further landings.  But Polish troops continue to hold their positions on the eastern shore in preparation for the expected wave of Soviet landings. Other Polish troops have been making attempts to land since the 15th of September, but with very heavy casualties to men and materiel.  Throughout the onslaught, Red Army support was all but non-existent except for intermittent and sporadic artillery fire and air support.  Despite attempts by the 1st Polish Army, they were unable to link up with the insurgents.

On the 19th of September, Home Army soldiers and landed elements of the 1st Polish Army had to retreat from their positions on the bank of the river.  Of about 900 men who made it ashore, only a handful were able to return to the eastern shore of the Vistula. Berling's Polish Army suffered enormous losses in their attempt to aid the Uprising. Casualties were 5,660 killed, missing or wounded.  There were no further attempts at river crossing, and the promised evacuation of the wounded did not take place.

Zygmunt Berling and troops of the LWP

The failure for either side to make significant advances has led to a suspension of further attempts in crossing the river for at least four months. At that point, operations against the 9th Army's five panzer divisions were problematic. Moreover, Soviet Command has dismissed General Berling, Commander of the 1st Polish Army.

During the Invasion of Poland in 1939, Berling did not fight the German invaders. After his town Wilno was occupied by Soviet armies, he was arrested along with many other Polish officers by the notorious NKVD, the Soviet Union's secret police.  Berling remained in prison until 1940 initially at Starobielsk and then in Moscow. He agreed to co-operate with the Soviets and thus avoided execution in the Katyn Massacre. After the Sikorski-Maisky Pact,Berling was released from prison on August 17, and appointed Chief of Staff of the newly created 5th Infantry Division. He later became the commander of a temporary camp for Polish soldiers in Krasnowodsk.

Berlings' troops crossing the Vistula River - 1944

The Sikorski-Maisky Pact signed on July 30, 1941 led to the release of thousands of Polish soldiers and civilians from Soviet prisons, as well as and the creation of the 2nd Polish Corps under the command of General Wladyslaw Anders. During the evacuation, Berling deserted Anders' army along with two other officers to join the Red Army. On April 20, 1943, Anders degraded the three and expelled them from the army. On July 25th, the field court sentenced them to death in absentia. The Polish Military Court stated that "the accused deserted from the Polish Army, in Court's opinion in order to join the Soviet Army, ie. to serve the country which has as one of its goals the end of existence of the independent Polish state by means of incorporating its territory."


Stalin created the Polish People's Army in 1943 (Ludowe Wojsko Polskie) and appointed  Berling as the commander of its first unit, the 1st Tadeusz Kosciuszko Infantry Division. He was later promoted to General by Stalin himself.

1st Polish (Peoples) Army January 19, 1944 parade

When the Uprising broke out on August 1st, 1944, Berling's army had advanced towards Warsaw and without consulting Soviet Command may have issued his own orders to engage the German forces and aid Polish resistance. The landing received no tactical support from Berling or other Soviet units, and therefore made no significant contribution in helping the Uprising. However, Soviet Command noticed Berling's behaviour and  dismissed him from his command. He was transferred to the War Academy in Moscow where he remained until 1947.


The first major engagement of Berling's army was the Battle of Lenino in October 1943. By the following spring Soviet command had increased and strengthened its armor and materiel support and soldiers numbered over 30,000 men strong. The unit was then reorganized into the Polish First Army led by Soviet commanders appointed by Soviet Command. The LWP was later integrated into the 1st Belorussian Front.  

Lt. John Ward

Lt. John Ward, a British soldier and member of Armia Krajowa, has been dispatching secret radio reports of the Uprising to London authorities, always in the hope that the allies would provide assistance and intervention. In almost two months of battle, Polish insurgents have been left virtually alone and abandoned.  Nevertheless Ward continues sending reports, if only to testify to the horrendous conditions dealt to the people of Warsaw.

