Warsaw Uprising commemorations held in Polish capital
President Andrzej Duda and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski met on Sunday with a group of insurgents as part of commemorative events to mark the upcoming 79th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising.
During his address at the Warsaw Rising Museum in Warsaw, Duda said that the great development of the Polish capital was possible owing to the heroism of Warsaw Uprising fighters.
"Every year, the question is asked whether it was worth it (to start the uprising). Look at Warsaw, which grows wide and long, is increasingly beautiful and modern," he said.
"There would be no development... if not for your example, as well as your heroism, bravery and devotion, as well as your steadfast faith in survival," Duda told the insurgents.
"The roots of this city cannot be pulled out until the roots of the people of this city can be uprooted. And these are steadfast and invincible," he added.
The Warsaw Uprising was the largest underground military operation in German-occupied Europe. On August 1, 1944, around 40,000-50,000 insurgents took part in the fighting. Planned to last several days, the uprising eventually lasted over two months.
During the fighting in Warsaw, about 18,000 insurgents lost their lives and 25,000 were wounded. Losses among the civilian population were huge and amounted to approx. 180,000. After the Warsaw Uprising was crushed, about 500,000 surviving residents were forced to evacuate and Warsaw was almost completely razed to the ground. (PAP)
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