Poland marks 81st anniversary of Warsaw Uprising

WARSAW, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Poland commemorated the 81st anniversary of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising on Thursday with a solemn Roll Call of Remembrance in front of the Warsaw Uprising Monument in the capital.

The event was attended by veterans of the uprising, President Andrzej Duda, President-elect Karol Nawrocki, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, and representatives of veterans' organizations.

In his address, President Duda expressed gratitude and appreciation to those who fought against the German occupier for the freedom of Warsaw and of Poland.

He said that the uprising was rooted in patriotic values shaped through upbringing, adding that passing on this spirit requires building a stronger and safer Poland. He called those in power to bear the responsibility for modernizing the armed forces and strengthening national security.

Trzaskowski said that all generations will carry forward the memory and values of the uprising. He urged people to reflect on the courage of those who once fought with bare hands for dignity and principles.

The Warsaw Uprising, which broke out on Aug. 1, 1944, was the largest underground military operation in German-occupied Europe. Around 40,000-50,000 Polish insurgents took part in the two-month struggle, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 18,000 fighters and up to 180,000 civilians. After the uprising was crushed, about 500,000 residents were expelled from the city, and Warsaw was left almost completely in ruins. Enditem