SERVICE OF THE MEMBERS

of the Women’s Military Training

IN WARSAW UPRISING

Women’s Military Training (PWK) was a pre-war organization, which objective was to prepare women to perform auxiliary and military service in case of an outbreak of war. It was formed in 1922, formalized in 1927 and operated until the outbreak of the Second World War. It is estimated that PWK had around 47,000 members.

The Organization’s activities were focused on training young citizens, especially women. Each PWK member had to undergo a general military course lasting 150 hours over two years. The course consisted of classes on weaponry, shooting, communication service, citizenship, hygiene and rescue, physical education and field games. After completing the course the graduates could choose the field in which they wanted to specialize. They could choose from: sanitary, educational, communications, economic or administration services. PWK’s educational work was executed in two forms: short meetings during the school year and of monthly summer training camps

A very important element of education at PWK was teaching respect for the uniform. The PWK service uniform consisted of: a khaki jacket with sewn-in badges that included the type of service, training and rank; a navy blue skirt and a navy blue beret with a metal PWK symbol. The symbol of PWK was a crownless eagle with spread wings and a “PWK” inscription on its claws. Both the PWK Eagle and the PWK uniform were greatly important to the members, as they showed their affiliation to the organization. Young women were taught to respect the uniform and be proud of wearing it. They wore their uniforms during meetings, training sessions, important state ceremonies. Additionally, Uniform Day was established as a form of celebrating it.

In March 1939, PWK’s Social Emergency Service was erected in order to coordinate activities aimed at preparing society for defense of healthcare, civilian population, promoting pro-defense demeanors, as well as supporting the army and administration. The PWK Social Emergency Service gathered 700,000 women, associated in 57 organizations (such as the Polish Red Cross, Women’s Scouting, Air Defense League and Polish Women’s Circle).

There were also several sections within the PWK Social Emergency Service:

  • Army Aid Section, whose task was to organize cultural life and educational institutions, community centers and military rest houses. The organization cooperated in this area with the Polish White Cross
  • Population Assistance Section, whose task was to help the families of soldiers drawn in the army and families evacuated from their place of residence due to warfare. They established evacuation plans for the population and the location of transition points. The transition points were intended to provide the population with temporary shelter, food, and if needed, medical assistance.
  • Section of Home and Children, whose task was to organize a care network aimed at ensuring the safety of children during the war.)
  • – Economic Section, whose task was to train women in running a household during the war. It was realised with cooperation with economic school teachers.
  • Health Section, whose task was aimed at training for rescue and sanitary services, together with the Polish Red Cross. Doctors and nurses prepared leaflets, and magazines and organized exhibitions and shows. This section kept records of female doctors in the whole of Poland.

All these projects were stopped by the outbreak of the war. The information about mobilization was sent to some of the volunteers, but it was emphasized that this was only an obligation to be available, and further orders would be sent by mobilisation cells, which were ultimately not established. Only some of the healthcare staff, medical assistants and telephone operators were called up for service. Women therefore had to take independent initiatives where there was a need to help.

Thanks to the training they received as part of PWK, women, resonating with the slogan of actively defending the independence of the Homeland as the duty of every Polish woman, generously joined the current defense work. They also fought during the Warsaw Uprising. Among them was Maria Wittek, commander of PWK, who then commanded the Women’s Military Service of the Home Army.

PWK members were involved in almost every type of service during the Warsaw Uprising. They could be found in the sanitary service, diversion, sabotage, communications or economic service. Our exhibition’s primary goal is to take you on a fascinating journey through the fields of PWK training and the departments of women’s service in the uprising, all in the company of 15 wonderful women.