Sub-district IV of Ochota (of Armia Krajowa)
Encyclopedia
The Sub-district I of Ochota (of Armia Krajowa) (Polish: Obwód IV Ochota) – one of territorial organisational units of the Warsaw District (Armia Krajowa) (Pol.: Okręg Warszawa Armii Krajowej), which operated during the German occupation of Poland 1939-1945. It comprised the area of the Ochota
district of the city of Warsaw
.
began in the end of 1939. They were organised by lieutenant Zygmunt Żółtkowski pseudonym "Odwet" ("Revenge"), who acted in the framework of the Służba Zwycięstwu Polski organisation (later renamed into the Armia Krajowa
- Home Army)..
The formation of first units of the line was commenced in May and June 1940. Two platoons were created, each of them ca 30 people. The command of the 1st one was taken by second lieutenant Witold Daab pseudonym "Stefan" (Stephan), while the commandment of the 2nd one was taken by second lieutenant Stanisław Chabros pseudonym "Dybowski". The 3rd platoon was formed in the mid 1941. It comprised ca 30 people commanded by lieutenant Józef Stępkowski
.
Since the mid 1941 a quick increase of the effective strength of the units took place, due to recruitment carried by the Związek Walki Zbrojnej
, as well as by inclusion of military groups of other organisations struggling for Poland's independence.
The Area of Ochota included 3 regions (Pol.: rejon):
The military strength of the Area was composed of ca 30 platoons organised into concentrations (groupings), battalions and companies. The effective strength of the Area amounted to ca 1,500 soldiers. The Area included also the Women Military Service (Pol.: Wojskowa Służba Kobiet) which amounted to ca 400 persons in sanitary and liaison units.
The insurgent units were also to close and keep control of transit roads in that city district, thus covering Warsaw from south-east.
On 2 August the Battle of Pęcice
was fought, in which ca 100 soldiers fell. Then the units withdrew to a concentration place in Chojnowo forests.
Units, which remained in Ochota, assumed defence and created two redoubts:
The Wawel group bore in its positions until 11 August, when - in face of lack of ammunition and possibility to continue combat - withdrew through underground drains into southern part of Śródmieście district of Warsaw. There it was included into the "Iwo" reserve battalion and took part in its military actions. Since the beginning of September, as part of the "Odstoja" battalion, it repelled Germans advancing along Aleje Jerozolimskie. There it endured until the capitulation of the Warsaw Uprising.
The Kalisz group fought in the region of Kaliska and Barska streets. It kept its positions until 10 August, when, having used up all possibilities to continue combat, withdrew to a concentration place in Chojnowo forests. After reorganisation and replacements, the unit commanded by lieutenant "Stach" returned to Warsaw and took part in combats in Wilanów
, in Sadyba
, in Czerniaków
and in Mokotów
until the end of the Warsaw Uprising.
One of chaplains was Jan Salamucha.
Ochota
Ochota is a district of Warsaw, Poland, located in the central part of the Polish capital city's urban agglomeration.The biggest housing estates of Ochota are:* Kolonia Lubeckiego* Kolonia Staszica* Filtry* Rakowiec* Szosa Krakowska* Szczęśliwice...
district of the city of Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
.
Period of conspiracy activity
Conspiracy activities in OchotaOchota
Ochota is a district of Warsaw, Poland, located in the central part of the Polish capital city's urban agglomeration.The biggest housing estates of Ochota are:* Kolonia Lubeckiego* Kolonia Staszica* Filtry* Rakowiec* Szosa Krakowska* Szczęśliwice...
began in the end of 1939. They were organised by lieutenant Zygmunt Żółtkowski pseudonym "Odwet" ("Revenge"), who acted in the framework of the Służba Zwycięstwu Polski organisation (later renamed into the Armia Krajowa
Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa , or Home Army, was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland. It was formed in February 1942 from the Związek Walki Zbrojnej . Over the next two years, it absorbed most other Polish underground forces...
- Home Army)..
The formation of first units of the line was commenced in May and June 1940. Two platoons were created, each of them ca 30 people. The command of the 1st one was taken by second lieutenant Witold Daab pseudonym "Stefan" (Stephan), while the commandment of the 2nd one was taken by second lieutenant Stanisław Chabros pseudonym "Dybowski". The 3rd platoon was formed in the mid 1941. It comprised ca 30 people commanded by lieutenant Józef Stępkowski
Józef Stepkowski
Józef Stępkowski is a Polish politician. He was elected to Sejm on September 25, 2005 getting 8714 votes in 21 Opole district, candidating from Samoobrona Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej list.-External links:...
.
Since the mid 1941 a quick increase of the effective strength of the units took place, due to recruitment carried by the Związek Walki Zbrojnej
Zwiazek Walki Zbrojnej
Związek Walki Zbrojnej was an underground army formed in Poland following its invasion in September 1939 by Germany and the Soviet Union that opened World War II.The precursor to the ZWZ was the Service...
, as well as by inclusion of military groups of other organisations struggling for Poland's independence.
