Gloria Victis - Warsaw Uprising 1944

The Warsaw Uprising (Powstanie Warszawskie) was a World War II struggle by the Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa) to liberate Warsaw from German occupation. The Uprising began on August 1, 1944, as part of a nationwide rebellion, Operation Tempest. It was intended to last for only a few days until the Soviet Army would reach the city. The Soviet advance stopped short, however, while Polish resistance against the German forces continued for 63 days (until October 2).

The Uprising began at a crucial juncture as the Soviet Army was approaching Warsaw. The Uprising's chief objective was to drive the German occupiers from the city, helping with the larger fight against the Axis. Secondary political objectives were to liberate Warsaw before the Red Army arrived, so as to underscore Polish sovereignty, and to undo the Allied division of Central Europe into spheres of influence. Polish authorities were to reappear in liberated Warsaw and challenge the Soviet puppet government that was to rule Poland.

By September 16, 1944, Soviet forces had reached a point a few hundred metres from the city, across the Vistula River, but they made no further headway during the Uprising leading to allegations that Joseph Stalin had wanted the insurrection to fail.

Polish losses amounted to 18,000 soldiers killed and 25,000 wounded, in addition to between 120,000 and 200,000 civilian deaths, mostly from mass murders conducted by retreating German troops. German casualties totalled over 17,000 soldiers killed and over 9,000 wounded. During the urban combat approximately 25% of Warsaw's buildings were destroyed. Following the surrender of Polish forces on October 2, German troops systematically burned the city block by block. Together with earlier damage suffered in 1939 and during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (1943), over 85% of the city had been destroyed. By January 1945, when the Soviets finally entered the city, Warsaw had practically ceased to exist.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• warsaw
• uprising
• powstanie
• warszawskie
• 1944
• wwo
• kapela
• czerniakowska
• lipca

[mcevoy31]

Nearly 70 years ago, in a small eastern European city, an oppressed and occupied people were under siege, living under atrocious and brutal conditions, lacking food, medicine, electricity, water, and slowly being strangled in the hope they would just disappear.

Warsaw Ghetto 1941 - Gaza 2008. Israel, you are a disgrace.

[tenebrosus999]

Warsaw Uprising wasn't Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

[zeratulhun]

Respect for the heroes! Long live for our Polish friends! Greetings from Hungary!

[achtung882]

I'm Polish and I'm PROUD!!!

[Jetsilver90]

My father, nicknamed "Cyganiewicz" fought in the Warsaw uprising. I consider him a hero!

[montpelier42d]

The Polish people put up the strongest civilian resistance to Nazism. In the end, they were sold-out by the Allies. Poland’s part in the war effort was virtually wiped from the pages of history, by Western leaders too ashamed at such a monumental betrayal. Greetings to Poland from Ireland.

[McG4evah]

@mcevoy31 Warsaw Uprising wasn't Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Ghetto Uprising was much smaller and less important event. And Warsaw wasn't a small city ;) It was called Paris of the East. After betrayal by our allies when the promised help never came, the city was a sea of ruins, and only single destroyed buildings still standing here and there.

But I agree - Israel is a disgrace now.

[baja39]

GLORIA VICTIS!!!!!!!!!!