Gray Ranks - Structure

Structure

The Gray Ranks' structure was based on the prewar structure of the Polish Scouting Association, modified to suit the new circumstances of occupation and repression. The basic unit was the troop (drużyna), comprising some 20 boys or girls. Each troop was composed of several squads (zastępy), each zastęp comprising 7 persons. Several troops from a specified area (city district, village or town) formed a district (hufiec), which in turn formed part of a region (chorągiew — literally, a banner or standard). During World War II, the several units were referred to by their own code-names:

  • "banner" (chorągiew) - ul ("beehive")
  • "district" (hufiec) - rój ("swarm")
  • "troop" (drużyna) - rodzina ("family")
  • "squad" (zastęp) - pszczoły ("bees")

The commander's office and headquarters of the Gray Ranks were code-named "the Apiary" (Pasieka). The Gray Ranks' successive commanders were:

  • Florian Marciniak (27 September 1939 – 6 May 1943)
  • Stanisław Broniewski ("Orsza"; 12 May 1943 – 3 October 1944)
  • Leon Marszałek (3 October 1944 – 18 January 1945)

At the apogee of the Gray Ranks' strength, Headquarters commanded 20 banners. To control the movement, the area of prewar Poland was divided into departments, each supervising several banners:

  • Western Department (Wydział Zachodni, Z) - areas annexed by Nazi Germany:
    • Pomeranian banner - ul "Lina" (beehive Line)
    • Greater Polish - ul "Przemysław" (beehive Przemysław)
    • Łódź - ul "Kominy" (beehive Chimneys)
    • Zagłębie - ul "Barbara" (beehive Barbara)
    • Silesian - ul "Huta" (beehive Steel mill)

An additional banner was formed in the General Government and commanded all the scouts from Greater Poland expelled from their homes by the Germans (ul "Chrobry" - beehive Chrobry).

  • Eastern Department (Wydział Wschodni, W) - eastern voivodeships of Poland
    • Białystok - ul "Biały" (beehive White)
    • Wilno - ul "Brama" (beehive Gate)
    • Polesie - ul "Błota" (beehive Marshes)
    • Nowogródek - ul "Las" (beehive Forest)
    • Wołyń - ul "Gleba" (beehive Soil)

An additional banner was formed for scouts expelled from their homes to the General Government (ul Złoty - "Gold beehive").

  • Central Poland Department (Wydział Polski Centralnej, C)
    • Warsaw - ul "Wisła" (beehive Vistula)
    • Masovian - ul "Puszcza" (beehive Wilderness)
    • Radom - ul "Rady" (beehive Councils)
    • Lublin - ul "Zboże" (beehive Grain)
  • Southern Poland Department (Wydział Polski Południowej, P)
    • Kielce - ul "Skała" (beehive Rock)
    • Częstochowa - ul "Warta" (beehive Warta)
    • Kraków - ul "Smok" (beehive Dragon)
  • Lwów - ul "Lew" (beehive Lion)

Coordination among the departments and beehives was directed by inspectors subordinate to the Headquarters: Eugeniusz Stasiecki, Edward Zurn and Kazimierz Grenda.

Read more about this topic:  Gray Ranks

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