in his early 30s
Wladyslaw Sikorski
THE POLISH UNDERGROUND ARMY
On September 27, 1939 one day before Warsaw fell to the Germans, a message was sent between Polish military
commanders:
" I hereby assign to Brigadier General Michael Tadeusz Tokarzewski-Karaszewicz, the powers
granted me by the Commander-in-Chief in agreement with the Government, of commander over
the entire extent of the country in the war against the invaders, with the task of continuing the fight
to maintain independence and the integrity of our borders. "
Polish Lieutenant General Juliusz Rommel
By mid-October 1939, General Karaszewicz was ready to report to the Polish government-in-exile that a newly formed
Underground Army was ready for action and under his command. The unit was named Sluzba Zwyciestwu Polski, SZP
(Service for Poland's Victory). It's Head Council comprised of representatives of Polands three main political parties;
the Polish Socialist Party, the Peasant Party, and the National Party. In December 1939, it was renamed Zwiazek Walki
Zbrojney, ZWZ, ( Union for Armed Struggle), and had as its objective the restoration of Poland's freedom through
armed resistance. The Head Council, initially identified as the core of the SPZ, was renamed Politydzny Komitet
Porozumiewawczy, PKP, the Political Organizing Committee. It expanded its leadership with representatives from the
Labor Party. In addition, a Ministerial Committee for Homeland Affairs was established, and the position of Chief
Government Delegate was created to take charge of all political and administrative matters in Poland. It pledged to
consult with all party representatives in the Political Coordinating Committee.
According to Polish government decree, the ZWZ was set up to be a universal, national, non-party, and non-class military
organization. Colonel Stefan Rowicki was appointed Commander of the ZWZ, based in Warsaw; General Tokarzewski
was Commander of the Soviet-occupied areas. On his way to Lwow, Tokarzewski was arrested by Soviet border guards
and sent to the Russian gulag .In June 1940, after France capitulated, Rowecki was named Commander-in-Chief for
Warsaw. From 193 to 1941, the ZWZ was involved in organizational work to prepare for the coming uprising. It dealt also
with counter-propaganda, reconnaissance, sabotage, diversionary tactics, and intelligence activities. In July 1941,
General Sosnkowski condemned the creation of the Polish-Soviet convention and abruptly resigned from the Polish
govenment-in-exile. He was then appointed to the ZWZ on February 6, 1942, and changed its name to Armia Krajowa, AK
(Home Army). He named General Rowecki as Commander. Meanwhile the Soviets had created Polska Partia
Robotnicza, PPR, the so-called Polish Workers Party, and its military attachment, Armia Lodowa, AL, (The People's Army),
whose allegiance was to the Soviets.
In the period of 1942 to 1943, the total number of fighting members of the AK exceeded 300,000 strong. They succeeded
in incorporating various political parties and the civilian population into its ranks and conducted frequent training
sessions in preparation for an armed uprising.
In June 1941 the Germans had invaded Russia, and occupied the eastern part of Poland. Simultaneously, pockets of
local and provincial civil underground units were being formed in order to fight the Nazis .The AK quickly garnered the
cooperation of many of these disparate units, as well as the support of the Polish population at large. In order to
establish control over fighting units, the ZWZ decreed that all other underground groups submit themselves to their
command by taking an oath of allegiance. On June 30, 1943, after the arrest of General Stefan Rowecki, the Home Army
did not crumble. Despite their great loss, they pledged allegiance to his successor, and former Deputy, General Bor
Komorowski
