Polish Secret State History of Poland
The authorities
Government
Administration
Parliament
Courts
Political organizations
1PPS (socialists)
2SL (agrarian party)
3SN (right-wing party)
SP (Christian democrats)
4PPR (communists)
5Bund and Hatzoar (Jewish left)
6Betar (Zionist)
ONR (right-wing)
Falanga (extreme right)
SD (centrist)
Military organizations
ZWZ
Armia Krajowa
Szare Szeregi
1MR PPR-WRN and GL WRN
2KB and BCh
3NOW and NSZ
4GL and AL
5ŻOB
6ŻZW
Others
Press and Media
Education
See also:
History of Poland (1939–1945)

Scouting Portal

Szare Szeregi (Polish for Grey Ranks) was a codename for the underground Polish Scouting Association (Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego) during World War II. The organisation was created on September 27, 1939, in Warsaw and largely contributed to all resistance actions of the Polish Secret State and its members were among the best trained troops of the Home Army. Polish Secret State (also known as Polish Underground State; Polish Polskie Państwo Podziemne) is a term coined by Jan Karski in his book Story of a Secret State; it is used to refer to all underground resistance organizations in Poland during World War II, both military and civilian. ... Unofficial flag of the Armia Krajowa and the Polish Secret State. ... Main article: Polish government in exile On 1 September 1939, without a formal declaration of war, Germany invaded Poland. ... Government Delegates Office at Home (Polish Delegatura Rządu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej na Kraj) was one of the agendas of the Polish Government in Exile during World War II. It was the highest authority of the Polish Secret State in occupied Poland and was headed by the Government Delegate at Home... This article contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Directorate of Civil Resistance (Polish Kierownictwo Walki Cywilnej, short KWC) was one of the branches of the Polish Government Delegate’s Office during World War II. Its main tasks were to maintain the morale of the Polish society, encourage the passive resistance, report German attrocities and cruelties to the Polish... The Polish Socialist Party (Polska Partia Socjalistyczna, PPS) was one of the two most important Polish political parties from its inception in 1892 until 1948, when it merged with the Stalinist Polish Workers Party (PPR) to form the Polish United Workers Party (PZPR), the ruling party in the Peoples... The Polish Workers Party (Polska Partia Robotnicza, PPR) was a communist party in Poland from 1942 to 1948. ... A Bundist demonstration, 1917 The General Jewish Labour Union of Lithuania, Poland and Russia, in Yiddish the Algemeyner Yidisher Arbeter Bund in Lite, Poyln un Rusland (אַלגמײַנער ײדישער אַרבײטערסבונד אין ליטאַ, פוילין און רוסלאַנד), generally called The Bund (בונד) or the Jewish Labor Bund, was a Jewish political party operating in several European countries between the 1890s and the... Hashomer Hatzair (or Hashomer Hatsair or HaShomer HaTzair) (Hebrew: The Young Guard or Guardian [that is] Young) is a Zionist-socialist youth movement founded in 1913 in Galicia (now in Poland) and was also the name of the groups political party in the Yishuv in the pre-1948 British... The Betar Movement (ביתר, also spelled Beitar) is a youth movement founded in 1923 in Riga, Latvia, by Zionist leader Zeev Jabotinsky. ... Obóz Narodowo-Radykalny (National Radical Camp, ONR) was a Polish nationalist nazis political party, formed on May 14, 1934 mostly by the youth radicals who left the Narodowa Demokracja movement. ... Stronnictwo Demokratyczne (Democratic Party, SD) is a Polish centrist party established on April 15, 1939. ... ZwiÄ…zek Walki Zbrojnej (ZWZ; Association of Armed Struggle) was a cryptonym of the Polish Army formed in Poland after it was occupied by Germany and the Soviet Union as a resultof the Polish Defence War. ... The Armia Krajowa (Home Army) or AK functioned as the dominant resistance movement in German-occupied Poland, which was active in all areas of the country from September 1939 until its disbanding in January 1945. ... PaÅ„stwowy Korpus BezpieczeÅ„stwa (Polish for National Security Corps, short PKB) was a Polish underground police force organized by the Armia Krajowa and Delegates Office under German occupation during World War II. It was trained as the core of the future police forces during the assumed all-national... Bataliony ChÅ‚opskie (BCh, Polish Peasants Battalions) was a Polish World War II resistance movement and partisan organisation. ... Narodowe Siły Zbrojne (English National Armed Forces, NSZ) was one of the Polish armed underground guerilla organizations, fighting Nazi German occupation in General Government. ... Gwardia Ludowa (Peoples Guard, abbreviated GL) was a World War II resistance movement in Poland, organised by the Polish Workers Party. ... Armia Ludowa (AL, pronounced ; English Polish Peoples Army) was a Polish World War II resistance organisation. ... Other languages FAQs | Table free Welcome to Wikipedia, the free-content encyclopedia that anyone can edit. ... Å»ydowski ZwiÄ…zek Wojskowy (Å»ZW, Polish for Jewish Military Union) was an underground organisation operating during World War II in the area of Warsaw Ghetto and fighting during Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. ... Main article: Polish government in exile On September 1, 1939, without formal declaration of war, Germany invaded Poland. ... Image File history File links Portal. ... Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego (Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, ZHP) is the Polish Scouting organization recognized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 95 days remaining. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Warsaw (Polish: , (?), in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto StoÅ‚eczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ... Polish Secret State (also known as Polish Underground State; Polish Polskie Państwo Podziemne) is a term coined by Jan Karski in his book Story of a Secret State; it is used to refer to all underground resistance organizations in Poland during World War II, both military and civilian. ... For other meanings of Home Army see: Home Army (disambiguation) The Armia Krajowa or AK (Home Army) functioned as the pre-eminent underground military organization in German-occupied Poland, which functioned in all areas of the country from September 1939 until its disbanding in January 1945. ...

