Poland commemorates 82nd Warsaw Uprising anniversary as last veteran dies at 105

The Museum of the Warsaw Uprising is preparing a series of events for the 82nd anniversary of the 1944 uprising, including a concert in Park Wolności, a performance on Piłsudski Square that will involve about 30,000 people, and the release of a new album “Łączy nas” by Błażej Król featuring songs about the uprising. Jan Ołdakowski, director of the museum, said “Powstańcy są najważniejsi” (the insurgents are the most important) and highlighted that around 230 survivors live worldwide, with nearly 100 still in Warsaw.

At the same time, 105‑year‑old Colonel Urszula Tauer, known by the nom de guerre “Ala”, died. Tauer had served as a courier and intelligence officer for the Home Army during the uprising, travelling to Berlin and German prisoner‑of‑war camps. She was wounded in the leg on 2 August 1944 but returned to fighting. Her death marks the passing of one of the last living participants of the historic resistance, which began on 1 August 1944 and resulted in roughly 18,000 insurgent deaths and massive civilian casualties.

The commemorations aim to honour the legacy of the uprising while acknowledging the dwindling number of surviving veterans.