Maria Wittekówna who in October 1939 took charge of the Women's Auxiliary Service - of the 1st Bureau of the Polish Victory Service (Służba Zwycięstwu Polski - SWP) GHQ
From polishresistance-ak.org/12%20Article.htm
Has anyone any stories or pictures of women in the Armia Krajowa?
Many women soldiers of the AK received decorations. In the Lwów district (Area III) 20 percent of those who received the Cross for Valour were women, likewise 40 percent of those who received the Silver Cross of Merit with swords and 50 percent of those who received the Bronze Cross of Merit with swords. In a few exceptional cases women were decorated with the Order Virtuti Militari (class V).
it should be stressed that the actual active engagement of women in the national liberation movement (in military operations both at home and abroad) was far greater than what was stated in official figures. Indeed, at the start of 1940 the Commander of the Union of Armed Struggle (ZwiÄ…zek Walki Zbrojnej - ZWZ), Col. Stefan Rowecki, declared that the women in Poland were carrying out the same types of military service as the men, and thus decreed that the term Women's Military Service be used.
The result of her mission (which coincided with legislative work being carried out by the Polish government and the Polish Supreme GHQ Command) was that the Polish President issued a decree, dated 27th October 1943, stating that 'female soldiers have the same rights and obligations as male soldiers.
From polishresistance-ak.org/12%20Article.htm
Has anyone any stories or pictures of women in the Armia Krajowa?
Maria Wittekówna
Radoslaw Unit
warsaw-1944
cc