Union of Soldiers of the National Armed Forces

The Związek Żołnierzy Narodowych Sił Zbrojnych (ZŻNSZ; Union of Soldiers of the National Armed Forces) is a Polish veterans' and memory organisation that brings together former soldiers of the Narodowe Siły Zbrojne (National Armed Forces, NSZ) as well as of the Narodowa Organizacja Wojskowa (National Military Organisation), the Związek Jaszczurczy (Lizard Union) and the Narodowe Zjednoczenie Wojskowe (National Military Union), and the heirs and continuators of the national underground tradition. Its activity began on 25 March 1990, when commemorative ceremonies were held in Lublin for NSZ soldiers murdered in 1946. The organisation is based in Lublin and maintains a website at nsz.com.pl. The Union is unusual among Polish veterans' organisations in that, alongside its combatant members, it admits many young people who profess national ideals. Its statutory work includes ideological and educational activity, publishing and education, and efforts to commemorate the soldiers of the national underground. It awards the "70th Anniversary of the NSZ" decoration. It cooperates with NSZ historical re-enactment groups and with national organisations such as Ruch Narodowy, Młodzież Wszechpolska and Obóz Narodowo-Radykalny. From 2010 the Union has patronised the annual Independence March organised by these circles, and in 2012 it co-founded the Social Committee for the Celebrations of the National Day of Remembrance of the "Cursed Soldiers". The Union's governing bodies are the Main Board (Zarząd Główny), the Supreme Council (Rada Naczelna), regional authorities and the Historical Council (Rada Historyczna). Its presidents have been Bohdan Szucki (1990–2008), Artur Zawisza (2008–2011), Zbigniew Kuciewicz (2011–2015), Karol Wołek (2015–2024) and Mariusz Charubin (from 2024). The organisation publishes the quarterly bulletin "Szczerbiec" for its veteran members and supporters, and maintains a digital archive and a range of publications, articles, biographies and films on its website.

The Związek Żołnierzy Narodowych Sił Zbrojnych traces its origins to the commemorative movement that emerged around the soldiers of the Narodowe Siły Zbrojne (National Armed Forces, NSZ), a Polish underground military formation created in 1942 from the merger of the Narodowa Organizacja Wojskowa (National Military Organisation, founded 13 October 1939 by the Stronnictwo Narodowe) and the Związek Jaszczurczy (Lizard Union, a clandestine military organisation of the pre-war Obóz Narodowo-Radykalny). After the collapse of the Warsaw Uprising, the NSZ remnants subordinated themselves in 1947 to the Narodowe Zjednoczenie Wojskowe (National Military Union), another clandestine organisation of the Stronnictwo Narodowe. The Union's activity was initiated on 25 March 1990, when ceremonies were held in Lublin to commemorate NSZ soldiers murdered in 1946. From that beginning the organisation grew into a formal veterans' association with a Main Board, Supreme Council, regional authorities and a Historical Council. Its first president was Bohdan Szucki, who led the organisation from 1990 to 2008. He was succeeded by Artur Zawisza (2008–2011), Zbigniew Kuciewicz (2011–2015), Karol Wołek (2015–2024) and Mariusz Charubin (from 2024). Unlike many Polish veterans' organisations, the Union deliberately opened its ranks to younger people who share national ideals, and it developed an ideological, educational and publishing programme. It cooperates with NSZ historical re-enactment groups and with national organisations such as Ruch Narodowy, Młodzież Wszechpolska and Obóz Narodowo-Radykalny. From 2010 the Union has patronised the annual Independence March organised by these circles. In 2012 it co-founded the Social Committee for the Celebrations of the National Day of Remembrance of the "Cursed Soldiers". It also awards the "70th Anniversary of the NSZ" decoration. In the 2020s the Union continued its commemorative and publishing work. In June 2022 it resumed publication of "Szczerbiec", a quarterly printed bulletin addressed to its veteran members and supporters, intended to keep the oldest generation informed about the organisation's activities. Its website hosts articles, studies, memoirs, biographies, films, a calendar and a digital archive, and it maintains an archival version of its earlier site. The Union remains active, marking anniversaries such as the 84th anniversary of the founding of the NSZ in September 2026 and participating in state and military commemorations, including the holiday of the 18th Mechanised Division.

• 2026

  The Union marks the 84th anniversary of the founding of the NSZ (20 September).

• 2024

  Mariusz Charubin becomes president.

• 2022

  Publication of the quarterly bulletin "Szczerbiec" is resumed in June.

• 2015

  Karol Wołek becomes president (until 2024).

• 2012

  The Union co-founds the Social Committee for the Celebrations of the National Day of Remembrance of the "Cursed Soldiers".

• 2011

  Zbigniew Kuciewicz becomes president (until 2015).

• 2010

  The Union begins patronising the annual Independence March.

• 2008

  Artur Zawisza becomes president (until 2011).

• 1990

  Activity of the Union begins on 25 March with commemorative ceremonies in Lublin for NSZ soldiers murdered in 1946; Bohdan Szucki becomes president.

• 1947

  Remnants of the NSZ subordinate themselves to the Narodowe Zjednoczenie Wojskowe.

• 1942

  Creation of the Narodowe Siły Zbrojne (NSZ) from the merger of the Narodowa Organizacja Wojskowa and the Związek Jaszczurczy.

• 1939

  Founding of the Narodowa Organizacja Wojskowa (13 October), one of the predecessor formations of the NSZ.

A Polish veterans' and memory organisation that combines combatant commemoration with ideological and educational work, and is open to younger members who share national ideals.

• Quarterly bulletin "Szczerbiec"

  A printed quarterly bulletin addressed to veteran members and supporters of the Union, resumed in June 2022.

• Digital Archive of the Union of NSZ Soldiers

  An online archive of documents and materials, with a published guide (December 2020).

• 70th Anniversary of the NSZ decoration

  A commemorative decoration awarded by the Union.

• Historical publications and biographies

  Articles, studies, memoirs, biographies and films published on the Union's website.

1. 1NSZ - Związek Żołnierzy Narodowych Sił Zbrojnychnsz.com.pl
2. 2Związek Żołnierzy Narodowych Sił Zbrojnych – Wikipedia (Polish)pl.wikipedia.org
3. 3Związek Żołnierzy Narodowych Sił Zbrojnych – Wikidatawikidata.org