Organisation status in the eve of the Warsaw Uprising 1944
In summer 1944 the staff of the Area was composed of:- Commander – lieutenant-colonel Mieczysław Sokołowski pseudonym "Grzymała";
- Commander's deputy and chief of staff – major Zenon Bayer pseudonym "Zenon";
- Quartermaster – second lieutenant Michał Karwacki pseudonym "Sowa";
The Area of Ochota included 3 regions (Pol.: rejon):
- Region I – commanded by captain Tadeusz JasińskiTadeusz JasińskiTadeusz Jasiński - was one of the young defenders of Grodno in September 1939, after the Soviet invasion of Poland...
pseudonym "Zych"; - Region II – commanded by captain Eugeniusz Kosiacki pseudonym "Korczak";
- Region III – commanded by lieutenant Andrzej Chyczewski pseudonym "Gustaw".
The military strength of the Area was composed of ca 30 platoons organised into concentrations (groupings), battalions and companies. The effective strength of the Area amounted to ca 1,500 soldiers. The Area included also the Women Military Service (Pol.: Wojskowa Służba Kobiet) which amounted to ca 400 persons in sanitary and liaison units.
Tasks assigned in case of uprising
In case of uprising, the military units of the Area of Ochota ought to conquer the following:- barracks located in the Students' Hostel in Plac Gabriela Narutowicza, manned by ca 350 functionaries of the SchutzpolizeiSchutzpolizeiThe Schutzpolizei , or Schupo for short, is a branch of the Landespolizei, the state level police of the German states. Schutzpolizei literally means security or protection police but is best translated as Uniformed Police....
; - barracks in the buildings of the Academy of Polytechnical Sciences (Pol.: Akademia Nauk Politechnicznych) and the Chief Office of State-owned Forests (Pol.: Dyrekcja Lasów Państwowych), where a company of SS was stationed, ca 150 soldiers strong.
The insurgent units were also to close and keep control of transit roads in that city district, thus covering Warsaw from south-east.
Course of combat in Warsaw Uprising of 1944
On 1 August ca 600 soldiers turned up on places of concentration. Also, not the whole warfare to be in disposal of the Area's units arrived on place in time. In the face of a large advantage of the enemy in number and fire power as well as the loss of an opportunity to surprise the enemy, attacks taken up at the Hour "W" were not successful. Most of the units were withdrawn outside Warsaw.On 2 August the Battle of Pęcice
Battle of Pecice
The Battle of Pęcice was a fight that took place on 2 August 1944 between military units of Armia Krajowa, belonging to the 4th Ochota Sub-district , and the German military during the Warsaw Uprising in Poland during World War II....
was fought, in which ca 100 soldiers fell. Then the units withdrew to a concentration place in Chojnowo forests.
Units, which remained in Ochota, assumed defence and created two redoubts:
- '"Wawel Redoubt" (Pol.: Reduta Wawelska) – in a quadrangle of blocks in the streets: Wawelska, Mianowskiego and Uniwersytecka - commanded by second lieutenant Jerzy Gołębiowski pseudonym "Stach";
- "Kalisz Redoubt" (Pol.: Reduta Kaliska) – in the complex of buildings of the State-owned Tobacco Monopoly (Pol.: Państwowy Monopol Tytoniowy) and adjacent buildings - commanded by lieutenant Andrzej Chuczewski pseudonym "Gustaw".
The Wawel group bore in its positions until 11 August, when - in face of lack of ammunition and possibility to continue combat - withdrew through underground drains into southern part of Śródmieście district of Warsaw. There it was included into the "Iwo" reserve battalion and took part in its military actions. Since the beginning of September, as part of the "Odstoja" battalion, it repelled Germans advancing along Aleje Jerozolimskie. There it endured until the capitulation of the Warsaw Uprising.
The Kalisz group fought in the region of Kaliska and Barska streets. It kept its positions until 10 August, when, having used up all possibilities to continue combat, withdrew to a concentration place in Chojnowo forests. After reorganisation and replacements, the unit commanded by lieutenant "Stach" returned to Warsaw and took part in combats in Wilanów
Wilanów
Wilanów is a district of the city of Warsaw, Poland. It is home to historic Wilanów Palace, the "Polish Versailles," and second home to various Polish kings.-History:...
, in Sadyba
Sadyba
Sadyba is a neighborhood in Mokotów district of Warsaw, Poland. It has an administrative status of osiedle within the city. Sadyba can be divided into Old Sadyba, mainly upper class housing, and New-Sadyba with modern retail stores and communist era high rise apartments. Old and New Sadyba can be...
, in Czerniaków
Czerniaków
Czerniaków is a neighbourhood of the city of Warsaw, located within the borough of Mokotów, between the escarpment of the Vistula river and the river itself....
and in Mokotów
Mokotów
Mokotów is a dzielnica of Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Mokotów is densely populated. It is a seat to many foreign embassies and companies...
until the end of the Warsaw Uprising.
One of chaplains was Jan Salamucha.
See also
- Military description of the Warsaw UprisingMilitary description of the Warsaw UprisingThe Warsaw Uprising began with simultaneous coordinated attacks at 17:00 hours on August 1, 1944. The uprising was intended to last a few days until Soviet forces arrived; however, this never happened, and the Polish forces had to fight almost without any outside assistance...