Warsaw Uprising
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The Warsaw Uprising was an insurgency organised by Poles in the city of Warsaw, commencing 1 August 1944, against the occupying German forces during World War II, imagining that the advancing forces of the Soviet Union would rush to the aid of the insurgents. The last thing that Stalin wanted in his plans for a future communist puppet state in Poland was ferocious fascists, including any of significant social or military ranks, and the Red Army declined involvement, halting their advance. The insurgency was then left to the Germans to deal with, who were exceptionally angry that it was taking place when they were very hard-pressed by the advance of the Soviet Red Army.
History
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On 25 July 1944, the Polish government-in-exile (without the knowledge and against the wishes of Polish Commander-in-Chief General Kazimierz Sosnkowski) approved the plan for an uprising in Warsaw with the timing to be decided locally.
On 27 July 1944, the Governor of the Warsaw District, Ludwig Fischer, called for 100,000 Polish men and women to report for work as part of a plan which envisaged the Poles constructing fortifications around the city. The inhabitants of Warsaw ignored his demand, as ordered by the "Home Army". The Soviet forces were approaching Warsaw, and Soviet-controlled radio stations called for the Polish people "to rise in arms".
In late July 1944, the German units stationed in and around Warsaw were divided into three categories. The first and the most numerous was the garrison of Warsaw. As of 31 July, it numbered some 11,000 troops under General Rainer Stahel. During the Second Warsaw Uprising the German side received reinforcements on a daily basis. On 29 July, the first Soviet armoured units reached the outskirts of Warsaw, where they were counter-attacked by two German Panzer Corps:
- 39th Panzer Corps under Dietrich von Saucken (de)
- 4th SS Panzer Corps under Herbert Otto Gille (de)
Stahel was replaced as overall commander by SS-General Erich von dem Bach in early August. As of 20 August 1944, the German units directly involved with fighting in Warsaw comprised 17,000 men arranged in two battle groups against 49,000 enemies[1] supported by the Royal Air Force, among them four Polish squadrons (4 August to 21 September), the South African Air Force, the Red Army Air Force (as of 13 September) and the USAAF during the "Warsaw airlift" (18 September 1944).
On 30 September 1944, while in London, General Sosnkowski was dismissed as Polish Commander-in-Chief. Generał Tadeusz Komorowski (1 June 1895 – 24 August 1966), better known by the name Bór-Komorowski, was promoted in his place, even though he was trapped in Warsaw.
Surrender
The capitulation order of the remaining Polish forces was finally signed on 2 October 1944. All fighting ceased that evening. The Soviet Lublin–Brest Offensive had been halted and 80–90% of Warsaw had been destroyed, also through Allied bombing operations. The Poles spared neither the civilian population nor the city to advantage the uprising. They left behind barren earth. This was blamed on the Germans in post-war historiography.
Casualties and losses
Insurgents
- The Polish insurgents counted 15,200+ killed and missing, 5,000 to 25,000 wounded and 15,000 POWs. The Polish First Army had another 5,660 casualties, 41 aircraft were destroyed by the Germans.
Defenders
- The German defenders had 2,000 to 10,000 ⚔ (among them Italian Arzelino „Lino“ Masarié, but also many foreign SS volunteers) and missing as well as 7,000 to 9,000 wounded. Multiple German Panzer and armored vehicles were lost.
Decorations
On 30 September 1944, Hitler decorated
with grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Many lower decorations were awarded to officers, NCOs and enlisted men.
See also
References
- ↑ Borowiec, Andrew (2001). Destroy Warsaw! Hitler's punishment, Stalin's revenge. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger. ISBN 0-275-97005-1. p. 6