IA

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. J. RES. 388

Recognizing the anniversaries of the Warsaw uprising and the Polish

resistance to the invasion of Poland during World War II.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 14, 1994

Ms. KAPTUR introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to

the Committee on Foreign Affairs

JOINT RESOLUTION

Recognizing the anniversaries of the Warsaw uprising and

the Polish resistance to the invasion of Poland during

World War II.

Whereas August 1, 1994, marks the 50th anniversary of the

Warsaw uprising, an event of major significance in the

history of World War II;

Whereas on August 1, 1944, the Polish Home Army, under

the command of General Tedeusz Bor-Komorowski, rose

up against the Nazis who had begun evacuating Warsaw

in the face of the Soviet advance through Eastern Europe, held major portions of the city for 63 days against

insuperable odds, and suffered extreme hardship, retribu-
2

•HJ 388 IH

tion, and personal sacrifice throughout a heroic engagement in which approximately 250,000 Poles were killed,

wounded, or missing;

Whereas in reprisal for this uprising, 70 percent of the city

of Warsaw was systematically demolished under the direct orders of Adolf Hitler;

Whereas September 1, 1994, marks the 55th anniversary of

the invasion of Poland by the Army and Air Force of the

Third Reich, which was followed just 16 days later by the

Soviet invasion from the east and the subsequent occupation of a zone populated by 13,000,000 Poles, these

events having led to the development of a strong underground movement directed by the Polish Government in

exile;

Whereas the 3 wartime leaders of the Polish Home Army—

Lieutenant General Stefan Rowecki who was murdered

by the Gestapo in 1944, Lieutenant General BorKomorowski who was imprisoned by the Nazis and died

in London in 1966, and Major General Leopold Okulicki

who was imprisoned by the Soviets and perished in a Soviet jail in 1945—symbolize the supreme personal sacrifice and commitment to the cause of freedom and selfdetermination;

Whereas Warsaw was and continues to be the center of national life, culture, and religion for Poland;

Whereas the spirit of Polish resistance to foreign oppression

and domination is symbolized by these historic events and

remains a vital element in the Polish national character;

and

Whereas President Clinton during his July 7, 1994, visit to

Warsaw paid special tribute to these important days in
3

•HJ 388 IH

Polish history, including the crucial role of the Polish

Home Army in the allied war effort, and to the leaders

of the Polish Home Army: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That the United States recognizes the anniversary of the

4 Warsaw uprising, which stands as a poignant reminder to

5 the world of the power of the human spirit over adversity,

6 and the anniversary of the Polish resistance to the inva7 sion of Poland during World War II and the leaders of

8 that resistance, which symbolizes the currently continuing

9 struggle of the Polish people and freedom loving people

10 everywhere in the preservation of their liberties and in the

11 fulfillment of their national aspirations.

Æ