The Kotwica was a World War II emblem of the Polish Underground State and Armia Krajowa (Home Army or AK). It was created in 1942 by members of the AK Wawer Minor sabotage unit, as an easily usable emblem for the Polish struggle to regain independence.
This symbol, the combined letters "P" and "W" for "Polska Walcząca" (Fighting Poland)1, and the W representing an anchor (hope) was a common sight all over Poland - graffiti on the walls, defacements of German posters and on the arm bands of partisan units such as the Armia Krajowa.
Now I might be biased because of my Polish background (don’t be fooled by the name Smith ;-)) but if any underground resistance movement in a desperate fight against a totalitarian force were to adopt the Kotwica as a secret emblem - that would be very cool.
I’m not suggesting that any underground movement, intending to undermine a rising totalitarian force hell bent on killing a multitude of people, would adopt a symbol like this so they can identify each other. Far be it from me to suggest such a (practical and very cool) thing.
It may not, for us today, be “Polska”, but it certainly could be “People2 Walcząca”
The initial meaning of the initials PW was Pomścimy Wawer ("We shall avenge Wawer"). The Wawer massacre (26–27 December 1939) was considered to be one of the first large scale massacres of Polish civilians by German troops in occupied Poland.
Or “Populus” if you wanted to go all Latin on us - which actually may be symbolically more inclusive, as the people’s fight is global. Populus Walcząca. Or simply leave it as it has always been and adopt the legacy of those brave resistance fighters for our own war.
True - it might get lost on the young ones - you’ll have to share your broken syringe symbol!
Very cool. Didn't know about the anchor symbol. Boulevards in every city named AK.