The Polish Cichociemni (pronounced “chi-ho-chiem-ni”) can be likened to the British Special Operations Executive (SOE); in fact, the Cichociemni, who were never an official unit of their own, and the SOE worked closely together during the Second World War. These special forces soldiers, whose collective name means “silently dark,” focused on intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, sabotage, and other operations as assigned by the English command and, later when the paratroopers were back in Poland and working to combat Nazi forces, the Polish Home Army. 606 individuals completed the necessary training, 316 of whom operated in occupied Poland between 1941 and 1945. The Cichociemni were a key part of the resistance against the Nazi occupation and Nazi regime. [source]
1 The Motto, Symbols, and History of the Cichociemni
1.1 Motto
The motto of the Cichociemni was
“Tobie Ojczyzno” (“For Thee, my country”).
[source]
1.2 Symbols of the Cichociemni
The main symbol of the Cichociemni is a diving silver eagle. Similarly, the eagle is also a part of other Polish symbolis, including the flag, and represents strength and freedom. [source]
The name given to these soldiers, “Cichociemni,” is a second important symbol of the soldiers. The name was coined during training sessions in Scotland when officers began to disappear from training. In reality, these officers were leaving for special training at Audley End, a facility located in Essex, England run by British Armed Forces. Since the Cichociemni were never one unit, the name was what bound them to each other and to their mission. [source]
(H3) 1.3 The Beginnings of the Cichociemni
Before the invasion of Poland, France and Britain had pledged to protect the sovereignty of the Polish state. Despite this pledge, Nazi German forces moved on Poland in 1939 and Warsaw surrendered after 26 days. At this point, the Nazis and the Soviets split Poland between themselves as agreed upon by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. [source, source]
After the occupation of Poland, many of the Polish Home Army and the Government of the Republic of Poland escaped to England. It was in England that further military operational planning and training took place with the help of the British SOE. Officers, Special Service Operatives, and the Cichociemni utilized Audley End as a training facility. [source]
Cichociemni were soldiers from the Polish Home Army who were in Britain during WWII and volunteered for the chance to become a paratrooper. Out of the 2,613 soldiers who volunteered, only 606 individuals completed the training and only 316 parachuted into Poland. [source, source]
The training at Audley End included sabotage, field craft, reconnaissance, and other underground warfare techniques. After completing this training, the Cichociemni went to Poland to serve with the Polish Home Army. Their mission was to carry out reconnaissance, sabotage missions, and continue combat against the Nazi occupying forces. [source]
1.4 The Rediscovery of the Cichociemni
The history and sacrifice made by the Cichociemni was buried after the end of the Second World War and the beginning of the Communist regime in Poland. The Communist regime even accused some members of the Cichociemni of being traitors and imprisoned them. Despite the repression of the actions of the Cichociemni, Poland’s modern-day elite special forces unit, GROM, later strove to continue the traditions of the Cichociemni and keep their history alive. On the British side, there was little documentation left of the SOE programme in Audley End, but a written list of names of the people who had participated in the training was later discovered in a cupboard in the Audley End training house. The documentation that was left behind, and the stories told from generation to generation, have allowed historians to learn more about these unseen commandos. [source, source, source, source]
2 The Workings of the Unseen Commandos
2.1 The Cichociemni and the Polish Home Army
The Cichociemni were not an official unit by themselves; rather they were each meant to take on leadership roles within the Polish Home Army in Poland – the Armia Krajowa. The Armia Krajowa was the main military resistance operation in occupied Poland. However, the resistance had not always been the Armia Krajowa. Before 1942, the military organization was the Służba Zwycięstwu Polski (Service for Poland’s Victory). In like fashion to the Służba Zwycięstwu Polski, the newly renamed Armia Krajowa was made up of soldiers and civilians from different political organizations. [source, source]
2.2 Key Leaders and Trainers
Captain Alfons Mackowiak: Captain Alfons served as an instructor at Audley End for fitness, shooting, and unarmed combat courses. Additionally, he had previously served as an artilleryman in the Polish Home Army. [source]
Captain Jan Górski and Captain Maciej Kalenkiewic: Captains of the Polish Home Army and co-founders of the Cichociemni. [source]
Captain Stefan Ignaszak ” Nordyk”, ” Drozd”: Captain Stefan was a Cichociemni who was instrumental in the identification of production and housing sites of the German V1 and V2 rockets. [source]
2.3 Recruitment Methods
Cichociemni were chosen from volunteers of the Polish Home Army who were at that time located in England. From those volunteers, only those who passed training were given the name ‘Cichociemni’ and sent to Poland. [source]
2.4 Connections to Other Important Organizations
Firstly, the Cichociemni would complete training in Italy, Scotland, or England, after which they would rejoin the Polish Home Army. The British SOE provided essential support to many resistance movements, including the Polish Home Army. The SOE and the British government provided training courses for the Cichociemni, material support for the Polish Home Army, and subsequent paratrooper drop operations. The SOE provided the Polish Home Army with weapons, ammunition, communication devices, and other equipment. [source, source]
However, due to competing interests with the Soviets, it was often difficult for the Allies to provide the Polish Home Army with sufficient equipment because the Soviets did not often allow American and British planes loaded with weapons and ammunition to land on Soviet-occupied airfields. Meanwhile, the Soviets were interested in establishing a communist government. Consequently, the juxtaposing goals of the Polish government that the Polish home army fought for and the Soviets created disagreements between the Soviets and the Allies. [source, source, source]
3 Tactical-Operations of the Cichociemni
The Cichociemni participated in multiple operations throughout World War 2, ranging from sabotage missions to field tactical combat. The Cichociemni were a critical force in the resistance against the Nazi forces.
