Remember Them

The Warsaw uprising lasted for over 60 days, from August 1 to early October 1944. In one of the most heroic episodes of World War II, the Polish underground army, known as the AK, took on numerically superior and better-armed Wehrmacht and SS units. The outcome was catastrophic. When the AK finally surrendered to brute force, the Germans evacuated all the inhabitants of Warsaw amid scenes of random murder. In the course of the whole ordeal at least 160,000 Poles, and perhaps many more, were killed. With flamethrowers and dynamite, the Germans then destroyed the deserted city with all its historic landmarks, its cathedral and palaces. The street layout became unrecognizable. Hitler was gratified: This was the fate he had always anticipated for the Poles.

From the outset of the German occupation in 1939, many Poles had been preparing a secret army of resistance. They intended to free themselves but could do so only once the Germans were retreating. Timing was crucial. There was an ominous precedent: In April 1943, Jews crammed into the Warsaw ghetto had chosen to fight rather than be deported to their death. The Germans duly killed at least 20,000 of them, deported as many, and razed the entire ghetto.

About the Author

David Pryce-Jones

David Pryce-Jones (1936–2025) was a British author and commentator and served as a senior editor of National Review.

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The Warsaw uprising lasted for over 60 days, from August 1 to early October 1944. In one of the most heroic episodes of World War II, the Polish underground army, known as the AK, took on numerically superior and better-armed Wehrmacht and SS units. The outcome was catastrophic. When the AK finally surrendered to brute force, the Germans evacuated all the inhabitants of Warsaw amid scenes of random murder. In the course of the whole ordeal at least 160,000 Poles, and perhaps many more, were killed. With flamethrowers and dynamite, the Germans then destroyed the deserted city with all its historic landmarks, its cathedral and palaces. The street layout became unrecognizable. Hitler was gratified: This was the fate he had always anticipated for the Poles.

From the outset of the German occupation in 1939, many Poles had been preparing a secret army of resistance. They intended to free themselves but could do so only once the Germans were retreating. Timing was crucial. There was an ominous precedent: In April 1943, Jews crammed into the Warsaw ghetto had chosen to fight rather than be deported to their death. The Germans duly killed at least 20,000 of them, deported as many, and razed the entire ghetto.