Konspiracyjne Wojsko Polskie
Encyclopedia
Konspiracyjne Wojsko Polskie (Underground Polish Army, KWP) was a Polish
paramilitary organization, which existed from April 1945 to as late as 1954, whose purpose was to fight Communist-controlled government of Poland as well as the NKVD
. It was most active in the Łódź Voivodeship, but also in the neighboring provinces of northern Upper Silesia
, eastern Poznań
and western Kielce
.
KWP's creator and leader (since June 1946) was Captain Stanisław Sojczyński
(nom de guerre "Warszyc"). Under his leadership, the organization promoted self-defense from Red Army
units and liquidation of the most zealous servants of the regime, but also KWP was engaged in requisitions of necessary means.
In August 1945 KWP was strengthened by hundreds of members of the disbanded Home Army, who decided to continue fighting for free Poland. In its heyday, the organization had some 3000 armed members, most of them hid in the forests. It also published its own newspaper W swietle prawdy (In the light of truth).
In the spring of 1946 skirmishes between KWP and Urząd Bezpieczeństwa (UB) troops were frequent. In the night of April 19/20 of that year, KWP's unit under Jan Rogolka (nom de guerre "Grot") temporarily captured the town of Radomsko
, releasing 57 persons incarcerated in local prison by the UB. Next day, a battle between UB and KWP took place in a nearby forest.
On June 28, 1946 due to treason, Sojczynski was captured by the UB. Soon afterwards, KWP's structures in Upper Silesia were destroyed, but the organization did not cease to exist. However with new leader, Jerzy Jasinski (nom de guerre "Janusz"), it did not regain its previous strength. At the beginning of 1947 most commanders were arrested, soon afterwards the government declared amnesty and hundreds of underground soldiers took advantage of it. In November of that year another leader, Jan Malolepszy ("Murat") was arrested.
Remains of KWP continued the hopeless fight and remained in forests south of Łódź until 1954.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
paramilitary organization, which existed from April 1945 to as late as 1954, whose purpose was to fight Communist-controlled government of Poland as well as the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
. It was most active in the Łódź Voivodeship, but also in the neighboring provinces of northern Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
, eastern Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
and western Kielce
Kielce
Kielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...
.
KWP's creator and leader (since June 1946) was Captain Stanisław Sojczyński
Stanisław Sojczyński
Stanisław Sojczyński was a captain in the Polish Army and in the Home Army and later the creator and leader of Underground Polish Army . On September 11, 2009, Stanisław Sojczyński was posthumously promoted to the rank of Brigadier General by President of Poland, Lech Kaczynski....
(nom de guerre "Warszyc"). Under his leadership, the organization promoted self-defense from Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
units and liquidation of the most zealous servants of the regime, but also KWP was engaged in requisitions of necessary means.
In August 1945 KWP was strengthened by hundreds of members of the disbanded Home Army, who decided to continue fighting for free Poland. In its heyday, the organization had some 3000 armed members, most of them hid in the forests. It also published its own newspaper W swietle prawdy (In the light of truth).
In the spring of 1946 skirmishes between KWP and Urząd Bezpieczeństwa (UB) troops were frequent. In the night of April 19/20 of that year, KWP's unit under Jan Rogolka (nom de guerre "Grot") temporarily captured the town of Radomsko
Radomsko
Radomsko is a town in central Poland with 50,618 inhabitants . It is situated on the Radomka river in the Łódź Voivodeship , having previously been in Piotrków Trybunalski Voivodeship . It is the capital of Radomsko County....
, releasing 57 persons incarcerated in local prison by the UB. Next day, a battle between UB and KWP took place in a nearby forest.
On June 28, 1946 due to treason, Sojczynski was captured by the UB. Soon afterwards, KWP's structures in Upper Silesia were destroyed, but the organization did not cease to exist. However with new leader, Jerzy Jasinski (nom de guerre "Janusz"), it did not regain its previous strength. At the beginning of 1947 most commanders were arrested, soon afterwards the government declared amnesty and hundreds of underground soldiers took advantage of it. In November of that year another leader, Jan Malolepszy ("Murat") was arrested.
Remains of KWP continued the hopeless fight and remained in forests south of Łódź until 1954.
Sources
- http://powstanie-warszawskie-1944.ac.pl/zw_kwp.htm
- http://podziemiezbrojne.blox.pl/html/1310721,262146,21.html?335321
- http://hczarnecki.republika.pl/wykazorg.htm
- http://www.opcja.pop.pl/numer51/51krzy.html