Video: 'Warsaw Rising: The Forgotten Soldiers of World War II'

(Tuesday, August 1, 1944, first shots fired at German patrol at 1:35 p.m. Central European Summer Time on Krasinski Street in Zoliborz; during the Warsaw Uprising, part of Operation Tempest on the Eastern Front of World War II) — In a bold and desperate bid to liberate Warsaw from Nazi occupation, the Polish underground resistance, led by the Home Army, launched the Warsaw Uprising today, coinciding with the retreat of German forces ahead of the Soviet advance.

The timing of the uprising aligned with the Soviet Lublin–Brest Offensive, part of a broader strategy known as Operation Tempest.

After days of hesitation, the Polish headquarters scheduled “W-hour,” the moment the uprising would begin, for 5:00 p.m. today. This decision, made at 5:00 p.m. on July 31, proved to be a strategic miscalculation as the under-equipped resistance forces were prepared and trained for a series of coordinated surprise dawn attacks.

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Many units had already mobilized and were waiting at assembly points throughout the city. However, the mobilization of thousands of young men and women was hard to conceal. Fighting began in advance of “W-hour,” notably in Zoliborz, and around Napoleon Square and Dabrowski Square.

The primary objectives for the Polish resistance are to expel the German occupiers from Warsaw and to support the Allies in their quest to defeat Germany.

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Additionally, the Polish Underground State aims to assert Polish sovereignty over the capital before the Soviet-backed Polish Committee of National Liberation can take control.

The uprising was driven by a confluence of factors: the imminent threat of German round-ups of able-bodied Poles, encouragement from Radio Moscow’s Polish Service, and a deep-seated desire among Poles for justice and revenge after five brutal years of occupation.

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However, as the Red Army approached the eastern suburbs of Warsaw, they unexpectedly halted their advance. This pause allowed German forces to regroup and mount a fierce counterattack against the Polish resistance.

The lack of Soviet support — no reinforcements or air cover — has sparked controversy and speculation about Soviet intentions. Declassified documents suggest that Joseph Stalin’s decision to halt his forces was a calculated move to weaken the Polish Home Army and facilitate Soviet political dominance in Eastern Europe.

The battle was expected to be intense and prolonged, with the Polish resistance receiving minimal outside support. Initial reports indicate that casualties were already mounting, with thousands of resistance fighters and civilians caught in the crossfire.

The outcome of the Warsaw Uprising would have significant implications for the future of Poland and the broader geopolitical landscape in post-war Europe.

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