Secret Heroes of World War Two

The tour begins in Saski Gardens, where Polish cryptologists helped crack the Enigma code, contributing to the Allied victory. At the Presidential Palace, you’ll hear about the assassination of SS officer Franz Kutschera and the underground operations carried out nearby.

The Katyń Memorial Stone marks the massacre of thousands of Polish officers by Soviet forces. Here we discuss how information about the crime was hidden for decades, and the efforts made by Poles at home and abroad to uncover and document what really happened.

At the Royal Castle, we look at the work of Professor Stanisław Lorentz, who led efforts to save Poland’s cultural heritage from looting and destruction. We’ll also discuss the Battle of Warsaw, which turned this historic site into a front line of defense and symbol of national resilience. The Little Insurgent Monument introduces the youngest members of the Warsaw Uprising — children who served as couriers and scouts. We continue to the Warsaw Uprising Monument, where the city’s largest act of resistance is commemorated.

The Field Cathedral of the Polish Army highlights the colourful life of Ludomił Rayski. At the Women of the Warsaw Uprising Memorial, we recognize the vital roles women played as nurses, couriers, and fighters.  The tour concludes at the Royal Arsenal, site of Operation Arsenal, where young resistance members carried out a daring daylight rescue of their captured comrade.