Although formally independent, the Szare Szeregi were cooperating closely with the Government Delegate's Office at Home and the Headquarters of the Home Army. It was headed by its own headquarters named Naczelnictwo, that was "manned" by 5 or 6 members. Government Delegates Office at Home (Polish Delegatura Rządu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej na Kraj) was one of the agendas of the Polish Government in Exile during World War II. It was the highest authority of the Polish Secret State in occupied Poland and was headed by the Government Delegate at Home... For other meanings of Home Army see: Home Army (disambiguation) The Armia Krajowa or AK (Home Army) functioned as the pre-eminent underground military organization in German-occupied Poland, which functioned in all areas of the country from September 1939 until its disbanding in January 1945. ...

Code-name

The code-name Szare Szeregi was not adopted until 1940. Initially it was used by the underground scouting in Poznań. The name was coined after one of the early actions of the ZHP, in which the Boy Scouts distributed large amounts of propaganda leaflets among the German settlers from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, settled in the homes of Poles expelled to the General Government. For greater confusion, the leaflets were signed with an acronym SS, which was later expanded to Szare Szeregi and adopted by the whole organisation. 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... The Poznan is also a breed of horse. ... Fleur-de-lys, the symbol of the ZHP ZwiÄ…zek Harcerstwa Polskiego (Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, ZHP) is the coeducational Polish Scouting organization recognized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. ... The General Government (in full General government for the occupied Polish areas, in German Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete) was the name given by Germany to the governing authority in Poland after its occupation by the Wehrmacht in September and October 1939. ... SS or ss or Ss may be: The Schutzstaffel, a Nazi paramilitary force Steamship (SS) (ship prefix) The United States Secret Service A submarine not powered by nuclear energy (SS) (United States Navy designator), see SSN A Soviet/Russian surface-to-surface missile, as listed by NATO reporting name Shortstop...

