(Armia Krajowa, AK), Polish military resistance organization, active in occupied Poland from the fall of 1939 to January 1945.
In late September 1939 the Polish Victory Service was established; this evolved into the Union for Armed Struggle, which in turn became the Home Army (AK) in February 1942. Later, most of the other Polish underground armies were assimilated into the AK, and by early 1944 it numbered 250,000--350,000 members.
The AK's main goal was to prepare for action against the Germans, and at the end of the German occupation, carry out general armed revolt until victory. Then the London-based Polish Government-In-Exile would return and assume control.
Although few Jews served in the AK, in February 1942 the AK Information and Propaganda Office created the Section for Jewish Affairs, to collect information about the situation of the Jewish population. The office wrote reports that were sent to government officials in London, and made contact between Polish and Jewish military organizations. The AK also aided the Jews during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
The AK was responsible for much armed and economic subversion. Most prominently, it led the Warsaw Polish Uprising, which broke out on August 1, 1944 and was only put down on October 2, 1944; and participated in Partisan battles with the Nazis.
