Pałacyk Michla, Żytnia, Wola

At the moment of the uprising’s outbreak, the „Parasol” Battalion, serving as the reserve for the Home Army Headquarters, did not receive any significant combat tasks. Individual companies were ordered to take control of Żytnia and Młynarska streets, up to Ostroroga, Obozowa, and Ożarowska streets. To strengthen the defense of the relatively large area assigned to the battalion, „Pług” ordered the occupation of the Michler Palace (known as the Michla Palace), the deployment of patrols towards Wolska Street, the establishment of outposts at the Evangelical Cemetery, and the manning of a barricade at the intersection of Żytnia and Leszno streets.

This area proved to be a crucial position for the battalion on August 4, when heavy fighting erupted over the Michla Palace. Already in the early stages of these struggles, the observation posts in the forward area were forced to join the defenders of the legendary palace. It was on this evening that the poet Józef Szczepański „Ziutek” wrote the most famous song of the Warsaw Uprising, beginning with the words: „Pałacyk Michla, Żytnia, Wola, bronią się chłopcy od 'Parasola’…”

Airdrops

On the evening of August 4, three planes from the Polish Armed Forces in the West, taking off from a base in Italy, reached Warsaw. The pilots were instructed to approach from the direction of the Kampinos Forest and to direct their drops to the area of the Jewish cemetery. Precision during night operations and under heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire varied, but nonetheless, most of the containers from this airdrop reached the „Radosław” Group, including „Parasol.”

In addition to the much-needed rifle ammunition, the insurgents also received several British PIAT grenade launchers along with accompanying anti-tank grenades. These proved to be very useful the following day.