Union of Youth Struggle

The Union of Youth Struggle (Polish: Związek Walki Młodych, ZWM) was a youth organization in Poland. ZWM was founded in 1942.[1] It was linked to the Polish Workers Party (PPR).[2][3] Hanka Szapiro-Sawicka was the founding leader of ZWM.[4] She was killed by German authorities on March 10, 1943.[4] Leadership of ZWM was then taken over by Jan Krasicki.[4] Krasicki was shot by Gestapo on September 2, 1943.[4] After Krasicki's death, Helena Jaworska became the ZWM leader.[4] ZWM was active in the anti-fascist struggle, organizing People's Guard militia forces.[4][5] ZWM played an important role in broadening the base of PPR.[4] Walka Młodych ('Youth Struggle') was the central organ of ZWM.[6]

President Bolesław Bierut at the National Assembly of ZWM, July 21-22 1946

As of 1947 ZWM had 224,000 members[1] On July 22, 1948 ZWM and other youth organizations merged into the Polish Youth Union (ZMP).[1]

References
  1. Krystyna Kersten (1991). The Establishment of Communist Rule in Poland, 1943-1948. University of California Press. pp. 210, 422. ISBN 978-0-520-06219-1.
  2. Z pola walki. Ksia̜żka i Wiedza. 1984. p. 183.
  3. Wladyslaw Majkowski (1985). People's Poland: Patterns of Social Inequality and Conflict. Greenwood Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-313-24614-2.
  4. Polish Western Affairs. Instytut Zachodni. 1975. p. 194.
  5. Rada Ochrony Pomników Walki i Męczeństwa (Poland) (1968). Scenes of fighting and martyrdom: guide: war years in Poland, 1939-1945. Sport i Turystyka Publications. p. 19.
  6. KC PZPR. Zakład Historii Partii; Poland. Ogólnopolski Komitet Wspólpracy Organizacji Mlodziezowych (1965). Walka młodych pokoleń: materiały. Książka i Wiedza. p. 434.
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