“I perceive it a great honour to meet you personally and have a chance to thank you cordially. Mutual respect, tolerance, courage and honour are values of your kind,” said Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the UW Rector, to the Insurgents on the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising. On 1st August, the academic community commemorated the heroes of that time.

Eighty years ago, the military group of the Subdistrict I of Śródmieście of the Home Army (PL: Armia Krajowa; AK) attempted to retake the territory of the University of Warsaw from the German occupants. On 5th August, the group was incorporated with two other military groups to build up the “Krybar” Regiment. Further attempts to control the University’s area were made on 23rd August and 2nd September.

Each year the UW community commemorates the heroic Insurgents. On the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising a traditional ceremony was held on the Krakowskie Przedmieście campus. The commemoration was followed by the opening of the exhibition “Krybar – 80 years of memory”. The University of Warsaw hosted representatives of the “Krybar” Regiment of the Home Army. Among the honourable guests were Prof. Jerzy Gaździcki, alias ”Gołąb”, a president of the Association of “Krybar” Regiment of the Home Army, Wojciech Roszak, alias “Kajman”, and Włodzimierz Maczunder, alias “Chomik”.

Attitude and organic work

I perceive it a great honour to meet you personally and have a chance to thank you cordially. Mutual respect, tolerance, courage and honour are values of your kind. Your attitude and organic work are a vivid example that it is worth remaining your true self, chase your dreams and follow your ideals. Truly, every year our meetings are joined by more and more young people. We approach this place as we are convinced that you have been good people doing the right things throughout your life. On behalf of everyone gathered here it is my privilege to express our gratitude for all you were, are and will be. The University of Warsaw’s gates will always remain open to you.

Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the Rector of the University of Warsaw

On 1st August we dag out a small-size white and red flag that used to be kept hidden. I hang it out in the window of the house at Tamki 13A, just over the “Wisienka” café. A moment later I looked out of the window to spot German tanks passing along Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie. After a couple of days I pledged an oath and joined the ranks of the Home Army. It was not an easy task as we came under fire of grenade launchers. Our group was building up a barricade and the so-called curtain which hampered the fire from the bridges occupied by the Germans. This curtain was later depicted by Kazimierz Brandys.

Prof. Jerzy Gaździcki in his memories from the Warsaw Uprising

Prof. Gaździcki laid great stress on courage and martyrdom as qualities to be attributed to the Insurgents and their families.

The ceremony was attended by the community of the University of Warsaw, residents of Warsaw and guests. Songs of the Warsaw Uprising were performed by the University of Warsaw Chamber Choir Collegium Musicum and the University of Warsaw Choir.

Courageous Krybar

The official ceremony at the Main Gate was followed by the opening of the exhibition “Krybar – 80 years of memory”, which is located outside of the University of Warsaw Museum and in front of the building of the Old Library. Part of the exhibition can be also seen in front of the UW Museum building.

The event is also accompanied by a memoir “Dziennik Powstańczego Powiśla” by Prof. Jerzy Gaździcki, edited by Prof. Hubert Kowalski and Monika Dunajko from the UW Museum.