People's Guard (1942–1944)
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Gwardia Ludowa (Polish pronunciation: [ˈɡvardja luˈdɔva]; People's Guard) or GL was a communist underground armed organization created by the communist Polish Workers' Party in German-occupied Poland, with sponsorship from the Soviet Union. Formed in early 1942, within a short time Gwardia Ludowa became the largest clandestine fighting force on Polish soil which refused to join the structures of the Polish Underground State loyal to the London-based government-in-exile. In the January 1 of 1944 GL was incorporated into the communist Armia Ludowa.[1]
People's Guard | |
---|---|
Gwardia Ludowa | |
Active | 1942 – 1 January 1944 (transformed into People's Army) |
Country | Poland |
Allegiance | Polish Workers' Party |
Role | Armed forces of the Polish Workers' Party |
March | Marsz Gwardii Ludowej |
Engagements | World War II Zamość Uprising Warsaw Ghetto Uprising |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Bolesław Mołojec Marian Spychalski Franciszek Jóźwiak |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol |
Gwardia Ludowa was created on 6 January 1942 with military aid from the Red Army. The availability of firearms led to GL swiftly reaching a strength of 3,000 fighters.[2] Gwardia Ludowa was connected to the NKVD intelligence services of the Soviet Union with NKVD colonels commanding some AL military actions.[3] It was tasked with fighting against Germany by means of partisan warfare, sabotage, and reprisal actions. The full size partisan detachments were formed in May 1942 although foray groups were organized earlier. They operated near Piotrków and Radom. By the end of the year the organisation was divided onto seven administrative districts including Warsaw, Lublin, Radom-Kielce, Kraków, Łódź, Silesia and Lwów.