SERVICE OF THE MEMBERS

of the Women’s Military Training

IN WARSAW UPRISING

kpt. Natalia Żukowska (z d. Kowalewska) ps. “Klara”

10 XI 1913 - 25 XI 2004

Deputy of the "Western Railway Station" cell in the Main Command of the Home Army - Division V (Command and Communication)

She studied at the Narcyza Żmichowska Secondary School in Warsaw, where in 1929 she joined the troop schools of the Female Military Training (PWK) and completed instructor courses. From 1932 to 1938, she worked as an instructor in troop schools. From January 1939, she served as the Commandant of the Warsaw District.

In September 1939, she operated a canteen for soldiers at the Warsaw Citadel. Later in October, she worked as a nurse at a field hospital organized in the building of the PWK Training Center on Okopowa Street, which was a branch of the St. Jan Boży Hospital.

In November, she was offered to join conspiracy work. She was sworn into the Home Army Communication Department.

In September 1943, she assumed the position of deputy head of the “Western Railway Station” cell in the Main Command of the Home Army – Division V. The cell’s task was to maintain contact with the General Government territories and areas incorporated into the Reich. She was involved in smuggling mail, documents, money, and managing couriers.

From the beginning of the uprising, she managed liaisons. From August 10, she organized canal routes enabling contact with the City Centre. She supervised the passage of canal guides, received and distributed mail, and took care of equipment.

She emerged from the uprising with the civilian population, which ensured a chance to escape and establish further structures in the country. She got to Pruszków and later escaped from traffic near Piotrków Trybunalski. She served in the Home Army as the head of courier communication until its disbanding.

Communication and Gas Defense in PWK

Communication issues were discussed in the PWK as part of general military training, instructor courses, and specialist training. During classes, theoretical issues regarding the importance of military and civilian communications were discussed, such as protecting one’s communication networks and countering sabotage. Practical exercises included sending, receiving, and observing visual and auditory signals, as well as operating communication networks with telephones. During the training, they paid extra attention to the importance of communication in anti-aircraft actions and emergency assistance.

One of the most important aspects of the training organized by the PWK was the part dedicated to gas and anti-aircraft defence. Classes on these topics were conducted in cooperation with the LOOP (Air and Chemical Defense League). The program included approximately 20 hours of theoretical and practical classes. Gas defence taught the PWK members about individual and collective defence. The individual defence program included learning how to use a gas mask (putting on and taking off), replacing the mask, and mask exercises.

During the collective defence training, the PWK members were trained in first aid for gassed individuals and the organization of gas defence squads. During this training, significant emphasis was placed on understanding the essence of gas defence techniques, with less focus on memorizing technical terms.

The Sewers in Uprising

Before the Warsaw Uprising, the use of sewers as communication routes was not anticipated. However, with difficulties in maintaining communication between different Circuits (districts), the need arose to create an alternative means of contact. It was then decided to use the sewer network to relay orders and transport weapons, ammunition, and medical supplies.

Employees of the sewer company provided detailed maps allowing the routes between Powiśle and the Old Town, as well as Śródmieście and the Old Town, to be marked out. The sewer guides were managed by the Communication Team of the Home Army Main Command. A telephone line was developed between Śródmieście and the Old Town, which operated from August 15 until the fall of the Old Town.

Due to the size of the sewers, the roles of sewer guides and couriers were mainly performed by girls, women and young boys. The smallest sewers had a height of 80 cm and a width of 60 cm. People moved in them in a half-squat position, leaning on a bar with their hands. Higher sewers reached 110 cm. It is worth noting that the sewers were not dry; they contained water or sewage, often reaching knee or even waist height. Considering the need to move in total darkness, exceptional predispositions were required to meet this challenge.

Passing through the sewers was a tremendous physical and psychological challenge. The Germans planted listening devices; upon hearing voices or footsteps, they threw grenades or poisonous gas into the tunnels or fired machine guns into them. Nevertheless, sewer communication continued until the end of the uprising.

As the fighting progressed, the sewers began to be used for the evacuation of units. The largest evacuation operation took place on September 1-2 in the face of the fall of the Old Town. Ultimately, about 5,000 soldiers from the “North” Grouping, including lightly wounded, moved to Śródmieście, and about 800 people crossed to Żoliborz.

Archival photographs

  1. Natalia Żukowska /Archive of New Files
  2. Anti-gas defense exercises in PWK /Marta Muranowicz
  3. A group of liaisons from Śródmieście to Mokotów – the so-called “sewer rats” – at 6 Malczewski Street. From the left: rifleman Henryk Ziółkowski “Góral”, Barbara Filipowicz-Tomaszewska “Barska”, sergeant cadet Jerzy Krzysztofowicz “Selim”, second lieutenant Janina Zaborowska “Rena”/public domain
  4. Commemorative plaque at the main manhole to the sewers at Krasiński Square /public domain