The Foundation "Pomerelian* Archive of the Home Army" was established in Toruń in 1990 on Elżbieta Zawacka's initiative. Born in Toruń, she was an instructor of Polish Women Military Training Organization before the II World War, and after the German invasion she was a courier and an emissary of the Home Army Main Headquater to the Commander of the Polish Army in London. Ms. Zawacka was the only woman in polish paratroops - so called nightmares - trained in Britain and dropped from british planes over Poland in 1943. Once the war had been finished, she worked as a mathematician, teacher and humanist. For many years she has been collecting materials on three topics: history of Polish Women War Service, history of underground-movement in Pomerelia 1939-1945 and history of the Department of Foreign Communications of the Home Army Main Headquater, cryptonym "Zagroda" - "Cottage". In 1987 Ms. Zawacka initiated a Historical Club in Toruń. Moreover, she gathered around her former soldiers of the Home Army, profesional historians and people interested in history. Together they gave the concept to establish the Home Army Soldiers Association, currently called World Union of the Home Army Soldiers.

   In 1990, after a come-back of democracy in Poland, Ms. Zawacka established the Foundation "Pomerelian Archive of the Home Army". The main purpose of its activity is collecting all materials concerning the history of underground ressistance movement in Pomerelia during the World War II, the history of Polish Women War Service of that time and the history of the Department of Foreign Communications of the Home Army Main Headquater. The collected documents are of archival value,
 such as documents, records, correspondence, reports, and museum too. Other function is to give initiation of searching for a history of Pomerelian underground, and also to pervade community of Pomerelia about it. This activity leads to increase the human knowledge about the events that ocurred under German occupation in Pomerelia. It reminds current generation in this land about patriotic attitude of their ancestors.

   Presently, collection of the Foundation consists of over 26 m. of documents, 3000 photographs, 121 microforms, 70 historical artefacts and nearly 2500 volums in a library. The whole store of these materials is divided in three sections.

   The first one is the "Pomerelian Archive" containing nearly 12 m. of documents separated in five groups: records of Pomerelian District of the Home Army; records of the "Secret Military Organization Pomerellian Griffin"; 1750 personal files of Pomerelian underground-movement soldiers; small amount of inheritances and collections, and a store of 80 topic files, containing materials from publications concerning political and military situation in Pomerellia during the World War II.

   The second section of the store of Foundation is the Archive of Women War Service, established in 1993 and based on materials given by Ms. E. Zawacka and Ms. Maria Wittek - a commander of Polish Women Military Service during the World War II. The amount of data in this section is still increasing, owing to the Memorial of Gen. Maria Wittek - institution acting in structures of the Foundation from 1996. The mentioned section consists of 10 m. of documents, mainly on Women War Service, together with 3133 personal files of female soldiers and topic files with data from publications.

   The third section of the Foundation's collection is the Archive of the Department of Foreign Communications of the Home Army Main Headquater, cryptonym " Zagroda" - "Cottage". That section consists of 3,5 m documents on communication of Polish underground State with abroad. Those materials are divided into: messages, personal files of 230 soldiers of "Zagroda" - couriers and agents, and also elaborations on foreign communication of the Home Army.

   Among microforms there are magnetic tapes, films, microfilms and discs.

   Collection of the Foundation covers also 70 historical artefacts gathered in a special Department. Among them there are paintings and engraverings and other objects connected with polish underground movement - medals, uniforms, single paintings and commemorating plates. These materials are used for exhibitions organized by Foundation and other institutions.

   Foundation's collection is completed by a library, which covers such objects as: books (2000 volumes), unpublished elaborations (44 originals), magazines (103 titles), Polish underground press and press of Polish Armed Forces in the West (18 titles), 70 maps and 2 plans, also announcements or posters of German authorities and small publications connected with Foundation's activity.

   Most of Foundation's collection is a gift from good-will people, only few publications are being bought. The amount of materials is still increasing, especially owing to cooperation with soldiers of the Home Army, their families and historians of the World War II. Collection serves to many of them, helping not only in scientific research, but also in obtaining combatant's privileges due to collected documents in the archive.

   Basing on that collection, the mentioned above Historical Club leads its activity as as agency of The Foundation . Monthly meeting are held for the people who are interested in history of the Home Army and other underground organizations in Pomerelia.

   Once a year the Foundation organizes - sometimes together with Nicolaus Copernicus Uniwersity of Toruń - special scientific sessions. The first one on underground fight in Pomerelia in the period 1939-1945 was held in Toruń in 1989 before the Foundation activity was approved. Each session's materials are published. These are titles of sessions and issued books:
Underground Struggle in Pomerelia in the period 1939-1945, ed. by J. Sziling, Toruń 1989;
The Home Army in Pomerelia, ed. by E. Zawacka, M. Wojciechowski, Toruń 1993;
Pomerelian underground organizations (except the Home Army) 1939-1945, ed. by S. Salmonowicz, J. Sziling, Toruń 1994;
Lots of Pomerelian conspiracy after the war, ed. by E. Zawacka, R. Kozłowski, Toruń 1995;
Paramilitary organizations in Pomerelia before the World War II, ed. by M. Wojciechowski, W. Rezmer, Toruń 1996;
The War Service of Polish Women in the Second World War, Bd 1-3, ed. by E. Zawacka, Toruń 1997-1999;
The Polish Underground State in Pomerelia, ed. by H. Maciejewska-Marcinkowska, J. Sziling, Toruń 1998;
From history of the Department of Communications of the High Command of the Home Army, cryptonym "Zagroda", ed. by K. Minczykowska, J. Sziling, Toruń 1999;
The War Service of Polish Women in the Second World War, Bd 4, ed. by K. Minczykowska, M. Golon, Toruń 2000;
The Contribution of the Archives to the Development of Research on Polish Armed Feat in the War Years 1939-1945, ed. by K. Minczykowska, J. Sziling.

   Not only materials from sessions are being issued by the Foundation, but also Biographic Lexicon of Pomerelian Conspiracy 1939-1947, historical sources, elaborations and materials on Women Military Service during the II World War.

   The Foundation acts thanks to the public gifts and small numbers subsidies given by authorities and organizations. Professors of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń with scientists from Gdańsk, Łódz and Lublin, Toruń's District Museum and Museum of Stutthof employees, form the Board of The Foundation. This institution has its branch in Gdańsk, directed by Prof. Maciej Krzyżanowski The Foundation has gained a significant position in community of Toruń and other Pomerelian cities. Its activity is noticeable and is supported by state and local authorities. Further activity of The Foundation
 will depend on the support given by larger circles of community (The Foundation's account number: Wielkopolski Bank Kredytowy S.A., Oddz. w Toruniu, nr 10901506-4675-128-00-0).

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