They played an extraordinary function during the occupation, defending the village," noted UDSKiOR chief Lech Parell during the 84th anniversary of the Peasants' Battalion. Members of this formation were commemorated at the monument of the Soldiers of the Peasants Battalions in Warsaw. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish.
– 170 1000 soldiers from the Polish village created Boys' Battalions – reminded Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in Warsaw during the 84th anniversary of the creation of the underground armed force of the people. The Feast of BCh soldiers is celebrated on 8 October on the anniversary of the day erstwhile in 1940 Gen. Franciszek Kamiński "Zenon Trawiński" was sworn in as commandant of this formation.
Speaking in front of the monument of the Soldiers of the Peasant Battalions and the People's Union of Women, the head of the MON added that the BCh conflict way was 6,000 shares and over 900 battles, and the organization was the second largest after National Army an underground army in occupied Poland. – This is simply a collective action that continued continuously throughout the war and occupation, and the thought of the Battalions continues to this day – noted the Deputy Prime Minister and indicated that contemporary commanders of the Polish army are besides heirs of Gen. Kamiński and his fight.
The Minister of Defence stressed that we inactive remember past and our heroes. "The memory is for the future, not only to respect past generations," Kosinik-Kamish said, referring to the case of victims of the Volyn crime murdered by Ukrainian nationalists from 1943 to 1944. "We will not remainder until the victims of the Volyn genocide are remembered; the fact about this must be widely accepted and understood in Europe and in the world," declared the Deputy Prime Minister. He added that among the first victims of those events were the BCh soldiers.
Lech Parell, Head of the Office for Combatants and Represented Persons, besides spoke during the celebrations. “The Peasant Battalions played an extraordinary function during the occupation, defending villages, and their soldiers created 1 of the largest underground volunteer armies,” said Parell.
At the same time, he pointed out that the strength of these soldiers was broad and solid support of the Polish village. "Today we remind that the fight for Poland's independency was not limited to cities, but included people from even the smallest villages, which proved that we can jointly mobilize and be solidist in moments of trial," stressed the head of UdsKiOR. During the ceremony, a memorial appeal was read and wreaths were placed at the monument of the Soldiers of the Peasants Battalions.
The Peasants Battalions were created in August 1940. In March 1944, they had about 170 000 soldiers. They carried out about 3,000 major combat actions. The most crucial include fighting in defence of the pacified Zamość region from 1942 to 1943, including under the Woja, Zaboreczne and Rose, the break-up of prisoners in Krasnystaw and Pińczów, or sinking together with the AK of the German ship Tannenberg. The organization was dissolved in September 1945.
