“You fought for our freedom. Without you, we certainly would not be where we are today. You are an example to all generations,” said Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the UW Rector, during a ceremony commemorating the 82nd anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising. The event on the Main Campus was attended by heroes from the Home Army’s “Krybar” Combat Group, representatives of the university and the community of Warsaw.

82 years ago, on the day the Warsaw Uprising broke out, the 8th Group of the 1st District of the 1st Region of the Home Army’s Warsaw-Śródmieście Command attempted to recapture the University of Warsaw from the occupying German forces. On 5th August, the group was merged with two other units to form the “Krybar” Combat Group. Further attempts to seize the University grounds were made on 23rd August and 2nd September.

Every year, the University of Warsaw, together with the “Krybar” Combat Group of the World Association of Home Army Soldiers, organises anniversary commemorations on the Main Campus at the plaque honouring the heroes of those events.

“It was you who demonstrated what human dignity and love for one’s homeland truly mean. You fought for our freedom. Without you, we certainly would not be where we are today. You are an example to all generations,” said Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the UW Rector, addressing the Heroes of August 1944.

Prof. Jerzy Gaździcki, pseudonym “Gołąb”, chairman of the “Krybar” Combat Group Soldiers’ Association within the World Association of Home Army Soldiers, spoke about the events of 82 years ago: “The Warsaw Insurgents fought bravely and selflessly. They sacrificed their health and often their lives – their own and those of their loved ones. They lost everything they had built up in life, with no idea what the future held. They fought for Poland – the Poland of their dreams: an independent, free Poland.”

“The history of the Main Campus of the University of Warsaw and the “Krybar” Combat Group, which fought here 82 years ago, reminds us that freedom begins with responsibility for one another. That is why the safety of the community, mutual responsibility and courage never lose their significance. These are values we must cherish every day, with respect for the past and a sense of responsibility for the future,” says Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor.

Flowers were laid at the plaque commemorating the “Krybar” Group by: the UW Rector, Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak; the Chairman of the “Krybar” Combat Group Soldiers’ Association within the World Association of Home Army Soldiers, Prof. Jerzy Gaździcki; Paweł Cukrowski, Director-General of the Mazovian Provincial Office in Warsaw; Łukasz Kołodziejski, Spokesperson for European Funds (on behalf of Adam Struzik, Marshal of the Mazovian Voivodeship); the Municipal Police (on behalf of Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of the Capital City of Warsaw); Mikołaj Chmielak, Marshal of the Students’ Parliament of the UW (on behalf of the Students’ Council of the UW), Justyna Jaworska, Chair of the PhD Students’ Union, and Magdalena Filipek (on behalf of the PhD Students’ Union), Vice-Chair of the UW’s NSZZ “Solidarność” Trade Union Małgorzata Gabara-Strzyż, Vice-Chair Anna Ratajska and Jerzy Szatyłowicz (on behalf of the UW’s NSZZ “Solidarność” Trade Union), a delegation from Primary School No. 41 with Integrated Classes, named after the Home Army Soldiers of the “Krybar” Combat Group, including Headteacher Beata Ostałowska, as well as Lech Uliasz, Deputy Director of the Support House for Warsaw Insurgents – Nowolipie Centre for Intergenerational Activity, together with a delegation of employees and volunteers.

The ceremony was hosted by Dr Anna Modzelewska, the UW’s spokesperson. The event, held on the Main Campus, was attended by participants in the Warsaw Uprising, officials from the University of Warsaw, the academic community and residents of the capital. Among the guests at the ceremony were, Prof. Zbigniew A. Kruszewski (a participant in the Warsaw Uprising and a lecturer at the University of Texas at El Paso) and journalist Andrzej Poczobut.

The celebrations were enhanced by a performance by the UW Choir, conducted by Wojciech Pławner, who performed Uprising songs: Hasło Powiśla, Hej chłopcy, Marsz Śródmieścia and Warszawskie Dzieci.