If someone were to ask me about important dates between 1939 and 1945, I think 14 February 1942 would be one of them. On that day, Commander-in-Chief Gen. Władysław Sikorski transformed the Union of Armed Struggle into the Home Army and appointed General Stefan Rowecki as its commander.

This was not just a simple name change but an event of much greater importance. It showed that not only the soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces in the West were fighting against the occupying forces but also the soldiers of the underground army fighting in their homeland. This is how their efforts, sacrifice and perseverance under the constant threat of death were honored.

"(...) I pledge allegiance to my Fatherland, the Republic of Poland. I pledge to steadfastly guard Her honour, and to fight for Her liberation with all my strength, even to the extent of sacrificing my own life."

Fragment of the oath taken by Home Army soldiers

The underground fight against the Germans occupying Polish territory began on 27 September 1939, when the Service for Poland's Victory [Służba Zwycięstwu Polski – SZP] was established. In addition, Poles spontaneously and without outside inspiration formed numerous underground organizations. In November 1939, the SZP was transformed into the ZWZ, beginning the operation of merging other underground organizations into a single structure. The persistent work of the government-in-exile led to the creation of one of the largest underground armies in occupied Europe. At the beginning of 1942, it already numbered around 100,000 sworn soldiers, and after recruitment in the summer of 1944, it grew to around 380,000 members.

The Home Army carried out numerous subversive operations and also conducted intelligence operations. Its activities varied – from small-scale sabotage to attacks on German posts, or blowing up trains with supplies intended for the Wehrmacht. As part of the Home Army’s intelligence activities, it managed to obtain, among others, the greatest secrets of the Third Reich – information about the construction of the V-1 and V-2 Vengeance Weapons.

The establishment of the Home Army is also associated with the creation of the most recognizable symbol of the Polish Underground State – the Fighting Poland anchor [Kotwica]. Even though 80 years have passed since it was first designed, this simple yet brilliant symbol is known by every Pole today.

Home Army soldiers were also responsible for preparing a general uprising as part of Operation Tempest, which was to show the approaching Red Army that Poles would never surrender to the USSR. The outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising was also supposed to finally liberate the Polish capital from German occupation. Unfortunately, it ended in disaster. However, the blood spilled by the Home Army soldiers and the civilian population of Warsaw was not in vain. The world learned about the struggle of the Poles, and for us, this uprising was an inspiration to keep fighting for freedom.

The dissolution of the Home Army on 19 January 1945 by Gen. Leopold Okulicki did was not the end of the epic story of its soldiers. Some of them began to form troops that actively fought against the communist authorities installed by the USSR. Many of them died or became victims of persecution just for belonging to the Home Army.

80 years after the formation of the Home Army, we should be grateful to its soldiers for their efforts and dedication. About 100,000 of them died in combat and 50,000 more suffered under the oppression of the communist regime. Their sacrifice undoubtedly contributed to the existence of a free Poland.