Service for Poland's Victory

The SZP was founded on the eve of Warsaw's capitulation by General Michał Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski and a group of senior officers, with the consent of the commander of the city's defence, General Juliusz Rómmel. It was meant as a military and political organisation preparing the fight for independence. Colonel Stefan Rowecki became Tokarzewski's deputy and chief of staff, and a Main Political Council with representatives of parties opposed to the Sanation regime worked alongside it. Commands were quickly set up in several districts.

General Sikorski's government in France, however, did not want the underground led by officers from the pre-war ruling camp. On 13 November 1939 it created the Union of Armed Struggle, which took over the SZP's structures. The founding of the SZP is counted as the beginning of the Polish Underground State.