3.1 Reconnaissance Missions
The Cichociemni also conducted intelligence-gathering operations. On one such mission, the Cichociemni recovered a German V2 rocket. Thereupon, the Cichociemni sent the parts of this rocket to Poland and later to the United Kingdom for further study. The Cichociemni further discovered the locations of the V1 and V2 rockets that were located in Northern France. Subsequently, the Cichociemni played a key role in the gathering of intelligence in preparation for D-Day landings and the breaking of the Enigma code. [source, source, source, source]
3.2 Warsaw Operation of 1944
About a hundred Cichociemni participated in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. In the end, the operation was unsuccessful because of a lack of expected popular support. However, the uprising showcased the resolve of the Polish Home Army and of the locals who participated in the efforts against the Nazi forces. The uprising lasted for 63 days, after which a capitulation agreement was signed which detailed the surrender of the Home Army. [source, source]
3.3 Resistance
The Silent Unseen Commandos simultaneously focused on organizing and maintaining the resistance in Poland. This local resistance movement consisted of sabotage missions on German supplies and local uprisings. At the peak of the resistance movement, 400,000 individuals were part of the Home Army and many more were involved in more informal resistance networks. The work of the Cichociemni and the underground resistance worked to connect the Polish people and keep the hope of liberation from occupation alive throughout the war years. [source, source]
3.4 Operation Kutschera
The Polish Resistance conducted Operation Kutschera. This operation’s objective was the assassination of Schutzstaffel (SS) and Police Leader Franz Kutschera — the “Butcher of Warsaw”. He was responsible for an increased number of roundups and executions. [source, source]
In 1943, the Polish Underground Court tried Kutschera in absentia and found him guilty of mass murder. The mission of carrying out the death sentence was given to the combat and sabotage unit of the Polish Underground in Kedyw. The operation was manned by twelve people and occurred on 01 February 1944. The unit stopped Kutschera’s automobile as he approached SS headquarters. Kutschera was killed along with some other German officials who got involved in the shooting attempt. In retribution, the occupying German officials imposed a tribute of 100 million zloty, the equivalent of USD 47.6 billion in today’s currency, on the Polish residents of Warsaw. [source, source]
4 The Polish Underground State
During the days of the Nazi and Soviet occupation, the Polish secret state emerged. This secret state was known as Polskie Państwo Podziemne (PPP) or the Polish Underground State and was based in Warsaw. The key objective of this system was to maintain pre-occupation of national institutions and systems for a new government once the war was over. The Cichociemni were key organizers and leaders in this unseen network and the eventual change in governing systems as they conducted intelligence and sabotage operations that weakened the Nazi governing system. [source]
4.1 Who was part of the PPP?
The PPP derived its legitimacy from the Polish Government that was at the time in exile. It was in 1940 that the process of unifying the different resistance operations and movements operating in different parts of Poland began. It was the PPP that formed and operated the Armia Krajowa. The Cichociemni were a part of the ranks of the Armia Krajowa. The Cichociemni commanded local resistance movements and conducted intelligence and sabotage missions. [source]
4.2 Actions of the PPP
The Polish Underground State focused on operations meant to weaken occupying forces. These operations included the propagation of anti-Nazi slogans, armed attacks, and other intelligence and sabotage missions. The PPP also organized educational programs and systems of support for Polish citizens. [source]
5 The Past and The Future
In the summer of 1983, a memorial urn was erected in West Park at Audley End to honour the memory of the 112 Cichociemni who lost their lives during the war. At present, there are different monuments throughout Poland commemorating the Cichociemni. The Cichocimeni continue to be honoured in the movements of the Polish army today. [source]
6 Conclusion
The Cichociemni were highly trained special operatives from Poland that worked with the Polish Home Army to combat the Nazi occupying forces during World War 2. They specialized in reconnaissance, sabotage, and combat missions. Their sacrifices and discoveries were integral to the resistance against the Nazi occupying force and the war effort. Today, the Cichociemni are still remembered and honoured for their sacrifices through Polish army commemorations and a monument in England.
