Union of Retaliation
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Union of Retaliation (Polish: Związek Odwetu or Z.O.) was a Polish
Early history
The ZO was formed out of a variety of previously existent sabotage groups which were then merged into the ZWZ. Initially a part of the ZWZ, all of them were then separated. Thus the risk of eliminating the whole ZWZ by destruction of one of its sabotage cells was eliminated.
Initially headed by Maj. Franciszek Niepokólczycki Teodor, the organization was aimed at diminishing the German military and industrial potential by means of active and passive sabotage. It also carried out a number of revenge actions as a reprisal for particularly brutal German mass shootings, łapankas or other actions aimed at Polish civilians. The net of sabotage and intelligence cells organized by the ZO included almost every major German-controlled factory in occupied Poland, as well as a number of special detachments, used by the ZO's headquarters for particularly difficult actions.
Increased resistance measures
In February 1942, the commander in chief of the Polish forces and the prime minister of Poland, Gen.
Merger into Armia Krajowa
After the ZWZ was reformed into the
References
- (in Polish) Związek Odwetu