Polish resistance movement in World War II

Polish resistance during World War II
Part of Resistance during World War II and the Eastern Front of World War II

Sequentially from top: soldiers from Kolegium "A" of Kedyw on Stawki Street in Wola district, during the Warsaw Uprising, 1944; Jewish prisoners of Gęsiówka concentration camp liberated by Polish Home Army soldiers from "Zośka" Battalion, 5 August 1944; Polish partisans of "Jędrusie" unit in Kielce area, 1945; Old Town of Warsaw in flames during Warsaw Uprising
Date27 September 193925 July 1945
(anti-communist resistance continued until mid-1950s)
Location
Result

Polish Victory

Territorial
changes
Borders of Poland altered; prewar eastern territories of Poland ceded to the Soviet Union in exchange for former German territories in the West
Belligerents

 Germany


 Soviet Union
(1939–1941; after 1944 against non-Communists only)
Ukrainian Insurgent Army
(1943–1945)

Polish Underground State

Peasants' Battalions[b]
National Armed Forces[c]
and others...
Supported by:
Polish Government-in-Exile
Western Allies
Provisional Government[d] Supported by:
Soviet Union (After 1941)
Commanders and leaders
Strength
1,080,000 (1944) Polish Underground State
650,000 (1944)[1]
Polish People's Army
~200,000
Casualties and losses

 Germany

  • up to 150,000 killed, 6,000 officials assassinated
  • 4,326 damaged or destroyed vehicles
  • 1/8 of Eastern Front rail transport damaged or destroyed

Ukrainian Insurgent Army

  • 6,000–12,000 killed

Polish Underground State

  • ~34,000–100,000 killed
  • 20,000–50,000 wounded or captured

Polish People's Army

  • ~5,000–10,000

In Poland, the resistance movement during World War II was led by the Home Army. The Polish resistance is notable among others for disrupting German supply lines to the Eastern Front (damaging or destroying 1/8 of all rail transports), and providing intelligence reports to the British intelligence agencies (providing 43% of all reports from occupied Europe). It was a part of the Polish Underground State.


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  1. ^ Krzysztof Komorowski (2009). Boje polskie 1939–1945: przewodnik encyklopedyczny (in Polish). Bellona. p. 6. ISBN 978-8373993532.

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