| People's Army | |
|---|---|
| Armia Ludowa | |
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Esercito_Popolare_Polacco.svg) People's Army eagle insignia | |
| Active | 1 January 1944 – 29 July 1944 (transformed into Polish People's Army) |
| Country | Poland |
| Allegiance | Polish Workers' Party |
| Role | Armed forces of the Polish Workers' Party |
| March | Marsz Gwardii Ludowej |
| Engagements | World War II Battle of Porytowe Wzgórze Republic of Pińczów Warsaw Uprising Sandomierz bridgehead |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Michał Rola-Żymierski Franciszek Jóźwiak |
The People's Army (AL; Polish: Armia Ludowa; [ˈar.mʲja luˈdɔ.va]) was a communist partisan force of the Polish Workers' Party (PPR) active in Occupied Poland during World War II from January to July 1944. It was created on the order of the Soviet-backed State National Council to fight against Nazi Germany and support the Red Army against the German forces in Poland.
The Armia Ludowa was formed from the Gwardia Ludowa ("People's Guard") to aid the creation of a pro-Soviet communist government in Poland and, along with the National Armed Forces, refused to join the structures of the Polish Underground State and Home Army. It participated in a number of uprisings and supported Red Army offensives through Poland. The Armia Ludowa became part of the new Polish People's Army of the Soviet Polish Armed Forces in the East after seven months of existence.
The Armia Ludowa was heroized in the Polish People's Republic with its size and actions being exaggerated in propaganda in communist Poland. Since the fall of communism in Poland, the Armia Ludowa has been classified as a Soviet partisan movement rather than part of the Polish resistance due to their close affiliation with the Soviet Union which de facto controlled it and its predecessors.[1]