TRIBUTE TO JOHN WARD: HERO OF THE WARSAW UPRISING

THIS IS WARSAW...WARSAW CALLING...WARSAW CALLING ALL THE FREE NATIONS!

 

 CLICK ON PHOTO TO HEAR BLYSKAWICA RADIO BROADCAST

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These urgent pleas were broadcast on Radio Blyskawica during the maelstrom of the Warsaw Uprising. For sixty three days from August 1 to October 6, 1944, the Polish people valiantly fought against the Nazi Dragon in a desperate attempt to free their homeland - forgotten and abandoned by Britain and the United States.

The English voice of these broadcasts was that of John Ward, a British citizen who originated from Birmingham, a suburb of Ward End. He was only eighteen years of age when he enlisted in the RAF in 1937, and started as a wireless operator, rising the ranks to Flight Lieutenant. He survived after his plane was shot down by enemy fire in 1940, was captured and spent the better part of a year in a POW camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. In April 1941 he managed a daring escape and through the help of a Polish priest was put in touch with the Armia Krajowa.


From 1941 to 1945 John Ward was the communications liaison between the British government and the Armia Krajowa (Polish Home Army) and became war correspondent for the London Times. He joined the Polish Resistance just days after the Uprising broke out and was recruited by Stefan and Zofia Korbonski to prepare English dispatches that were transmitted to London via Morse Code.

John Ward was involved in clandestine operations - transmitting English-language broadcasts from Radio Blyskawica (Radio Lightning). (For facts about the radio station, please see end of blog post.) According to Jan Nowak, Lieutenant Ward spoke Polish fluently, albeit with a thick accent. Nowak was quite impressed that Ward elected to wear the red and white armband of the Armia Krajowa, and a cap emblazoned with the Polish eagle. Ward proved himself to be as much a loyal Polish patriot as he was a British subject. He had great admiration and respect for the Polish people and was fiercely committed to his mission in helping the Polish Underground, making urgent appeals to Sir Archibald Sinclair and Colonel Perkins. John Ward was wounded in the leg during the Uprising, but within two days was already working back at his post.

Despite John Ward's persistence, London authorities remained aloof as ever. Nevertheless he reported continuously on the daily events, submitting a total of sixty four reports providing descriptions of the Nazi siege on Warsaw, and the terrible toll upon the lives of Polish insurgents and civilians. According to Zofia Korbanska, there was a pervasive fear that messages from the Polish Underground were being dispatched "in vain" since British authorities were quite skeptical about the reliability of reports from Polish sources. But even John Wards' reports failed to make significant headway and were given the official brushoff. (Editors note:the so-called British skepticism had more to do with the exigencies of political pressures rather than outright disbelief in reports about the Warsaw Uprising. Tragically, Churchill and Roosevelts' loyalty was placed squarely with Moscow, and not with Warsaw.)

John Ward was an outspoken and fervent advocate on behalf of the Polish Resistance, and made constant demands for British military equipment, supplies, assistance and intervention. In a macabre chain of events, British and American help did finally come, but it was all too little and too late.

After 63 days of desperate battles, the Warsaw Uprising came to an end. On October 2, 1944, the Polish Home Army capitulated. John Ward received orders to return to England, but instead escaped Warsaw and made his way to the British embassy in Moscow, where he was subjected to a 12 hour interrogation by Soviet agents.

Polish losses were enormous. Casualties to Polish fighters were 10,000 KIA, about 6,000 MIA, 5,000 WIA, 15,000 POWs and over 200,000 Polish civilians had perished. The remaining civilian population of about 700,000 were rounded up and deported. Nazi bomb squads went to work razing Warsaw to the ground, building by building, block by block. By January 1945, when the Soviets army finally entered the city, Warsaw was nothing more than a spectre of itself - about 85% of the buildings were utterly destroyed.

In recognition of John Ward's heroism, the Polish government decorated him with the Polish Cross of Valour. He was one of a handful of British subjects who remained in Warsaw during the Uprising, but he was the only one known to have made such enormous efforts to help the cause for Polish freedom and liberty.

