by Poland – The Nation That Suffered the Most During World War II
During World War II, Poland paid one of the highest prices of all nations. In proportion to its population, it was the country that suffered the greatest human losses.
Out of a pre-war population of around 35 million, over 6 million Polish citizens — more than 17% — were killed.
Half of them were Polish Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and the other half were non-Jewish Poles, who perished in mass executions, forced labor, concentration camps, and wartime devastation.
The war began on September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland, followed by the Soviet invasion from the east on September 17, 1939. What followed was five long years of occupation, terror, and resistance.
📍 The Warsaw Uprising (August – October 1944)
One of the most tragic and heroic chapters in Polish history.
For 63 days, the Polish underground Home Army (Armia Krajowa) fought against German occupation forces to liberate the capital before the arrival of the Soviets. The world watched as the city bled.
After the uprising collapsed, about 200,000 Polish civilians were killed, mostly in brutal massacres carried out by German troops. Warsaw was deliberately destroyed — nearly 85% of the city was turned into ruins on Hitler’s orders.
When you see the photos of Warsaw in 1944, it’s hard to believe that the vibrant, modern city that stands today rose from that sea of rubble.
Every brick of Warsaw’s Old Town tells a story of courage, resilience, and rebirth.
🕯️ Rest in Peace to all the victims — men, women, and children — who lost their lives.
May we never forget their suffering, and may their sacrifice continue to remind the world that freedom always comes at a price.
