The Sir Michael Howard Centre for the History of War is delighted to convene an expert panel to explore the history, significance and memory of the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944, marking its 80th anniversary and accompanying the opening of the exhibition Warsaw Calling.

The Warsaw Uprising in 1944 was one of the biggest resistance actions in occupied Europe during the Second World War, a story of pride, success and eventual sacrifice. The course and significance of the uprising are contested issues, whether in Polish history, the ending of the Second World War, or the start of the Cold War. On 1 August 1944, the Polish resistance fighting the Nazis launched the Warsaw Uprising — one of the biggest acts of rebellion against Hitler’s rule in occupied Europe. Seeking to exploit Soviet military advances to the east of Warsaw and establish control ahead of the Red Army’s arrival, the Armia Krajowa — ‘Home Army’ — was outnumbered and outgunned, battling German troops for two months, before being forced to surrender, while Moscow’s military paused its offensive. The Nazis killed an estimated 200,000 combatants and civilians and destroyed the city.

The panel will discuss the course of the uprising, personal experiences, BBC broadcasts and how it is remembered, as well as reflect British connections. London — and Bush House, the King’s location for the event — has important links to the Uprising and these will feature in the panel discussion. The Polish Government, based there for most of World War Two, and the Polish military headquarters directed the fighting via encrypted radio links with the Warsaw commanders. Secret messages went back and forth daily between Britain and the Polish capital. There was also limited practical support with airdropped supplies from Britain, while the BBC was significant — with the Polish service broadcasts significant, but also subject to censorship and institutional tussles.

The panel discussion is one of a series of activities on 20 July 2024 to mark the opening of the Warsaw Calling exhibition in the Arcade, Bush House.

Speakers

• Chair: Professor James Gow, Department of War Studies, King's College London
• Dr Halik Kochanski, Independent historian, and author of 'The Eagle Unbowed: Poland and the Poles in the Second World War'
• Dr Joanna Hanson, Polish Underground Movement Study Trust (PUMST) and formerly FCDO Research Analyst
• Krzysztof Pszenicki, Author and former Head of  BBC Polish Service
• Professor James Bjork, Department of History, King's College London

The panel is organised in conjunction with the exhibition Warsaw Calling, which runs from 20 July to 8 August 2024 in The Arcade, Bush House.

More information at www.warsaw1944.uk