"Anchor" Flag/ "PW" Polska Walczy (Poland Fights)/Halibutt
The longest, bloodiest, most heroic, and the toughest Rising in the Second World War took place in the streets of Warsaw. The Polish Underground Home Army (AK) decided that the 1st of August 1944 will be the day to regain Warsaw and to fight the German Nazis off Polish soil. It was the struggle to free Poland from Nazi occupation. The Warsaw Rising lasted 63 days.
Over 200,000 civilians (!!!) were killed in a barbaric way, not through collateral damage, but by allies of Nazi Germany, e.g. the Ukranian National Army. Also 18,000 soldiers from the AK were killed. 15,000 soldiers were arrested as prisoners of war. This was the cost they had to pay for freedom and independence. A rising that made Warsaw and whole of Poland proud and hope for the end of the occupation.
The AK was the underdog in this rising, having hardly any proper weapons and other important utensils needed for battle and were therefore defeated after 63 days of heroic and heavy fighting with the occupant.
But in those 63 days, most of Warsaw was recaptured and held by the brave Polish soldiers.
Until the Nazis decided to destroy the whole city and attack with full force.
Poland was left alone by the so called “allies” United Kingdom, USA, Canada et al. This was not the first time. The first time was during the Blitzkrieg and the invasion of Poland.
This day is not a national day in Poland, unfortunately. But it is celebrated as if it would be, and good so.
On this day many events take place to remember this day in the history of our nation.
It is a day on which we should remember our heroes that fought for the independence of Poland, against the forces of Nazi Germany.
Here a few links:
Warsaw Uprising (wikipedia)
A history book by Welsh world renowned historian Norman Davies: Rising ’44
Warsaw Rising Museum
