Tuesday 1st August 2017, marks the 73rd Anniversary of the courageous but ill-fated Warsaw Uprising (Powstanie Warszawskie), known as Operation Tempest (akcja „Burza”)
As well as the principal commemorations in Warsaw, events will take place in Kraków, and across the country to remember and pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of those who took part.
The most recognisable part of the ‘celebrations’ is the sounding of sirens, in cities and towns across Poland to mark ‘W hour’ 1700hrs, the code name for the time and date the uprising started, 5pm on 1st August 1944.
In Warsaw, the city comes to a standstill, cars stop, and people stand in silent respect as the sirens sound, a moving tribute, as can be seen in this video:
KRAKOW COMMEMORATION PROGRAMME
1700hrs – Sirens Sound
Providing people in Krakow the opportunity to likewise stop and stand in silence as a mark of respect and remembrance.
1705 – Mass in St Marys’ Basilica
Those taking part in the mass then depart the church and parade along Florianska to the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Grunwald Monument in Plac Matejki.
1830 – Ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier, Plac Matejki
Members of the Home Army ( Armii Krajowej) association, the Polish military and dignitaries take part in a commemoration ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
1915 – Meeting and Presentation Muzeum Armii Krajowej, ul Wita Stwosza 12
A commemorative meeting (in Polish) will be held in the Museum of the Home Army. gen. Emil Fieldorfa “Nil”e, ul. Wita Stwosza 12.
The Polish flag will be flown on public buildings, and the Mayor has asked all resident to do likewise and display the flag on private buildings too. Tauron Arena will also be illuminated in the colours of the Polish flag for the occasion.
Kraków Event Programme PDF (Polish)
To find out more about the Warsaw Uprising, either visit the museum in Warsaw, or get hold of a copy of the book Rising ’44 – The battle for Warsaw, by acclaimed historian Norman Davies, available in English, Polish(“Powstanie ’44”) and other languages.