Warsaw Uprising Memorial Day is observed in Poland every August 1, commemorating the heroes of the Warsaw Uprising that began on August 1, 1944. This significant event was a major operation of the Polish resistance Home Army during World War II, aimed at liberating Warsaw from Nazi occupation as the Soviet Union's Red Army advanced. The uprising lasted for 63 days and ended on October 2, resulting in the defeat of Polish resistance and the destruction of 85% of the city, with an estimated 16,000 resistance fighters and around 200,000 civilians killed. The day was established in 2009 by then-President Lech Kaczyński, with support from the Senate of Poland, and the first observance took place on August 1, 2010. This memorial day serves as a national symbol of courage and determination in Poland.