Principles

The Szare Szeregi were following the pre-war principles of the ZHP: service to the people and their country, as well as education and improvement of their skills. In addition to the pre-war oath, the following line was added: I also swear to you that I shall serve with the Szare Szeregi, I shall keep the secrets of the organisation, follow the orders and will not risk my life. In addition to the Scouting moral code, the Szare Szeregi also followed the basic three-step path of actions. The program was nick-named "Dziś - jutro - pojutrze" (Today - tomorrow - the day after): Fleur-de-lys, the symbol of the ZHP ZwiÄ…zek Harcerstwa Polskiego (Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, ZHP) is the coeducational Polish Scouting organization recognized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. ... Scouting is a worldwide youth organization. ...

• Today - struggle for the independence of Poland
• Tomorrow - preparations for the all-national uprising and liberation of Poland
• The Day After - preparations for reconstruction of Poland after the war

Postmen during the Warsaw Uprising

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x823, 71 KB)Szare Szeregi Scout Postal Service during the Warsaw Uprising Published in: Jerzy Kasprzak Albatros, Tropami powstańczej przesyłki, 1972 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x823, 71 KB)Szare Szeregi Scout Postal Service during the Warsaw Uprising Published in: Jerzy Kasprzak Albatros, Tropami powstańczej przesyłki, 1972 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this...

Structure

The structure of the Szare Szeregi was based on pre-war structure of the ZHP, modified to suit the new circumstances of occupation and persecution. The basic unit of ZHP was a drużyna (troop), consisting of approximately 20 boys or girls. Each drużyna is formed by several groups named zastęp consisting of 7 people. Several troops from a specified area (borough, village, town) form a hufiec (district) which in turn is a part of one of the regions called chorągiew (literally banner). During World War II each of the units was referred to by its own code-name: Fleur-de-lys, the symbol of the ZHP ZwiÄ…zek Harcerstwa Polskiego (Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, ZHP) is the coeducational Polish Scouting organization recognized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. ...

• chorągiew (banner) - ul (beehive)
• hufiec (district) - rój (hive)
• drużyna (troop) - rodzina (family)
• zastęp (squad) - pszczoły (bees)

The Commander's office and the Headquarters of the Szare Szeregi were code-named Pasieka (apiary). The Commanders of the Szare Szeregi were:

• Florian Marciniak (September 27, 1939 - May 6, 1943)
• Stanisław Broniewski "Orsza" (May 12, 1943 - October 3, 1944)
• Leon Marszałek (October 3, 1944 - January 18, 1945)

At the greatest extent of its strength, the Headquarters commanded 20 banners. To control the movement, the area of pre-war Poland was divided onto departments, each supervising several banners in which the ZHP operated in similar circumstances. Florian Marciniak codename: Jerzy Nowak, Nowak, J.Krzemień, Szary, Flo (b. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 95 days remaining. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... Stanisław Broniewski codename: Stefan Orsza, Witold, K. Krzemień (born December 29, 1915 in Warsaw - died December 30, 2000 in Wesoła near Warsaw, Poland) was a Polish economist, Naczelnik of the scouting resistance and second lieutenant of the Armia Krajowa during the Second World War. ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ...

• Western Department (Wydział Zachodni, Z) - areas annexed by Nazi Germany:
  • Pomeranian banner - ul "Lina" (beehive Line)
  • Greater Polish - ul "Przemysław" (beehive Przemysław)
  • Łódź - ul "Kominy" (beehive Chimneys)
  • Zagłębie - ul "Barbara" (beehive Barbara)
  • Silesian - ul "Huta" (beehive Steel mill)

