History · Understanding Poland
27 September: understanding the Underground State Poland commemorates
Behind this Sunday’s ceremonies lies a history of military resistance, but also of education, justice and civilian organisation under occupation.
This Sunday, 27 September, marks the 87th anniversary of the creation of the Service for Poland’s Victory, Służba Zwycięstwu Polski. For a French visitor, the date may first appear on a ceremony notice or beside a monument. Yet it points to a central concept in Polish remembrance: the Underground State.
Resistance beyond armed struggle
On 27 September 1939, in besieged Warsaw, General Michał Tokarzewski-Karaszewicz established an organisation intended to continue the struggle. IPN, the Institute of National Remembrance, traces the origins of wartime underground structures to that initiative.
The term “Polish Underground State” describes something broader than a military organisation. IPN’s historical resources describe civilian and military institutions linked to Poland’s government in exile. Secret education, an underground administration and courts formed part of this history alongside armed resistance.
That is why the word “State” matters: it expresses an intention to maintain institutions and political continuity despite occupation. Understanding the commemorations also means considering teachers, couriers and those involved in civilian networks.
Ceremonies announced in Kraków and Gdynia
In Kraków, IPN announces a ceremony on 27 September at 11 am at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Matejko Square. In Gdynia, the city schedules commemorations at 10 am beside the Home Army monument on Kościuszko Square. These times come from official announcements; they are not a report of how the events unfolded.
A guide to understanding for French travellers
Some aspects can be compared with the French Resistance, without conflating their organisations or circumstances. When visiting, it helps to start with names: what does AK mean, which period does a plaque refer to, and which institution or person does it honour?
The ceremonies on 27 September offer an entry point into a history still present in Polish streets and museums. They invite us to look beyond symbols and understand the institutions and human experiences they represent.
Original AI-generated illustration: an evocation of underground life and the transmission of knowledge. The objects are not archival documents.