Commemorating Warsaw Uprising Day and Honouring the Heroic Polish Resistance of 1944 80 Years On

That the Parliament acknowledges what it sees as the significance of Warsaw Uprising Day, observed annually on 1 August, to commemorate the heroic efforts of the Polish resistance during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944; understands that the uprising, a valiant and decisive armed struggle by the Polish Home Army against the occupying Nazi German forces, occurred within the broader context of the Second World War after five years of occupation; further understands that the revolt was part of Operation Tempest, a broader initiative orchestrated by Tadeusz “Bór” Komorowski and the Polish Government-in-exile to liberate Polish territories from German occupation while the Germans were preparing their defences against the advancing Soviet Red Army; believes that the uprising was a response to the barbaric conditions under Nazi rule, which saw the Holocaust of European Jewry conducted primarily on Polish soil, as well as suppression of the Polish nation and culture, forced labour, and mass deportation, and the extermination of Polish nationals to create an ethnically German living space; understands that the uprising, which lasted 63 days, resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 200,000 Polish civilian lives and the near-total destruction of the city of Warsaw, with German forces carrying out mass executions and severe reprisals against the civilian population; notes that the bloodiest action took place between 5 and 7 August 1944, when approximately 40,000 men, women, and children were murdered during massacres in the district of Wola; is aware that the uprising was intended to last only a few days until Soviet forces arrived, however, Soviet assistance never materialised; considers that, despite their courageous resistance, the lightly armed Polish fighters faced overwhelming odds, and eventually the uprising was brutally suppressed; believes that the aftermath of the uprising led to significant changes in Poland, including post-war repression under the Soviet-backed communist regime, and that the uprising's leaders faced political persecution, and supports fostering international solidarity with Polish organisations and communities to ensure that the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for a free Poland is honoured and preserved, recognising that the uprising's legacy continues to inspire people worldwide in their pursuit of justice and liberty.