Comment: According to plans of the Government of the Polish Republic in Exile, its Representation (Delegatura) in the country and the command of the Home Army, operation "Burza" was to achieve two main goals. The first one was purely military - all the Home Army troops were to attack German troops, more precisely their rearguard, exactly at the moment of marching of the Red Army in given areas. The second goal was political - in areas liberated by the Home Army legal administration of the government in London were to take charge and execute power, acting in relations with the Soviet Union and the Red Army as an allied but sovereign force.

Operation "Burza" began in February in Wolyn and spread on districts of Wilno, Lwow and Lublin. As the Red Army was approaching Polish lands the Home Army in Sandomierz set about intensive preparations for an uprising.

The main aim of activity of the guerilla troops of the Sandomierz district was seizing control over Sandomierz. According to the plan the 2nd infantry regiment of the Legions was to be reconstructed in the district. On the 23rd of June 1944 lieutenant-colonel Anotni Zolkiewski "Linia", the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, ordered concentration of the 2nd infantry regiment under command of major Antoni Wiktorowski "Kruk" along the Wisla: the 1st battalion in area between roads Annapol-Ozarow-Opatow and Sandomierz-Opatow, with aims of sabotage on a road Opatow-Sandomierz and preparing a strike on Sandomierz; the 2nd battalion (from sub-districts of Klimontow and Koprzywnica) in Klimontow Woods with aims of controlling area of a ford in Baranow Sandomierski and sabotage on roads Sandomierz-Osiek and Sandomierz; the 3rd battalion (from sub-district of Osiek-Staszow) - in Golejow Woods with aims of attacking Germans on road Osiek-Staszow and seizing Staszow. A company of sub-district of Polaniec was to be active in area of a bridge in Szczucin. Headquarters of the 2nd infantry regiment was located in Smiechowice. Concentration of the whole regiment was to take place in Krolewice. Headquarters of the 2nd Infantry Division was deployed in nearby Rybnica.

The most well-known as well as the most tragic battle with Germans was fought near Pielaszow. A guerilla troop under command of Ignacy Zarobkiewicz "Swojak" was destroyed and several partisans killed. In collection of the State Archive in Kielce, Sandomierz Branch, there is a 10-item set of ordnance maps with marked concentration areas of the Home Army troops within Sandomierz District, worked out by its command. The presented map shows concentration places in forest areas near Klimontow.
(Piotr Pawlowski)

External description: Original, in Polish, print with areas marked in colorful crayons, sized 600x600 mm.
Location: the State Archive in Kielce, Sandomierz Branch, Orders and ordnance maps of the Sandomierz Inspectorate of the Home Army, cat. no.5.