Kotwica painted by the Szare Szeregi on one of Warsaw's monuments

Additional banner was formed in the General Government and commanded all the scouts from Greater Poland expelled from their homes by the Germans (ul "Chrobry" - beehive Chrobry). Historic Pomerania (outlined in yellow) on the background of modern country borders. ... Greater Poland (also Great Poland; Polish: Wielkopolska, German: Grosspolen, Latin: Polonia Maior) is one of the historical regions of Poland. ... Places PrzemyÅ›l – a city in SE Poland, probably established by an unknown duke called PrzemysÅ‚ PrzemyÅ›l Voivodship – a Polish province from 1975 to 1998 People PrzemysÅ‚, PrzemysÅ‚aw, PÅ™emysl or Przemko is a common Slavic name. ... Łódź (pronunciation: ), Polands third-largest city (population 776,297 in 2004), lies in the center of the country. ... ZagÅ‚Ä™bie DÄ…browskie (literally Ore Region of DÄ…browa; (?)) is a historical and geographical region in Poland. ... St. ... Prussian Silesia, 1871, outlined in yellow; Silesia at the close of the Seven Years War in 1763, outlined in cyan (areas now in the Czech Republic were Austrian-ruled at that time) Silesia (Czech: ; German: ; Polish: ) is a historical region in central Europe. ... Image File history File links Maly_sabotaz_kotwica. ... Image File history File links Maly_sabotaz_kotwica. ... Kotwica painted on one of the monuments in Warsaw by the Szare Szeregi Kotwica (Polish anchor) was the symbol of the Polish Secret State and the Armia Krajowa during World War II. It was created in 1942 by the members of the Wawer Small Sabotage unit of the Armia Krajowa... The General Government (in full General government for the occupied Polish areas, in German Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete) was the name given by Germany to the governing authority in Poland after its occupation by the Wehrmacht in September and October 1939. ... Greater Poland (also Great Poland; Polish: Wielkopolska, German: Grosspolen, Latin: Polonia Maior) is one of the historical regions of Poland. ... Reign From 992 until 1025 Coronation On April 18, 1025 in Gniezno Cathedral, Poland Royal House Piast Coat of Arms Orzeł Piastowski Parents Mieszko I Dubrawka Consorts Rikdaga Judith Enmilda Oda Children with Judith Bezprym with Enmilda Regelina Mieszko II Lambert Otton with Oda Matylda Date of Birth 966/967...

• Eastern Department (Wydział Wschodni, W) - eastern voivodships of Poland
  • Białystok - ul "Biały" (beehive White)
  • Wilno - ul "Brama" (beehive Gate)
  • Polesie - ul "Błota" (beehive Marshes)
  • Nowogródek - ul "Las" (beehive Forest)
  • Wołyń - ul "Gleba" (beehive Soil)

Additional banner was formed for all the scouts expelled from their homes to the General Gouvernment (ul "Złoty" - beehive Golden). The voivodship (Polish: województwo) has been a second-level administrative unit in Poland since the 14th century. ... BiaÅ‚ystok (pronounced: , Belarusian: , Lithuanian: , Yiddish ביאַליסטאָק) is the largest city (pop. ... Vilnius Old Town Vilnius (sometimes Vilna; Polish Wilno, Belarusian Вільня, Russian Вильнюс, see also Cities alternative names) is the capital city of Lithuania. ... Polesie is one of the largest European swampy areas, located in the South-Western part of the Eastern-European Lowland, mainly within the territories of Belarus, Ukraine and partly also within Poland and Russia. ... Pinsk Marshes (Пинские болота) or Pripyat Marshes (Pripet Marshes, Припятские болота) is a vast territory of wetlands along the Pripyat River and its tributaries from Brest, Belarus (West) to Mahileu (Northeast) and Kiev (Southeast). ... Navahradak (Нава́градак in Belarusian; Polish: Nowogródek; Russian: Novogrudok, Lithuanian: Naugardukas) is a Belarusian city with an old history, the first capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. ... Pochayiv Lavra, the spiritual heart of Volhynia Volhynia (Ukrainian: , Polish: , Russian: ; also called Volynia) comprises the historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Pripyat and Western Bug -- to the north of Galicia and of Podolia. ... Chernozem, or Black Earth (from Russian: ), is a kind of soil. ... The General Government (in full General government for the occupied Polish areas, in German Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete) was the name given by Germany to the governing authority in Poland after its occupation by the Wehrmacht in September and October 1939. ...

