Republic of Kampinos

The Republic of Kampinos

During August 1944 the forces of the Warsaw Division of Armia Krajowa (Home Army) together with the partisan forces of the Stołpecko-Nalibockie AK Grouping conquered a significant area of the Kampinos Wilderness. Subsequently, uprising forces from other parts of the region joined them, forming a grouping of over 2500 infantry and cavalery soldiers called Grupa Kampinos (aka Zgrupowanie Kampinos). During August and September 1944 the area, guarded by partisan outposts, was free from German invader. The inhabitants invited the soldiers to their houses, making it possible for them to live and struggle. The true hosts of the forest, the local foresters, served the soldiers with their full knowledge about the backwoods. Everybody felt there as in independent Poland. By that time, this area was commonly named « The Independent Republic of Kampinos »

...in the middle of nowhere...

Wiersze

The Guardian Angel of Independence

Zaborów Leśny

Cross of the 1863 Insurgents

Wiersze

Roadside shrine

Wiersze

Roadside shrine

Wiersze

Forester's cottage

Zaborów Leśny - The Cross of the 1863 Insurgents

Each of the hubnails is placed in memory of one of the young Polish insurgents murdered by Russians near Zaborów in 1863. The cross is pierced with 76 nails...

The Cross of the 1863 Insurgents

Partisan cemetery near Wiersze

The Republic of Kampinos monument in the background

The Republic of Kampinos monument

The marble monument explains the phenomenon of this place and lists the villages which were engaged in the struggle for freedom.

Partisan cemetery near Wiersze

54 graves of the Grupa AK Kampinos soldiers

Partisan cemetery near Wiersze

"on the field of glory"

Partisan cemetery near Wiersze

Partisan cemetery near Wiersze

Platoon leader Izydor Regulski "Jastrząb" † 16th September 1944

Partisan cemetery near Wiersze

Corporal Jan Guzowski † 6th August 1944

Partisan cemetery near Wiersze

Unknown soldier † 1944

Partisan cemetery near Wiersze

Rifleman Michał Saturn † 10th August 1944

Partisan cemetery near Wiersze

In memory of the chaplains of the Grupa Kampinos Armii Krajowej - Stefan Wyszyński "Radwan III", the future primate of Poland and Jerzy Baszkiewicz "Radwan II" the future prelate and rector of the St. John's Archcathedral in Warsaw, brining ministry to the moribund partisans during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. The partisans of the Grupa AK Kampinos.

The Kotwica

Emblem of the Polish Secret State during WWII