Scouting
Organizations
in wich Poland participates or participated

Scouting

In Polish: Harcerstwo or Skauting
The world wide scouting movement had been founden by Robert Baden-Powell, Lieutenant General in the British Army. In 2007 Scouting and Guiding together had over 38 million members in 216 countries. The Polish Scouting Association (ZHP) - the biggest Polish Scouting organization was founded on 1 November 1918. It counts 110.729 members (2008).

The scouting played a remarkable role in World War II. When the German invasion started on September 1st, 1939 the girl scouts acted almost everywhere in military service. Their leaders kept working throughout the siege of Warsaw. On various fields they cooperated with the military and civil authorities. They worked for communication, in hospitals, did social welfare, led the points for childcare and evacuees. Boyscouts fullfilled tasks for army communications, observation of ennemy planes and served as civil guards at strategic places. During the Second World War  the Scouting went underground. They adopted the code name Szare Szeregi (Gray Ranks).
After the restoring of democracy in 1989, Polish scouting became once again member of the international scouting movement.
More information

Polonica stamps:

Indonesia 2015, 28 VII
 Peru 2007, 30 VII