The inhabitants of Warsaw are now literally living only in ruins. Whole central part of city completely destroyed. In some cases by fires started by Poles to drive out enemy and in others by shell fire, mines and air bombs. Water very difficult to get. I personally today had first wash after six days and am considered lucky. To get one bucket of reasonably clean water it is necessary to stand in queues under fire four or five hours. Food even more scarce. Even front line soldiers get quite inadequate rations, usually about four ounces of boiled barley daily. Bread practically unheard of. Civilians mostly in even worse plight. Private stocks largely burnt or buried under ruins. Hospitals are in what were coal cellars a few weeks ago. Many thousands of wounded there, perhaps more civilians than military. Conditions in which they lie really terrible.

Warsaw Uprising 1944: September 20 Polish Forces Re-Organize

Wilanowska Street

In Zoliborz last night another group of soldiers of the 6th infantry regiment crossed the Vistula, strengthening the beachhead seized in Kepa Potocka (“Potocki Woods”). But only today did the commander of Zoliborz, Lt. Col. Mieczyslaw Niedzielski “Zywiciel” learn of the presence of soldiers from the 6th infantry regiment on the left bank of the Vistula. Cut off, the decimated defenders of the Czerniakow Beachhead continue to repel enemy’s attacks. Fierce battles continue for individual houses on Wilanowska, Idzkowskiego and Solec Streets.

Mieczyslaw Niedzielski Zywiciel

Commander-in-Chief of the Home Army General “Bor” has given the order to reorganize the insurgent units of the Home Army into regular units of the Polish Army. The Warsaw Corps of the Home Army (Polish: Warszawski Korpus Armii Krajowej) was created under the command of Brigadier General Antoni Chrusciel "Monter". Monter was promoted to General on September 14, 1944). His second-in-command is Col. Karol Ziemski “Wachnowski.”

The three infantry divisions have joined the Corps: the 8th infantry division, called the “Romualda Traugutta”, formed from units fighting in Zoliborz and in the Kampinowski Forest, under the command of Lt. Col. “Zywiciel”; the 10th infantry division, called the “Macieja Rataja”, formed from units fighting in Mokotow, under the command of Lt. Col. Jozef Rokicki “Karol”; and the 28th infantry division, called the “Stefana Okrzei”, formed from units fighting in Srodmiescie, under the command of Col. Franciszek E. Pfeiffer “Radwan.” Initially Polish troops were divided into eight areas of Warsaw, but General Monter has consolidated them into the three zones still held by Polish insurgents. Individual regiments have retained their numbering from 1939as well as the regiment names that have long been established.

The Home Army Headquarters and District Headquarters has released the names of Polish officers in an effort to abandon any secrecy and thus save them from execution after capitulation. The names will be reported in tomorrow's insurgent press.

During the day fighting continued. Polish insurgents obtained additional supplies from allied airdrops as well as having captured valuable material from the enemy (including several armoured vehicles, most notably two Panther tanks and two SdKfz.251 APCs. Despite the shortage of weapons and ammunition, insurgents' workshops have been producing home-made makeshift weapons since the start of the Uprising: weapons include submachine guns. K pattern flamethrowers, grenades, mortars, and even an armoured car, named Kubus.

POLISH INSURGENTS CAPTURE GERMAN TANK

PRODUCTION OF GRENADES




ASSEMBLY OF MACHINE GUNS

POLISH HOME ARMY DISARMS UNEXPLODED GERMAN BOMB

Lt. John Ward

Lt. John Ward is a British solider, and member of the Armia Krajowa.  Since the start of the Uprising he has been dispatching secret radio messages to London in the hopes that the Allies would provide them not only with arms and ammunition but military assistance as well. Despite several supply missions to Warsaw most of the containers fell into German hands.

A large formation of Liberators flew over Warsaw yesterday afternoon and dropped many containers with arms, ammunition and food. Unfortunately a large proportion fell outside the Polish lines and fell into German hands. The first direct help that they had seen from the Allies evoked enormous enthusiasm amongst the civil population and the armed forces. Disregarding the shrapnel bursts over the city, people ran out into the streets and courtyards to get their first view of Allied aircraft. It must be borne in mind that previous deliveries had been during the night so that the planes had been invisible.

