Women's Auxiliary Service (Poland)
The Women's Auxiliary Service (WAS) (Polish: Pomocnicza Służba Kobiet (PSK), Pestki) was unit of Polish Armed Forces during II World War estabilished in 1941 by initiative of Lt. Gen. Władysław Anders, while creating Polish Armed Forces in the East.
Pestki worked as nurses, cooks, teachers in schools for war orphans, secretaries in staffs, drivers, etc. In activ service were around 4,000 volunteer in any time of the war, but 1 July 1945, in time of highest abundance, there was 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:
- 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 established Headquarters of WAAS, Commandants of WAAS, WAFAS, WNAS and Superintendents to corps and armies' commands. Commisioned Officers were appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland. Military ranks were also harmonize with Polish Armed Forces in the West' ranks.
First Superintendent of WAS was Władysława Piechowska.
The WAS was disbanded in March 1946.
Bibliography
- Dzierżek A., Galczewska Zofia, Horbaczewska Irena, Poliszewska Halina, Kaczorowski Ryszard, Pomocnicza Służba Kobiet w Polskich Siłach Zbrojnych na Zachodzie 1939-1945, Koło Kobiet Żołnierzy PSZ w Wielkiej Brytanii, London 1995, ISBN 1-872286-23-2
- Maćkowska Maria, Pomocnicza Służba Kobiet w Polskich Siłach Zbrojnych, London 1990
- Bobińska A., Pomocnicza Wojskowa Służba Kobiet 2 Korpusu 1941-1945, London 1999