August 1st Marks the Anniversary of the Beginning of the Warsaw Uprising During World War II

 

Today marks an important anniversary of World War II. It was on this day in 1944, in Nazi occupied Poland, that a very significant uprising against the German occupation began in Warsaw.  It occurred as things were going very badly for Germany at that point. The Western Allies had opened up a front in France and were driving towards Germany from one side, and the Soviets were pounding the Germans and driving them back and forcing the Nazis to retreat towards the borders of the Reich - and eventually well into it - on the Eastern Front.

The revolt began when it seemed like the Poles could count on help from the Soviets, who had reached the outskirts of the city.

However, it turned out that they could not rely on the Soviets. Josef Stalin ordered a halt to the advance against the Germans just outside of Warsaw, They effectively allowed the Germans to do their fighting for them, as the Soviets did not want to fight the Western-supported rebels, as they had their own pro-Soviet government ready and in waiting. 

So the rebels trying to overthrow Nazi occupied rule in Warsaw were left to their own devices. The uprising continued until October 2nd, when Polish forces ultimately were forced to surrender. Many of them were sent to the camps or otherwise killed. The city of Warsaw itself was largely destroyed.

Yet, the memory of their sacrifice and bravery lives on. 

Today, I honor this anniversary by trying to allow the memory of this sad historical occasion to endure.