Women's Auxiliary Service (Poland)
Encyclopedia
The Women's Auxiliary Service (WAS) was a unit of Polish Armed Forces
during II World War established in 1941 by initiative of Lt. Gen. Władysław Anders, while creating Polish Armed Forces in the East
.
Pestki worked as nurses, cook
s, teacher
s in schools for war orphans, secretaries
in staffs, pilots
, drivers
, etc.. In active service there were around 4,000 volunteers in any time of the war, but 1 July 1945, in time of highest abundance, there were 7,000 women in WAS.
In 1944 WAS was transferred to II Corps in Italy
. In July 1944 Minister of National Defence
reorganized WAS separating three new units:
The same bylaw
established Headquarters of WAAS, Commandants of WAAS, WAFAS, WNAS and Superintendents to corps and armies' commands. Commissioned officers were appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland
. Military rank
s were also harmonized with ranks of Polish Armed Forces in the West
.
First Superintendent of WAS was Władysława Piechowska, another was Zofia Leśniowska
.
The WAS was disbanded in March 1946.
Polish Armed Forces
Siły Zbrojne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej are the national defense forces of Poland...
during II World War established in 1941 by initiative of Lt. Gen. Władysław Anders, while creating Polish Armed Forces in the East
Polish Armed Forces in the East
Polish Armed Forces in the East refers to military units composed of Poles created in the Soviet Union at the time when the territory of Poland was occupied by both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in the Second World War....
.
Pestki worked as nurses, cook
Cook (profession)
A cook is a person who prepares food for consumption. In Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Canada this profession requires government approval ....
s, teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s in schools for war orphans, secretaries
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
in staffs, pilots
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, drivers
Driving
Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus.Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding, such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road...
, etc.. In active service there were around 4,000 volunteers in any time of the war, but 1 July 1945, in time of highest abundance, there were 7,000 women in WAS.
In 1944 WAS was transferred to II Corps in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. In July 1944 Minister of National Defence
Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Poland
Ministry of National Defence is the office of government in Poland under the Minister of Defence. During the Second Polish Republic and World War II it was called the Ministry of Military Affairs...
reorganized WAS separating three new units:
- Women's Army Auxiliary Service (WAAS) (Pomocnicza Wojskowa Służba Kobiet, PWSK)
- Women's Air Force Auxiliary Service (WAFAS) (Pomocnicza Lotnicza Służba Kobiet, PLSK)
- Women's Naval Auxiliary Service (WNAS) (Pomocnicza Morska Służba Kobiet, PMSK)
The same bylaw
Bylaw
By-law can refer to a law of local or limited application passed under the authority of a higher law specifying what things may be regulated by the by-law...
established Headquarters of WAAS, Commandants of WAAS, WAFAS, WNAS and Superintendents to corps and armies' commands. Commissioned officers were appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland
President of the Republic of Poland
The President of the Republic of Poland is the Polish head of state. His or her rights and obligations are determined in the Constitution of Poland....
. Military rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
s were also harmonized with ranks of Polish Armed Forces in the West
Polish Armed Forces in the West
Polish Armed Forces in the West refers to the Polish military formations formed to fight alongside the Western Allies against Nazi Germany and its allies...
.
First Superintendent of WAS was Władysława Piechowska, another was Zofia Leśniowska
Zofia Leśniowska
Lt. Zofia Wanda Leśniowska , was daughter of Lt. Gen. Władysław Sikorski, she was first lieutenant of Polish Armed Forces....
.
The WAS was disbanded in March 1946.