Addressed to Colonel P…
Sir, owing to loss of personnel due to enemy action and the destruction of the radio station I have been unable to send messages during two days. I believe that from now on work will go forward normally. The food situation in Warsaw is critical. The only water available is from freshly dug wells. Epidemics are beginning to appear. An enormous percentage of the population is wounded, and many killed.  I am, Sir your obedient servant....

Am officially informed that Home Army forces captured written orders giving the number of armed forces that were to be used against the Old Town area in Warsaw on the 19th August. Details as follows:

Ten battalions of infantry, two battalions of engineers, one company of nine 'Tiger' tanks, twenty 75 mm. self-propelled guns, fifty 'Goliath' mobile tanks, six 75 mm. guns, two mortars 280 mm. calibre, two 380 mm. guns, one 600 mm, mortar, one platoon of mine-throwers and a number of flame-throwers, one armoured train with eighteen heavy machine guns and a battery of 105 mm. guns.

These forces were used to begin the attack on the Old Town on August 19th and that district was defended until September 2nd. It should also be borne in mind that German planes bombed the district from five to twelve times daily. 

The Germans are showing greater activity in the north riverside district end. The German positions in the city have been bombed by Soviet planes as has also the Okecie airfield on the outskirts of the city, where the runway was completely put out of action by heavy Soviet bombs, some German planes destroyed and some hangars set on fire. One Soviet plane was observed to be shot down over Warsaw today by German anti-aircraft artillery. Polish Home Army forces destroyed twenty-four enemy tanks during the period September 13th to 16th.

Warsaw Uprising 1944: September 4 German Troops Unleash Fury As Poles Wait For Allied Help

Polish Insurgent Murdered by Germans

The power plant in Powisle which had been supplying electricity to Warsaw since the start of the Uprising has been completely destroyed by German bombing. Since morning German troops have been pounding the area with heavy artillery fire and air raids as well as in northern part of Srodmiescie and Mokotow.


German troops are attempting to cut off the insurgents in Powisle from Srodmiescie North and have launched a continuous barrage of attacks from Karowa Street along three parallel streets: Wybrzeze, Kociuszkowskie, Dobra and Browarna. However by noon the Poles succeeded in pushing the Germans back to the line at Karowa Street. Polish casualties were severe. Two hours later, German troops launched a second attack and were able to seize the Waterworks Head Office on Lipowa Street. Fighting is very heavy and has continued into the evening. Many parts of the city are ablaze making it difficult for insurgents to organize defensive positions. Captain 'Krybar' ordered the immediate evacuation of civilians from the area to Northern City Centre. Polish troops of the Armia Krajowa have redeployed to Upper Czerniakow.

Civilians who sought refuge in Srodmiescie have all been killed under heavy German artillery fire. Houses located between Nowy Swiat Street and Napoleon Square have crumbled under massive bombardment. Neighborhoods of Twarda, Panska, Sliska and Sienna Streets have been methodically destroyed one by one. The printing house of the Home Army Military Publishers that was once on Szpitalna Street has been obliterated, as well as the PKO Bank building on the corner of Jasna and Swietokrzyska Streets.

 
Despite the overwhelming assault Polish insurgents continue to fight off enemy attacks and succeeded in driving the Germans back: from Krakowskie Przedmiescie to Nowy Swiat Street ; from Malachowski Square to Mazowiecka Street; and from Chlodna to Grzybowska Street. Meanwhile a company under the command of Lt. Andrzej Romocki "Morro" has taken up positions inside the printing house of Michal Arct's famous publishing house located at 225 Czerniakowska Street.