Sample of type of Medal

Sadly, very little is known about John Ward. He was a very private man and not inclined to disclose anything about his personal experiences and thoughts.  Even Korbonska could only speculate.  She believed that his determination to help the Polish Resistance had as much to do with personal as well as political motives. During his stay in Warsaw, John Ward was residing with a Polish family. a widow and her daughter, and two dogs which he absolutely adored.  The daughter was in love with him, and according to hearsay, they were to be married.

John Ward passed away on August 29, 1995.  After the war he never spoke about his experiences but his legacy will live on in hearts and minds of freedom-loving nations for all time.

Lieutenant John Ward (1922-1995)

POLAND IS A COUNTRY WHICH I, AS AN ENGLISHMAN,

AM PROUD TO CALL AN ALLY.

RAF Lieutenant John Ward

 FACTS ABOUT BLYSKAWICA RADIO STATION

Blyskawica ("Lightning") was only one of a few Polish Underground radio stations operating during the Warsaw Uprising. (The other was named Burza "Storm".) The "Lightning"transmitter was built by Antoni Zebik (Biegly) and played its signal melody of the Warszawianka (The Song of Warsaw or Varsovienne) It was a revolutionary hymn originally composed in 1831 to support and encourage the Polish patriots during the November Uprising (1830-31). The lyrics (see end of blog) were written by Casimir Francois Delavigne and music by Karol Kurpinski.

The Blyskawica team was headed by Stanislaw Zadrozny (code named "Pawlicz")who also managed propaganda; Zofia Rutkowska (code-named "Ewa") who was in charge of programming; and Jacek Wolowski, in charge of news and reportages. Polish language broadcasts were conducted by Zbigniew Swietochowski (code-named "Krzysztof", Stefan Sojecki, Zbigniew Jasinksi, Mieczyslaw Ubysz, and Jeremi Przybora (a popular Polish poet, actor and singer).The English-language broadcasts were conducted by Jan Nowak-Jezioranski and the Times of London war correspondent, RAF Lieutenant John Ward.

PKO (domed building)

Blyskawica was originally located in the PKO building - Pocztowa Kasa Oszczędności (Postal Savings Bank) on 9 Jasna Street, Warsaw. However as the Uprising continued, they had to move location several times in order to evade detection by Nazi reconnaissance planes. On August 25th, 1944 they moved the station to the "Adria" cafe on 10 Moniuszki Street. Then on September 4 relocated again to the former Soviet Embassy on 15 Poznanska Street, then to the Public Library on 26 Koszykowa Street. Blyskawica transmitted three or four times a day, and among its program included reports on the uprising, official notices of the AK, patriotic poems, and music. It broadcast messages in Polish, English, German, and French. They even sent an enthusiastic congratulatory message to the French Resistance on the event of their Liberation. Blyskawica was the only radio station of its kind in all of Nazi-occupied Europe!




During the Uprising Blyskawica Radio transmitted on the shortwave frequency of 32.8 and 52.1 meters and medium-wavelength of 224 or 251 meters. A replica of the transmitter was built after the war in minute detail even to the use of original dials. However by necessity it was adjusted to operate on a different waveband at 7.043 MHz. The reason was that the original meter bands used by the Armia Krajowa during the Uprising became the official waveband of NATO.

Replica of Blyskawica Radio Transmitter - Warsaw Uprising Museum

Replica of Microphone of Blyskawica Radio

Radiostacja "Błyskawica" - radio transmission

 Video duration: (00:02:31m) 

Recommended Books (in English)

Nowak, Jan "I, Jan Nowak, Courier from Warsaw"

Wayne State University Press, Detroit Michigan, 1982

Korbonski, Stefan and Zofia; Czarnomski, F.B.
"Fighting Warsaw: The Story of the Polish Underground State 1939-1945"
Columbia University Press, 1983




Recommended On-line Resources:

John Ward - Dispatches in August 1944
John Ward - Dispatches in September 1944

Stefan Korbonski Website 
Warsaw Uprising Museum - Radio Blyskawica 
Witness Jan Nowak Remembers
The Warsaw Uprising
Books, Videos, Documents, Photos and more
The Uprising's phonic radio stations and technical resources 
Article: "Post Office Savings Bank Building" (in Polish) 




N.B. Click on this link "Warsaw Uprising 1944: Complete Index of Blog Posts August 1 to October 6, 2011" for a Special series on the Warsaw Uprising, day by day. Includes informative daily "news reports" on important events of the Uprising, including fascinating facts, archival photographs and videos.   Please note that each of Lieutenant John Wards dispatches have been integrated into this Special series and presents his eye-witness accounts of one of the greatest urban battles of modern warfare.