• Central Poland Department (Wydział Polski Centralnej, C)
  • Warsaw - ul "Wisła" (beehive Vistula)
  • Masovian - ul "Puszcza" (beehive Wilderness)
  • Radom - ul "Rady" (beehive Councils)
  • Lublin - ul "Zboże" (beehive Grain)

• Southern Poland Department (Wydział Polski Południowej, P)
  • Kielce - ul "Skała" (beehive Rock)
  • Częstochowa - ul "Warta" (beehive Warta)
  • Kraków - ul "Smok" (beehive Dragon)
• Lwów - ul "Lew" (beehive Lion)

The communication between the departments and beehives was commanded by inspectors, subordinate to the Headquarters: Eugeniusz Stasiecki, Edward Zurn and Kazimierz Grenda. Warsaw (Polish: , (?), in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto StoÅ‚eczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ... The Vistula (Polish: WisÅ‚a) is the longest river in Poland. ... Historical division of Masovia Masovia (Polish: Mazowsze) is a geographical and historical region situated in central Poland with its capital at Warsaw. ... Swamp in Kampinos Forest Kampinos Forest (Polish: ) is a large forest complex located to the west of Warsaw in Poland. ... Radom (pronounce: [radÉ”m]) is a city in central Poland with 227 309 inhabitants. ... For other uses, see Lublin (disambiguation). ... Kielce (pronounce: [ˈkjεlʦε]) is a city in central Poland with 202,609 inhabitants (2006). ... Motto: CzÄ™stochowa is a good city Voivodship Silesian Municipal government Rada miasta CzÄ™stochowy Mayor Tadeusz Wrona Area 160 km² Population  - city  - urban  - density 248,894 (2004) none 1 597/km² Founded City rights 11th century after 1370 Latitude Longitude 50°48N 19°07E Area code +48... Warta (Latin: Varta, German: Warthe) is a river in western-central Poland, a tributary of the Oder river. ... Tomb of Kazimierz the Great St. ... Smok Wawelski, also known as The Dragon of Wawel Hill or simply The Wawel Dragon, is a famous dragon in Polish folklore. ... Motto: Semper fidelis Oblast Lviv Oblast Municipal government City council (Львівська міська рада) Mayor City chairman Lyubomyr Bunyak Area 171,01 km² Population  - city  - urban  - density 808,900 ? 4786/km² Founded City rights 13th century 1353 Latitude Longitude 49°51′ N 24°01′ E Area code +0322 Car plates  ? Twin towns Corning, Freiburg... Eugeniusz Stasiecki codename: Piotr Pomian, Poleski, Piotr (b. ...

Internal structure

Scouting in Poland

Major associations ZHP ZHR SHK Zawisza Stowarzyszenie Harcerskie History Mury Szare Szeregi Personnel Presidents Chief Scouts Scout Instructors Scouts and Guides Rank insignia Awards and decorations Other Anthem Krzyż Harcerski Terminology

On May 1, 1944, the Szare Szeregi had 8 359 members. Initially only the elder scouts (Senior Scouts, Senior Guides, Rovers and Rangers) 17 and up were admitted. However, soon the number of younger children admitted grew and in 1942 the new structure was adopted, based mostly on the pre-war structure of the ZHP. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links pl wiki File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Fleur-de-lys, the symbol of the ZHP Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego (Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, ZHP) is the coeducational Polish Scouting organization recognized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. ... Image File history File links pl wiki File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Lily emblem of the ZHR. Związek Harcerstwa Rzeczypospolitej (Scouting Association of the Republic, ZHR) is a Polish Scouting organization founded on February 25, 1989. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links pl wiki File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... “Mury” – “The Walls”, the clandestine Girl Scouts group organized by young Polish women; political prisoners in the concentration camp in Ravensbrück. ... Przewodniczący ZHP (President) is the highest function in the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP). ... Naczelnik ZHP (Chief Scout) is beside the President of the ZHP, the highest function in the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP). ... // A B hm. ... // Origins to be written Rank insignia Scouts Scout instructors See also Scouting Polish Armed Forces rank insignia Categories: Poland-related stubs | Scouting in Poland | Scouting stubs ... The Krzyż harcerski (Polish for The Scouting Cross) is the symbol of the Polish Scouting awarded to all Scouts, Senior Scouts and Rangers. ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... Fleur-de-lys, the symbol of the ZHP Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego (Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, ZHP) is the coeducational Polish Scouting organization recognized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. ...

