In the first few hours of the struggle against the Nazi German occupiers, insurgents stormed the Prudential building and hung the Polish white-and-red flag from its roof, making it visible from all parts of the city.

The main post office, which stood where the National Bank of Poland is now, was also a key target for the combatants.

In the last days of August and into September, the Germans started to intensify their air raids and artillery fire throughout the city. The Prudential building was an easy target, and on the 28th of August it was hit by a 600 mm heavy calibre 2-tonne shell fired from a Karl-Gerät mortar. Despite the immense damage, the building did not collapse, and still stands to this day.

How to listen

Unseen is available as a downloadable podcast, although it is best experienced through the Echoes geolocative storytelling app available for iOS and Android. After loading the app, search for soundwalks in Warsaw and you’ll find Unseen.

Further reading

• A Crash Course on the Warsaw Uprising Through Film on Culture.pl
• A Memoir of the Warsaw Uprising by Miron Białoszewski
• Paper Scars: How the Warsaw Uprising Affected Polish Literature on Culture.pl
• Remembering the Artists of the Warsaw Uprising on Culture.pl