On September 27, 1939, the Polish Underground State was established in the territories occupied by the Germans and the Soviet Union. It began with the Polish Victory Service, transformed into the Union for Armed Struggle and then into the Home Army.
On the 77th anniversary of the Polish Underground State, ceremonies were held at the monument to the Polish Peasants' Party and Home Army, attended by veterans, representatives of the Sejm, Senate, government, state institutions and city authorities.
"This state apparatus was created by people who, being brought up in the Second Republic, brought to the organization of the underground Polish state the ethos of service to the homeland and the nation," wrote President Andrzej Duda in a letter read out during the ceremony.
The Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński expressed his greatest respect and gratitude to the veterans and representatives of the civilian structures of the PUS conspiracy. He emphasized that the Polish Underground State was a phenomenon on a global scale. - It was subordinate to the legal Polish government in exile, which had a secret administration in the country, similar judiciary, prosecution, education at all levels, cultural institutions, publishing houses and an extraordinary army - the Home Army - said Marek Kuchciński. - Poland thus once again confirmed the value and necessity of the existence of a Polish state - sovereign and independent from any foreign influence - for the life of the nation and for the future," he said. - Today we can say that for us, Poles, the state is a value, just like freedom and independence. At the same time we need to live and continue to act, co-creating our national future. The Polish Underground State appears as the most beautiful pearl in the crown of the 1050-year history of Polish statehood. Without it we would not have our freedom today", concluded the Marshal.
Major Leszek ¯ukowski, President of the World Association of Home Army Soldiers, said that "the experience of the underground state and the fight of Polish soldiers on many fronts - for our freedom and yours - entitle the veterans to warn their compatriots of the younger generation about the dangers of remaining isolated. In the unity of the nation strength, and in friendship with the stronger - peace".
