SERVICE OF THE MEMBERS

of the Women’s Military Training

IN WARSAW UPRISING

1 II 1921 - 30 I 1944

Aleksandra Grzeszczak ps. “Oleńka”

Troop Leader of the Nursing Platoon of the 2nd Company "Rudy" of the "Zośka" Battalion of the Home Army

She studied at the Narcyza Żmichowska High School in Warsaw, where she underwent nursing courses organized by the Polish Red Cross under the auspices of the Women’s Military Training. In the fall of 1939, she took care of wounded soldiers at the Ujazdowski Hospital. In 1941, she began medical studies at the Vocational School for Auxiliary Sanitary Staff run by Dr. Zaorski, which was, in fact, a secret Medical Faculty of the University of Warsaw. She began her underground service by joining the Youth Association group, later becoming part of the Assault Groups of the Grey Ranks. Arrested by the Gestapo in early January 1944 while transporting explosives, she was later executed in the ruins of the ghetto. Awarded the Cross of Valor. From March 1, 1944, the female nursing platoon of the “Zośka” Battalion bore her name.

Stefania Grzeszczak ps. “Stefa”

10 XII 1923 - 15 IX 1944

Liaison Officer in the III Platoon "Felek" of the 2nd Company "Rudy" of the "Zośka" Battalion of the Home Army

The youngest sister of “Oleńka,” like her sister, was a pre-war scout of the Warsaw Girl Scout Region. She started her insurgent trail in Wola. On August 11, along with several other soldiers and nurses of the “Felek” platoon under the command of Andrzej “Xsiąże” Samsonowicz, she was cut off from the battalion and broke through to Kampinos. On August 24, they returned to their colleagues from “Zośka” through Żoliborz and the canals to the Old Town. She was in the only group that managed to cross from the Old Town to Śródmieście through the Saski Garden on August 31, 1944. She died on September 15 in the courtyard of the house at Wilanowska 1, the last stronghold of “Zośka” in Czerniaków. Awarded the Cross of Valor twice.

Organizations in the PWK

In October 1922, with the support of the Polish Women’s Circle, the Red Cross, the White Cross, and the Girl Guides Organization, the Women’s Reserve Committee was established, which also included several other organizations that joined and left over time. Ultimately, the committee operated under the name of the Social Committee for Women’s Military Training. It played a significant role in building social awareness regarding women’s military training and was the first body to keep records of women capable of performing auxiliary military service.

The instruction issued in 1933 defined the training tasks of individual member organizations. Thus, the Women’s Military Training (PWK) was responsible for conducting and registering women’s military training, organizing school and extracurricular troops, and training instructors. The Polish White Cross was responsible for training education staff, the Military Family organization for preparing to care for military families, the State Air Defense League for training in gas and air defense, and the Polish Red Cross for training sanitary and hygiene services. 

The Girl Scouts Association implemented skills related to national defense preparation within their troops and, based on the resolution of July 1928, organized their own Girl Scouts military training. On December 13, 1928, by Order No. 8, the Chief of the Female Main Headquarters called on the troops to immediately commence work according to the attached instructions.

In April 1939, the Emergency Social Service of PWK was established, which rallied around 700,000 trained women and girls, accounting for 10% of the total female population of Poland.

Scout Battalions in Uprising

From the very beginning of their activity, scout movements in Poland were centres of patriotism and independence struggle. It was no different during World War II, when pre-war scouts joined the ranks of the Home Army in large numbers. Organizations such as “Grey Ranks,” “Be Prepared” (formerly “Clover Union”), “Wigry,” or Polish Scouting – “Polish Troops” operated from 1939.

Among the most well-known scout battalions fighting in the Warsaw Uprising were the “Zośka” and “Parasol” Battalions. They originated from Assault Groups of the Grey Ranks and were among the best-trained, battle-hardened, and well-armed insurgent units during the occupation period.

In the autumn of 1942, Warsaw Scout Groups formed the “Jerzy” Special Operations Service of the Home Army, which was transformed into the “Zośka” Battalion on September 1, 1943. A special unit called “Agat” was separated from it, later used to form the “Parasol” Battalion in May 1944. During the Warsaw Uprising, both battalions were part of the “Radosław” Group and went through the toughest battle route: Wola – Old Town – Śródmieście – Czerniaków – Mokotów. On August 5, “Zośka” captured the Gęsiówka camp in Wola, on August 31, its 2nd company “Rudy” under the command of Lt. Andrzej “Moro” Romocki was the only unit to move from the Old Town to Śródmieście through the Saxon Garden, and in September, it held the last bridgeheads in Czerniaków.

The female patrols of “Zośka” and “Parasol” were comprised of magnificent heroines: liaisons, nurses, and soldiers. The “Zośka” Battalion was commanded by Lt. Jerzy “Jerzy” Białous with 520 soldiers, both boys and girls fighting in it, 70% of whom fell in battle. The “Parasol” Battalion, led by Capt. Adam “Pług” Borys lost 50% of its personnel during the uprising.

The “Wigry” Military Scouting Organisation was established in 1939 and merged with the Grey Ranks on October 1, 1943, to bolster its instructional ranks. During the Warsaw Uprising, the “Wigry” Battalion, under the command of Capt. Eugeniusz “Trzaski” Konopacki, fought in Wola, Old Town, and Śródmieście.

The “Gustaw” Battalion belonged to the National Military Organization, which merged into the Home Army in 1942. The scout company of the battalion under the command of Lt. Wojciech “Kostka” Pszczółkowski mainly fought in the Old Town during the uprising. It suffered heavy losses on August 13 during the explosion of the so-called “tank trap” on Podwale Street.

Archival photographs

  1. Aleksandra Grzeszczak in PWK uniform /source: Lech Gołębiewski, photo provided by the Social Committee of the Social Committee for the Care of the Graves of Fallen Soldiers of the “Zośka” and “Parasol” Battalions
  2. Stefania Grzeszczak / Warsaw Uprising Museum
  3. From the chronicle of the 1st Emilia Plater Girls’ Scout Troop in Brzeżany, kept from 1929 to 1937. The photo was taken in early June 1931. It is titled “Troop and Military Training.” /Muzeum of Scouting
  4. Soldiers of the “Wacek” armored platoon of the “Zośka” battalion on a captured German “Panther” tank in the area of Okopowa Street. On the left, sitting: 2nd Lt. Zdzisław Moszczeński “Ryk” (According to [1], “Ryk” is the first from the left, facing away), NN, Jan Uniewski “Lumeński” (According to [1], “Łuniewski”), 2nd Lt. Mieczysław Kijewski “Jordan”, Sergeant Jan Myszkowski Bagiński “Bajan”, Corporal Jan Zenka “Walek”. Photo by Bogdan Deczkowski, alias “Laudański” /public domain
  5. Soldiers of the “Parasol” Battalion after emerging from the sewer at Warecka Street. In the middle stands Maria Stypułkowska-Chojecka “Kama”. Photo by Joachim Joachimczyk / Warsaw Uprising Museum