Thank you for visiting Polish Greatness (Blog).
 

Warsaw Uprising 1944: October 4 NOT YET IS POLAND LOST!!!

It has been 63 days of long and bitter struggle for the Polish people, days marked by despair and hope, pain and suffering and constant battle against a hated enemy. It has all come to an end. Early this morning Polish regiments congregated near the Technical University in Warsaw in preparation for a "trial surrender". Barricades that had been there before had been "symbolically" removed yesterday. The Company commander issued his final orders and gave his last speech as the soldiers listened intently, and then at the end, they sang the national anthem, "Not Yet Is Poland Lost ". Their voices rang out across the square with such power - clearly indicating that while the Polish people have surrendered they have not by any means been defeated. Finally at the command of "Attention" the soldiers burst into cheers and shouts of "Long live our beloved Polish Republic"!!! 


General and Commander-in-Chief of the Home Army Tadeusz Komorowski “Bor” signed the last cable to the Polish Government in exile in London, which will be dispatched tomorrow morning.  General Bor and General von dem Bach met each other today and despite the conclusion of negotiations, General von dem Bach continued to pressure Bor for additional concessions. He demanded that General Bor issue an order to all regiments of the AK, in addition to those located outside Warsaw, to "cease underground activities against German forces".  Moreover he insisted that Polish Communist insurgents be excluded from the protection of the Geneva Convention in regard to treatment of prisoners of war.  In both cases, General Bor adamantly refused to comply.

General Bor surrenders to General von dem Bach Zelewski

Left: General Tadeusz Komorowski "Bor"

At 9:00 am the first Home Army units to leave Warsaw was the 21st Infantry Regiment under the command of Lt. Col. Stanlislaw Kaminski "Daniel". They were among the troops that fought so bravely in Srodmiescie South. They marched along Sniadeckich, 6-go Sierpnia, Such and Filtrowa Streets and were closely followed by other companies, marching four abreast.

Among them were old and young men as well as women, each clad in spruced up uniforms or civvies and immaculately groomed. Each wore the white and red armbands of the AK, or the Polish eagle on their caps. Many wore military decorations pinned to their lapels, and many sported their weapons which were meticulously cleaned and gleaming.

German officers and soldiers lined each side of the street. In a most unexpected gesture, they lowered their weapons and watched the retreat in silence. A few German soldiers saluted as a show of respect.

The rest of the regiments will be leaving Warsaw tomorrow morning and according to the Capitulation Act they will surrender their armaments and ammunition.  Soldiers of the 21st and 72nd infantry regiments of the Home Army have already deposited their guns and ammunition on the corner of Wspolna and Marszalkowska Street; the 36th infantry regiment in Napoleona Square, and the 15th infantry regiment in Grzybowski Square.

While the Polish regiments were preparing for surrender, SS officer Bronislav Kaminski was court-martialled today by the German military court. He and his entire staff were sentenced to death and shot by a German firing squad. The event was reported by German Command, however in an effort to avoid reprisals from the men of SS STRONA the Germans stated that Kaminski was assassinated by the Polish Armia Krajowa. Kaminski was the notorious commander of the SS Sturmbrigade RONA which participated with the SS Dirlewanger and SS Reinfarth in the bloody massacres at Wola and Ochota in early August. In just a few days they slaughtered 40,000 to 100,000 Polish men, women, and children. It was one of the bloodiest of massacres during the war.

Warsaws' underground newspapers published and distributed their last issues today: Dziennik Radiowy, Robotnik, Wiadomości Powstańcze and No. 102 of the Biuletyn Informacyjny. Polish underground radio aired their last broadcasts today, including the famous "Blyskawica" radio station. Jan Georgica Grzegorzewicz" took the microphone at Blyskawica today mentioning only the technical parameters of the station, and its working conditions. At 7:30 pm Jan broadcast the Warszawianka song in farewell, and at the end destroyed the transmitter with a hammer.

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.