German troops unleashed their fury against the insurgents. They desecrated a Polish memorial by running their tanks over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, crushing the slab beneath their tracks. Hitler had ordered not only the destruction of Warsaw, but that it also be pacified. The rampant unbridled destruction has only intensified the Polish will to fight.


Also destroyed by German bombs was Zamek Krolewskie, the famous Royal Castle, located at the entrance of Old Town Warsaw. It has been the residence of Polish royalty for centuries. It was burnt after the Germans bombed it during the blitzkrieg invasion of Poland in September 1939. Now the Royal Castle has been razed to the ground. After all was done, the only thing left was the ground floor, the lowest part of the Grodzka Tower and remnants of the Royal Library and Kubricki's Arcades. During the five year occupation by the Germans the Castle was plundered for its priceless treasures. Renowned German scholars including Professor Dagobert Frey and Dr. Joseph Muhlmann actively participated in its destruction. The National Museum was permitted to keep just a few pieces of equipment necessary to describe the losses, but secret photographs were taken to document its destruction. Early in 1940 Hitler had issued orders that the Castle was to be blown up. A bomb unit began making the preparations by drilling holes for dynamite, but it was not carried out until after the Uprising.  

Royal Castle in Warsaw Destroyed

Royal Castle as it looked in early 20th century

Prime Minister Churchill and War Cabinet

As Polish blood flows in the streets of Warsaw, political rhetoric flows in the British House of Commons. In a special emergency meeting the War Cabinet unanimously agreed that it was of the utmost importance that everything possible should be done to help the Poles. The general consensus was that the only viable means of resolving the crisis is to have Churchill invite Roosevelt to reconsider the matter of authorizing the USAAF to carry out air operations for dropping supplies on Warsaw, and if necessary, to land on Russian airfields without receiving prior authorization. British leaders are acutely aware of public reaction to the sufferings of the people of Warsaw but are very concerned with the "shock to public opinion" if the allies allowed Warsaw to be overwhelmed by German forces without so much as providing material assistance to Polish troops. It is only now becoming publicly known that the Russians have refused access to their airfields. In a last ditch effort to sway Stalin's position, a telegram was dispatched to him in the name of the War Cabinet, warning him of the dire consequences to Anglo-Russian relations should he refuse to comply. Churchill immediately sent a message to Roosevelt proposing that they participate in a joint air operation to Warsaw, and also sent a message to Stalin. 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.  

  Today is the 35th day of the battle for the Polish capital – a city with a population of 1,300,000 people. During those 35 days there has been no communication with the provinces. Therefore no food has reached Warsaw. Rations are already very short, in many places people are starving. The greatest tragedy is for the small children who receive no milk or special nourishment that they need. The people here hear with hungry envy of the liberation of Paris after four days of fighting. They heard that the British Army rushed thousands of tons of food and medical supplies to the French population. Warsaw during the first few days of the uprising received some much needed help in form of ammunition dropped by the R.A.F., but for the past two or three weeks has received no relief whatever. Poland is our oldest ally in this war. Despite all she has suffered at the hands of the German invaders, she has remained always an active power against the enemy. Polish troops fought in France in 1940; later Polish pilots took part in the battle of Britain, her troops fought at Tobruk, and are still fighting in Italy and France. The Home Army in Poland itself has now risen and is also fighting openly as it has fought under cover during the whole war. Poland is a country which I, as an Englishman, am proud to call an ally. She produced no government to co-operate with the Germans. The only government she has acknowledged is the one in exile in London. To end I would like to make an appeal to the British Nation. It is short: HELP FOR WARSAW.

Political leaders of Warsaw sent an urgent telegram to Prime Minister Mikolajczyk in London describing the overwhelming suffering among civilians and insurgents and asked for an immediate resolution to the battle, stating that “the catastrophic decrease in the amount of territory in our possession, lack of foodstuffs, water, and the compete exhaustion of the population (require that) immediate attention (be given to) the problem of stopping the fighting in Warsaw, particularly in view of the absence of immediate and effective assistance. We are awaiting an immediate reply." However, the response from British officials was indecisive and obscure. The battle continues.  
 

