Consider the Warsaw Uprising. The Zgrupowanie AK Gurt Stone stands as a memorial to the soldiers of Armia Krajowa Group IV Gurt. This group fought bravely here in 1944 during the Warsaw Uprising.
The name Gurt came from the commander Captain Kazimierz Czapla’s pseudonym. He led this group in the Śródmieście-Północ district. The Zgrupowanie AK Gurt was formed in 1943. It operated within the Warsaw District of the Home Army. They performed sabotage and diversion mostly on railway lines.
Imagine the courage. Imagine the strategic importance of these actions. One notable act was burning wagons filled with straw. They also torched a fuel tanker at the Dworzec Zachodni. The group prepared reconnaissance for an assassination. Kedyw carried out this assassination on March 1 1944. The target was banschutz Karl Schmaltz. He was cruelly known as Panienka. In June 1944 they moved weapons from a house on Żurawia Street 32.
Sadly the Germans uncovered the IV Zgrupowanie’s battle plans because of arrests. The Gestapo made these arrests in early June 1944. The Germans then fortified likely attack points. Before the uprising the command consisted of several key figures. Kazimierz Czapla Gurt was the commander. Józef Skowronek Boruta was his deputy. Leon Bukłowski Dworski served as the duty officer. Władysław Orlik Jastrzębski was the tactical officer. Józef Czarnecki-Tarnopolski Nikitin handled security and information. Henryk Kotowski Jastrzębski Kot oversaw sappers. Edward Nagrodzki Wesoły was the adjutant. Jerzy Gniewieski Pruski was the economic officer. Jerzy Teter Pigoń served as the medical officer. Kazimierz Lewaszkiewicz Lew was the liaison officer.
The Zgrupowanie AK Gurt numbered about 1190 soldiers. Some sources say as many as 2347. About 1197 reported for duty on August 1. They were organized into units focused on specific objectives. One object was the Main Railway Station commanded by Leonard Bukłowski Dworski. Another was the Telecommunications Office. Kazimierz Lewandowski Tyburski commanded it. The third objective included WIG the Post Office Station. Also the Tourist Hotel and Railway House. Henryk Lehman Wirski led it.
The 1st and 2nd companies failed to seize the Main Railway Station on August 1. Platoons from the 2nd company occupied houses on Chmielna Street. The 1st company secured buildings nearby. They managed to burn down barracks at the post office hall. They also torched a wooden hall for German soldiers. This hall stood at the corner of Al. Jerozolimskie and Marszałkowska Street. The 3rd company could not attack the Telecommunications Office due to lack of arms. Soldiers from the 34th WSOP company did capture the Military Geographical Institute.
On August 2 the Astoria hotel and the Assay Office were captured. Further fighting led to the capture of PKP workshops on Chmielna Street. On August 5 the railway excavation was seized. It ran from the Main Station to Żelazna Street. They captured a lot of weapons and ammunition. They also destroyed a German train. Units of Zgrupowanie AK Gurt helped capture PAST-a on Zielna Street. They fought for the police barracks on Ciepła Street. They fought for the Mirowska Hall and the Żywiec restaurant.
Despite heavy attacks the soldiers held their ground. They prevented German units from linking up. They stopped the units in the Saxon Garden from joining those on Aleje Jerozolimskie.
The Zgrupowanie AK Gurt Stone stands as a reminder of their sacrifice. The soldiers’ courage and determination should never be forgotten.