Zawisza - ages 12-14

Monument to Little Partisan in Warsaw

The troops organised for children between 12 and 14 years of age were code-named after Zawisza Czarny, a famous Polish mediæval knight and diplomat. The troops did not take part in active resistance. Instead, the children were prepared for auxiliary service for the upcoming all-national uprising and taught in secret schools for their future duties in liberated Poland. Among the best-known auxiliary troops formed by the Zawiszacy was the Scouting Postal Service organised during the Warsaw Uprising. Postmen during the Warsaw Uprising Zawisza (Zawiszacy) was a group of the youngest Scouts of the Szare Szeregi. ... Download high resolution version (539x721, 220 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (539x721, 220 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Zawisza the Black Zawisza Czarny z Garbowa (Zawisza the Black from Garbów, also known as The Black Knight), (c. ... This article covers the topic of underground education in Poland (Polish Tajne szkolnictwo) during World War II. After the Polish defeat in the Polish Defence War of 1939 and the subsequent German occupation of most of Polish territory, Poland was divided onto the areas directly incorporated into the Reich and... Combatants Poland Germany Commanders Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski, Antoni ChruÅ›ciel, Tadeusz PeÅ‚czyÅ„ski Erich von dem Bach, Rainer Stahel, Heinz Reinefarth, [Bronislav Kaminski] Strength 50,000 troops 25,000 troops Casualties 18,000 killed, 12,000 wounded, 15,000 taken prisoner 250,000 civilians killed 10,000 killed...

Bojowe Szkoły - ages 15-17

The Bojowe Szkoły (Battle Schools, BS) were troops formed by youngsters of 15 to 17 years of age. They took part in various actions of the so-called small sabotage. Such actions included a variety of propaganda actions, aimed both at the Poles, the German civilians and the German military units alike. Among the best-known actions of the BS groups are: Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening an enemy through subversion, obstruction, disruption, and/or destruction. ...

• Wawer-Palmiry Action - major propaganda campaign, which included painting patriotic and anti-German slogans on the walls (see also kotwica), distribution of leaflets, posters and stickers, as well as fake issues of supposedly German newspapers, intercepting German propaganda megaphones and using them for spreading Polish propaganda, destroying German flags and other symbols, disrupting German events by setting off fire alarms, and, last but not least, gassing the German-held cinemas with stink bombs. Probably the best-known of such actions was the stealing of a German language tablet attached to the monument to Nicolaus Copernicus in Warsaw.
• "N" Action - distribution of propaganda newspapers and leaflets among the German soldiers stationed in Poland
• "WISS" Action (short for Wywiad - Informacja Szarych Szeregów - Intelligence and Information of the Szare Szeregi), an action on behalf of the Home Army intelligence, in which the BS groups carried out surveillance of German troops and their movement. The information gathered was then passed on to the Allies. Thanks to that action, the Allies were provided with a complete list of German units, their markings and approximate composition, including units down to battalion size.

