The Polish capital marks 80th anniversary of Warsaw Uprising

There will be sirens sounding at 5 PM local time and residents and guests are asked to stand still in respect of those who rose up in the face of brutal oppression

Every year, the Polish capital Warsaw marks an event of epic significance for the history of the city, but also an event that is of global significance for all those people struggling to gain freedom, respect and dignity – the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. This year is extra special because it marks the 80^th anniversary of this important historic event.

The Warsaw Uprising was the largest effort made by native resistance fighters to defeat the German Nazi occupiers during World War II. It lasted for 63 days and resulted in 80 to 90% of the city being destroyed and hundreds of thousands of Warsaw residents being killed or evicted. It didn’t achieve its aims, but it serves as a bright example of resistance to oppression and foreign occupation even in the face of dire circumstances to this day.

Commemorating the last of veterans

Commemorations of the 80^th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising began already today in the Polish capital. The Warsaw City Council organized a ceremony granting the title of Honorary Citizen of Warsaw to four veteran participants in the Uprising: Barbara Gancarczyk, Stefan Meissner, Anna Stupnicka-Bando and Zbigniew Rylski.

“The 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising is something absolutely special. We are of course talking about the fight for freedom because without the Warsaw Uprising, our freedom would look completely different. I am deeply convinced that if there had been no Warsaw Uprising, we would not be safe today,” said Rafał Trzaskowski, the Mayor of Warsaw.

On 1 August, the commemoration of the anniversary gets a more solemn expression with the now-traditional sounding of the sirens in the city. This happens at 5 PM every year and is known as ‘W Hour’ among local residents.

For 1 minute during the sounding of the sirens, all car traffic, cyclists and pedestrians come to a standstill and stay silent in an expression of gratitude. Guests to the city are asked to do the same.