page_title: Warsaw Uprising
section_title: First four days
hierarchical_section_title: Warsaw Uprising / Uprising / First four days
caption_attribution_description: English: WarsawUprising: German armored fighting vehicle SdKfz 251 captured by the Polish insurgents, from 8-th "Krybar" Regiment, on Na Skarpie Boulevard on August 14, 1944 from 5th SS 'Viking' division. In this picture taken on Tamka Street, soldier with MP-40 submachine gun is his first insurgent commander Adam Dewicz "Gray Wolf". From his nickname insurgents gave the vehicle name "Gray Wolf" and used it in attack on Warsaw University. Polski: Powstanie Warszawskie: Niemiecki transporter opancerzony SdKfz 251 zdobyty przez powstańców z VIII zgrupowanie "Krybar" przy Alei Na Skarpie dnia 14.VIII.1944 od 5-tej dywizji SS 'Viking'. Na tym zdięciu, zrobionym na ulicy Tamka, żołnierz z pistoletem maszynowym MP-40 to jego pierwszy powstańczy dowódca plutonowy podchorąrzy Adam Dewicz "Szary Wilk". Od jego pseudonimu transporter został nazwany "Szary Wilk" i był użyty w ataku na Uniwersytet Warszawski.
context_page_description: The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II attack by the Polish resistance Home Army. The resistance wanted to free Warsaw from Nazi Germany.
  The attack happened at the same time as the Soviet Union's Red Army got close to the east of the city and the German forces retreated. However, the Soviets stopped moving forward. This allowed the Germans to destroy the city and defeat the Polish resistance.
  The resistance fought for 63 days with little help from other Allied armies. The Uprising was the largest attack done by any European resistance movement of World War II.
  The uprising began on 1 August 1944. It was part of a big plan, Operation Tempest, which started when the Soviet Army got near Warsaw. The goals of the Polish resistance were to push the German troops out of the city. They also wanted to free Warsaw before the Soviets arrived. This would help the Polish Underground State to take control of the city.
  At the start of the battle, the Polish resistance got control over most of central Warsaw. The Soviets did not move into the city to help the resistance troops.
  By 14 September, Polish forces under Soviet command captured the east bank of the Vistula river.
context_section_description: The uprising was intended to last a few days until Soviet forces arrived; however, this never happened, and the Polish forces had to fight with little outside help. The results of the first two days of fighting in different parts of the city were as follows:
  Area I (city centre and the Old Town): Poles captured most of the territory they were told to capture, but they failed to capture areas where there were many Germans (the Warsaw University buildings, PAST skyscraper, the headquarters of the German garrison in the Saxon Palace, the German-only area near Szucha Avenue, and the bridges over the Vistula). They did not capture a central position, get communication links to other areas, or get a land connection with the northern area of Żoliborz through the northern railway line and the Citadel.
  Area II (Żoliborz, Marymont, Bielany): Poles did not capture the most important military targets near Żoliborz. Many troops retreated outside of the city, into the forests. Although they captured most of the area around Żoliborz, the soldiers of Colonel Mieczysław Niedzielski ("Żywiciel") did not capture the Citadel area and break through German defences at Warsaw Gdańsk railway station.
  Area III (Wola): Units initially captured most of the territory, but had heavy losses (up to 30%). Some units retreated into the forests, while others retreated to the eastern part of the area. In the northern part of Wola the soldiers of Colonel Jan Mazurkiewicz ("Radosław") managed to capture the German barracks, the German supply depot at Stawki Street, and the position at the Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery.
  Area IV (Ochota): The units in this area did not capture either the territory or the military targets (the Gęsiówka concentration camp, and the SS and Sipo barracks on Narutowicz Square). After suffering heavy losses most of the Home Army forces retreated to the forests west of Warsaw. Only 200 to 300 men under Lieut. Andrzej Chyczewski ("Gustaw") remained in the area and continued to fight. Troops from the city centre were sent to help them. Soldiers of the Kedyw managed to capture most of the northern part of the area and captured all of the military targets there. However, they were soon attacked by the Germans from the south and west.
  Area V (Mokotów): The partisans tried to capture the Police Area (Dzielnica policyjna) on Rakowiecka Street, and get a connection with the city centre. The attacks on these heavily fortified positions failed. Some units retreated into the forests, while others managed to capture parts of Dolny Mokotów, which was cut off from most communication with other areas.
  Area VI (Praga): The Uprising was also started on the right bank of the Vistula, where the goal was to capture the bridges on the river until the Red Army arrived. The forces of Lt.Col. Antoni Żurowski ("Andrzej") were outnumbered by the Germans. The Home Army forces were forced back into hiding.
  Area VII (Powiat warszawski): this area consisted of territories outside Warsaw city limits. Actions here mostly failed to capture their targets.
  The Directorate of Sabotage and Diversion or Kedyw was to guard the headquarters. These units secured parts of Śródmieście and Wola; along with the units of Area I, they were the most successful during the first few hours.
  Among the most important targets that were not taken during the start of the uprising were the airfields of Okęcie and Mokotów Field, as well as the PAST skyscraper overlooking the city centre and the Gdańsk railway station guarding the passage between the centre and the northern borough of Żoliborz.
caption: Captured Sd.Kfz. 251 of the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking pressed into service with the 8-th "Krybar" Regiment on 14 August 1944. Taken at Tamka Street on Na Skarpie Boulevard, the soldier with the MP 40 is commander Adam Dewicz "Gray Wolf". From his nickname the insurgents named the vehicle "Gray Wolf" and used it in the attack on Warsaw University.
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