Girl-guides acting as postmen during the Warsaw Uprising

Other famous actions included marking the street lamps with the signs Nur für Deutsche, to demonstrate that those who hang people will themselves be hanged. Other such action happened after the German authorities started to destroy most monuments to Polish national heroes and historical personalities. Among them was the monument to Jan Kiliński, a leader of a 17th century uprising in Warsaw against the Swedes during The Deluge. His monument was dismantled and placed in the cellars of the former National Museum in Warsaw, waiting to be delivered to one of German steel mills. The scouts were notified of the place where the monument was hidden and overnight marked the walls of the former museum with giant marking People of Warsaw! I'm here. Kiliński. Kotwica painted on one of the monuments in Warsaw by the Szare Szeregi Kotwica (Polish anchor) was the symbol of the Polish Secret State and the Armia Krajowa during World War II. It was created in 1942 by the members of the Wawer Small Sabotage unit of the Armia Krajowa... Nicolaus Copernicus (February 19, 1473 – May 24, 1543) was an astronomer who provided the first modern formulation of a heliocentric (sun-centered) theory of the solar system in his epochal book, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres). ... For other meanings of Home Army see: Home Army (disambiguation) The Armia Krajowa or AK (Home Army) functioned as the pre-eminent underground military organization in German-occupied Poland, which functioned in all areas of the country from September 1939 until its disbanding in January 1945. ... Image File history File links Harcerska_Poczta_Polowa_Zawiszacy_listonoszki. ... Image File history File links Harcerska_Poczta_Polowa_Zawiszacy_listonoszki. ... Nur für Deutsche (German: For Germans only): during World War II, in many German-occupied countries, signs bearing this admonition were posted at entrances to parks, cafes, cinemas, theaters and other facilities reserved for Germans only. ... The Taj Mahal, commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, as a mausoleum for his wife, Arjumand Banu Begum. ... Jan KiliÅ„ski - (1760-1819 was one of the most illustrious commanders of the KoÅ›ciuszko Uprising. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Combatants Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and allies Sweden and allies Commanders Jan Kazimierz of Poland Charles X of Sweden Strength Casualties This article is about the history of Poland. ...

As part of their secret training, the boys and girls of the BS were prepared for service in the Home Army on lower posts, as members of the commanders' troops, communication units and reconnaissance units. During the Warsaw Uprising the BS units in the borough of Śródmieście formed a separate company, while in other boroughs they formed separate platoons. For other meanings of Home Army see: Home Army (disambiguation) The Armia Krajowa or AK (Home Army) functioned as the pre-eminent underground military organization in German-occupied Poland, which functioned in all areas of the country from September 1939 until its disbanding in January 1945. ... Combatants Poland Germany Commanders Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski, Antoni ChruÅ›ciel, Tadeusz PeÅ‚czyÅ„ski Erich von dem Bach, Rainer Stahel, Heinz Reinefarth, [Bronislav Kaminski] Strength 50,000 troops 25,000 troops Casualties 18,000 killed, 12,000 wounded, 15,000 taken prisoner 250,000 civilians killed 10,000 killed... Area 15. ... A company is, in general, any group of persons, which are known as its members, united to pursue a common interest. ... Platoon is a term from military science. ...

Grupy Szturmowe - ages 17 and up

GS scouts during the Warsaw Uprising

http://polonianews.com/warsaw44/boy-scout1.jpg Young boy and girl scouts fighting in the Warsaw Uprising Author unknown, from the archives of Archives of Audiovisual Documentation (Archiwum Dokumentacji Audiowizualnej), Warsaw This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Young boy and girl scouts fighting in the Warsaw Uprising Author unknown, from the archives of Archives of Audiovisual Documentation (Archiwum Dokumentacji Audiowizualnej), Warsaw This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Combatants Poland Germany Commanders Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski, Antoni Chruściel, Tadeusz Pełczyński Erich von dem Bach, Rainer Stahel, Heinz Reinefarth, [Bronislav Kaminski] Strength 50,000 troops 25,000 troops Casualties 18,000 killed, 12,000 wounded, 15,000 taken prisoner 250,000 civilians killed 10,000 killed...

