'Forest Dwellers' in the Uprising

Captain Józef Krzyczkowski, code-named "Szymon," who led partisan units of the Home Army (AK) in the eastern part of the Kampinos Forest, encountered an astonishing sight upon reaching Dziekanów Polski. Scouts had reported the presence of Polish soldiers in pre-war uniforms, complete with eagles on their caps, openly stationed in the village near Warsaw. Krzyczkowski initially suspected a Gestapo provocation due to the unusual and seemingly sanctioned nature of their presence.

However, upon arrival, Krzyczkowski confirmed the reports. He found a unit of nearly 900 soldiers who were exceptionally well-trained and equipped. The unit possessed its own cavalry and a squadron of heavy machine guns, along with a substantial number of support vehicles. The air was filled with Polish conversation, notably accented with a melodic regional dialect from the Kresy (eastern borderlands).

The soldiers' open presence, seemingly with German acquiescence, was a perplexing situation for the partisan command. This unexpected assembly of a significant, well-organized Polish military force within occupied territory, under circumstances that defied immediate explanation, presented a unique challenge and a point of intrigue for the resistance movement.