Warsaw Fights Alone – A cry for help to support the Polish Army and the Polish underground fighters in the midst of the battles in Warsaw against the Nazi enemy following the suppression of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, by Polish Army officer Witold Nagorski (Zygmunt Witold Nagorski). Printed in London, 1944 for the Polish Publications Committee – First edition.
“A few days ago, the entire population of Warsaw was ordered by the Germans to evacuate westward, carrying white handkerchiefs. It seemed to herald not only the destruction of Warsaw, which is now taking place, but also the deportation of a million people under circumstances in which few could hope to survive… It may be that by the time these words reach the reader, the uprising in Warsaw will have ended…”.
A rare booklet issued by the Polish Army in cooperation with the Polish underground during the final battles in Warsaw against the Nazi occupiers, and toward the city’s liberation at the end of World War II. In it, they appeal both to the Allies and to “the entire world” to assist in any way possible the last fighters and civilians who remained in Warsaw at that time, describing the deaf ear they encountered: “The Daily Telegraph of August 30, 1944 printed the following statement explaining the lack of assistance: The Soviet government has so far not responded to the requests of the British and American authorities for permission for aircraft delivering weapons to the Polish underground army to land in Russia. Small quantities reached Warsaw but were insufficient to turn the tide of the fighting in favor of the Poles… We have inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in manpower and material — we have taken prisoners. We fear nothing except a shortage of ammunition. We lack weapons to recruit volunteers. We are engaged in fierce fighting with the Germans throughout the city of Warsaw. We defeated part of their forces using weapons captured from the enemy, but we are struggling to secure enough ammunition… We are greatly lacking ammunition… We can hear Soviet artillery but do not feel their attacks…”.
Throughout the booklet, there are continuous reports from field correspondents, officers, and government officials describing the progress of the battles by date, emphasizing the difficulty due to the lack of ammunition:
“Today, due to a shortage of ammunition, we are forced to limit our activities to concentrated and restricted areas…”. It also describes how the Germans set fire to sections of the ghetto, burning its inhabitants alive, and highlights the spirit of heroism among the civilians: “The population of Warsaw is one with the army in its struggle. Even those who are unarmed stir the young with enthusiasm, erect barricades against enemy tanks. Women compete with men in service and in open fighting. All are inspired by a spirit of discipline and self-sacrifice.” Descriptions are given of how civilians improvised weapons — hand grenades were made from old gas pipes, artillery shells dismantled into makeshift bombs, and more.
The booklet also includes the full transcript of a message from the President of the Republic of Poland, delivered by Deputy Prime Minister Del Gait, describing the fierce battles raging in Warsaw and the helplessness of the fighters due to the lack of external support: “I emphatically repeat that without immediate support consisting of the dropping of arms and ammunition, bombing of enemy-held positions, and airborne landings, our struggle may collapse within a few days…”.
At the center of the booklet is a large map titled “Plan of Warsaw – Situation as of August 17, 1944.” The map depicts the German attack routes (in blue) and the fortified and assault areas of the Polish underground and army (in red). The booklet is accompanied by historical photographs documenting the struggle against the Nazis, including: soldiers of the Polish underground army kneeling in prayer before going into battle, children under fire, trams in Warsaw — the only remaining means of communication in the city — makeshift barricades, and more.
The author, Zygmunt Witold Nagorski (1913–2011), was born in Warsaw, Poland, and served as an officer in the Polish Army during World War II. During intense German shelling, he and his men survived by hiding beneath tanks. After the war, he immigrated to the United States, where he worked as an editor, foreign policy researcher, and director of a center for international leadership. Nagorski passed away in 2011 at the age of 98.
32 pages. Good–very good condition.