The Grupy Szturmowe (Assault Groups, GS) were composed of youngsters of ages 17 and up, and were directly subordinate to the KeDyw (Directorate of Diversion) of the Home Army. The GS groups took part in the so-called major sabotage, which included armed struggle against the occupants. In Warsaw the GS groups formed the backbone of the special troops of the Home Army, which carried out various missions. These included liberating prisoners from German prisons and transports, using explosives on railroad bridges, carrying out executions ordered by the Special Courts and open fight against German outposts (Operation Belt). The GS units in Warsaw were organised into several battalions, among them the famous battalions "Zośka", "Parasol" and "Wigry", that later took part in the Warsaw Uprising and were one of the most notable and successful units on the Polish side. Other units (mainly in the Radom-Kielce area) were joined with the partisan units operating in the forests of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains. [1] Kedyw (acronym for Kierownictwo Dywersji, Polish Directorate of Sabotage and Diversion; probably also a play on the Turkish khedive, which translates into Polish as kedyw): a Polish World War II Armia Krajowa organization that specialized in active and passive sabotage, propaganda and armed action against German forces and collaborators. ... For other meanings of Home Army see: Home Army (disambiguation) The Armia Krajowa or AK (Home Army) functioned as the pre-eminent underground military organization in German-occupied Poland, which functioned in all areas of the country from September 1939 until its disbanding in January 1945. ... This is an article on the Polish special courts during WWII. For information on the infamous German special courts during the same period see: Sondergerichte Special Courts (Polish Sądy Specjalne) were the underground courts organized by the Polish Government in Exile during World War II in occupied Poland. ... Operation Belt (Polish Akcja Taśma) was one of the large-scaled anti-German operations of the Armia Krajowa Kedyw during the World War II. In August 1943 the headquarters of the Armia Krajowa ordered Kedyw to prepare an armed action against German border guarding stations on the frontier between the... Combatants Poland Germany Commanders Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski, Antoni ChruÅ›ciel, Tadeusz PeÅ‚czyÅ„ski Erich von dem Bach, Rainer Stahel, Heinz Reinefarth, [Bronislav Kaminski] Strength 50,000 troops 25,000 troops Casualties 18,000 killed, 12,000 wounded, 15,000 taken prisoner 250,000 civilians killed 10,000 killed... LeÅ›ni (short for LeÅ›ni ludzie, Polish for the men from the forests) is one of the informal names applied to the partisan groups operating in occupied Poland during the World War II. The groups were formed mostly by people who for various reasons could not operate from settlements... Swietokrzyskie Mountains landscape Świętokrzyskie Mountains (sometimes also Holy Cross Mountains, Polish Góry Świętokrzyskie) are a mountain range in central Poland, surrounding the city of Kielce. ...

The GS groups were trained in secret NCO schools and officer schools for the commanders of motorised and engineering units. Most GS members were also studying at the Secret Universities, to gain experience necessary to reconstruct Poland after the war. Among the best-known such NCO schools was Warsaw-based Agricola. NCO may mean: a numerically-controlled oscillator in electronics a non-commissioned officer in the military   This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... This article covers the topic of underground education in Poland (Polish Tajne szkolnictwo) during World War II. After the Polish defeat in the Polish Defence War of 1939 and the subsequent German occupation of most of Polish territory, Poland was divided onto the areas directly incorporated into the Reich and... NCO may mean: a numerically-controlled oscillator in electronics a non-commissioned officer in the military   This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Warsaw (Polish: , (?), in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto StoÅ‚eczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ...

See also

• Polish Secret State
• Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego
• Mury
• Batalion Zośka
• Batalion Parasol
• Franz Six
• http://www.scouting.milestones.btinternet.co.uk/jayfiles/jay-part-1.htm

Polish Secret State (also known as Polish Underground State; Polish Polskie Państwo Podziemne) is a term coined by Jan Karski in his book Story of a Secret State; it is used to refer to all underground resistance organizations in Poland during World War II, both military and civilian. ... Fleur-de-lys, the symbol of the ZHP ZwiÄ…zek Harcerstwa Polskiego (Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, ZHP) is the coeducational Polish Scouting organization recognized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. ... “Mury” – “The Walls”, the clandestine Girl Scouts group organized by young Polish women; political prisoners in the concentration camp in Ravensbrück. ... The Batalion ZoÅ›ka (named after Tadeusz Zawadzki) was a scouting battalion of the Armia Krajowa, mainly consisted by members of the Szare Szeregi, which took part in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. ... The Batalion Parasol (Umbrella) was a scouting battalion of the Armia Krajowa, mainly consisted by members of the Szare Szeregi, which took part in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. ... SS-Brigadeführer Franz Six Dr. Franz Alfred Six (August 12, 1909 in Mannheim - July 9, 1975 in Bozen-Bolzano) first rose to prominence as dean of the faculty of Economics of the University of Berlin. ...

External link

• Detailed article