Warsaw Uprising 1944: August 26 - WARSAW POLES LOSING TERRITORY

Polish boys in the Solec district

Polish insurgents fighting in Mokotow have tried to establish a connection with Upper Czerniakow but their efforts to break the German ring in the area of Lazienski Park have failed.

During the night two companies from the Baszta regiment succeeded in the capture of the Holy Family of Nazareth convent on Czerniakowska Street. The nuns, the injured and civilians were evacuated and have been taken to relative safety. Throughout the Nazi occupation the nuns conducted secret classes in defiance of Nazi edicts. Nazi Germany's inflicted its policy of cultural annihilation on the Polish nation, forbidding the continuation of Polish schools and universities on pain of death. During the past five years over 115 students managed to pass their final examinations.

Secret classes given by the nuns of Holy Family of Nazareth Convent in Warsaw WW2

At 12:30 a.m. General Bor, the Delegate of the Government and its staff descended into the city sewers. They entered through a manhole just 220 yards away from German positions. Four hours later they emerged in the Centre City sector. At this point in time, less than half a square mile of the Old Town remains in the hands of the Armia Krajowa (AK).

Polish units are defending about a dozen buildings, including the Old Arsenal, the Polish Bank, the Bastion of Holy Mary, St. John’s Cathedral, the hospital for the mentally ill, and Mostowski’s Palace.

 

Polish Insurgents attacking German units

Fighting has reached an intensity never seen before in the history of warfare. Polish and German units are in a stand to the death. One building has been attacked by the German eleven times and has changed hands seven times.

 

Germans launch barage of fire from 15 cm Sig 33 Howizer Warsaw Uprising

Air raids and artillery bombing of the Old Town continue. Despite incessant enemy attacks, the insurgents keep their positions in the Polski Bank on Bielanska Street, the ruined Simonsa passage on Dluga Street, the ruins of the City Hall and in the Blank’s Palace. They also fight back enemy attacks on barricades in Miodowa, Podwale, Piwna, Swietojanska and Kanonia Streets. Strong German pressure from the Vistula towards Brzozowa, Bolesc and Rybaki Streets continues. The insurgent troops are forced to retreat from the ruins of the “Quebracho” tannery on Bolesc Street and from the Jan Bozy Hospital. 

 

Warsaw Barricade

The northern part of Srodmiescie in particular the area around Panska, Twarda, Sliska and Sienna Streets have been under strong enemy fire. Sources indicate that the staff of the Warsaw District of the People’s Army, many soldiers and civilians have been buried beneath the ruins of a bombed house at 16 Freta Street.

Lt. John Ward

Lt. John Ward, a British soldier, and member of the AK has dispatched messages again today to London reporting on the days events in Warsaw. 

The message reads as follows: The Germans are continuing their campaign of murder in Warsaw. Three days ago two Polish prisoners came with a message from Gestapo headquarters in Such Avenue. The message was that the German troops who were in the post in Pius Street should be allowed to join Gestapo headquarters in Such Avenue. The Germans said that in exchange they would release some Polish prisoners and send some medical supplies. The request was, of course, refused. The two Polish people who brought the message say that the Germans have constructed a crematorium and are shooting and burning about 300 men daily. Up till the time these two people left Gestapo H.Q. 3,000 suits of civil clothing had been received into the German store. That means that 3,000 Polish patriots have already been brutally murdered. It is known that there are another 2,500 prisoners there, and that more are arriving every day. AK is powerless to prevent this brutal wholesale murder. They have not the special types of heavy weapons needed to attack such a heavily fortified stronghold as Such Avenue.


Despite the heavy losses of the Polish forces, the men and women of Warsaw refuse to give up. Sources indicate that the “Oaza” battalion has just been formed consisting of remnants of insurgent troops in Sadyba and is under the command of Captain Janusz Wyszogrodzki “Janusz". No further word regarding their actions.