Żniwiarz Group

The Żniwiarz Group, known in Polish as Zgrupowanie Żniwiarz, was a wartime grouping of Polish underground military units based in the Żoliborz district of Warsaw. It operated within the structures of the Home Army (Armia Krajowa) during the German occupation of Poland and became one of the formations that fought in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. It was not a commercial brand or company; the name identified a military organization whose personnel were drawn partly from local youth networks and pre-existing resistance structures. The formation originated in 1942 and included schoolboys from the Prince Józef Poniatowski Secondary School together with young people from Marymont. In early 1943, following the establishment of Kedyw, the Home Army's clandestine diversion and special-operations organization, the 9th company of military subversion named Żniwiarz was formed. This company was placed at the disposal of the commander of Home Army Subdistrict II of Żoliborz, whose pseudonym was Żywiciel. The group was commanded by Lieutenant Mieczysław Morawski, known by the pseudonym Szeliga. The force was organized into at least three identified platoons. The 226th platoon was commanded by Second Lieutenant Gustaw Budzyński, pseudonym Szymura; the 229th platoon was led by officer cadet Stanisław Swinarski, pseudonym Poraj; and the 230th platoon was commanded by officer cadet Zygmunt Wisłouch, pseudonym Zarewicz. This structure connected the group to the wider Home Army command system while retaining a local Żoliborz and Marymont identity. At the beginning of the Warsaw Uprising, the Żniwiarz Group was assigned concentration areas around Mikołaj Górka Street, Józef Sułkowski Street, and Park Promyka in the officers' quarter of Żoliborz. The uprising's designated start time was known as Hour W. Before the group reached its concentration area, soldiers transporting weapons from storage sites on Wespazjana Kochowskiego Street exchanged the first shots at approximately 13:50. They won that initial skirmish, but the encounter did not prevent the insurgents from assembling at the planned locations. The group's initial objectives included German positions on Krasińskiego Street and around Plac Grunwaldzki. On reaching the area of Plac Lelewela, near Krechowiecka and Cieszkowskiego Streets, its soldiers came under attack and suffered severe losses. The group subsequently fought in and around Suzina Street and the Zdobycz Robotnicza quarter. Its operations also included participation in the assault on Warsaw Gdańsk Station, the defense of the Opel workshop, and the defense of an insurgent strongpoint in a Fire Brigade building at the intersection of Słowackiego, Gdańska, and Potocka Streets. The group's final reported defensive position was along Słowackiego Street and at Plac Wilsona. Its recorded losses included 92 people killed, in addition to many wounded. Among the identified members were Włodzimierz Kaczanowski and Zdzisław Sierpiński. The Żniwiarz Group ceased to exist as an active military formation after the defeat of the Warsaw Uprising. Its historical significance lies in its role in the local military organization of the uprising, the participation of young Warsaw residents in the resistance, and the heavy human cost borne by Home Army units defending Żoliborz.

The Żniwiarz Group was a Home Army formation associated with Żoliborz in Warsaw. It was created in 1942 and initially incorporated schoolboys from the Prince Józef Poniatowski Secondary School and young people from Marymont. After Kedyw was established in early 1943, the 9th company of military subversion Żniwiarz was organized and assigned to the Home Army's Żoliborz subdistrict, commanded by an officer using the pseudonym Żywiciel. The group was led by Lieutenant Mieczysław Morawski, pseudonym Szeliga. Its identified subunits included the 226th platoon under Second Lieutenant Gustaw Budzyński, the 229th platoon under officer cadet Stanisław Swinarski, and the 230th platoon under officer cadet Zygmunt Wisłouch. The formation therefore combined a local youth and school-based recruitment background with a formal place in the Home Army's underground military structure. During the Warsaw Uprising, the group's concentration points were in the vicinity of Mikołaj Górka Street, Józef Sułkowski Street, and Park Promyka. At approximately 13:50, soldiers moving weapons from storage on Wespazjana Kochowskiego Street fired the first shots associated with the group's operations. The group then moved toward German positions near Krasińskiego Street and Plac Grunwaldzki. It was attacked near Plac Lelewela, around Krechowiecka and Cieszkowskiego Streets, where it suffered major losses. The formation continued to fight in the areas of Suzina Street and Zdobycz Robotnicza. It took part in the attack on Warsaw Gdańsk Station and defended the Opel workshop and an insurgent redoubt in a Fire Brigade building at the junction of Słowackiego, Gdańska, and Potocka Streets. Its last reported position was the defensive line along Słowackiego Street and at Plac Wilsona. The group lost 92 people killed and suffered many additional wounded. Włodzimierz Kaczanowski and Zdzisław Sierpiński are among the individuals identified as having served in its ranks. Following the defeat of the Warsaw Uprising, the Żniwiarz Group was no longer an active formation.

• 1944

  Combat in the Warsaw Uprising

  [1]Żniwiarz Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group fought in Żoliborz, including actions near Plac Lelewela, Suzina Street, Zdobycz Robotnicza, Warsaw Gdańsk Station, the Opel workshop, and Plac Wilsona.

• 1943

  Creation of the Żniwiarz subversion company

  [1]Żniwiarz Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After Kedyw was established, the 9th company of military subversion Żniwiarz was formed and placed under the Home Army command of Subdistrict II of Żoliborz.

• 1942

  Formation of the group

  [1]Żniwiarz Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The Żniwiarz Group was created in Żoliborz and included schoolboys from the Prince Józef Poniatowski Secondary School and young people from Marymont.

A local Home Army combat formation organized in Żoliborz and associated with the Polish resistance during the German occupation and the Warsaw Uprising.

• 1944Warsaw Uprising operations

  Żoliborz, Warsaw, Poland

  The Żniwiarz Group conducted combat operations against German positions during the Warsaw Uprising. Its activities included attacks and defensive actions around Krasińskiego Street, Plac Grunwaldzki, Suzina Street, Zdobycz Robotnicza, Warsaw Gdańsk Station, the Opel workshop, a Fire Brigade building, Słowackiego Street, and Plac Wilsona.

  Outcome. The formation sustained 92 recorded deaths and many wounded before the uprising's defeat.

  Source

• 1944

  Żniwiarz Group takes part in the Warsaw Uprising[1]Żniwiarz Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Żniwiarz Group fought German forces in Żoliborz and participated in actions around Krasińskiego Street, Plac Grunwaldzki, Suzina Street, Warsaw Gdańsk Station, the Opel workshop, and Plac Wilsona.

1. 1Żniwiarz Groupen.wikipedia.org