Thousands of candles will illuminate the streets of Warsaw tonight in memory of the 72nd anniversary of the end of the Warsaw Uprising. Approximately 7,000 have been laid out by local scouting groups, with streets including Marszałkowska, Senatorska, Mazowiecka, Miodowa, Ujazdowskie, Szucha, Krakowskie Przedmieście and Zamenhofa.

Rather than being selected at random, this trail of candles has a deeply symbolic meaning, marking the underground escape routes utilized by civilians and soldiers not just during the battle, but also after it in their desperate attempt to avoid Nazi captivity. Lasting 63 days, the human cost of the 1944 was immense, with an estimated 250,000 killed during the battle. Yet the spiritual cost was even higher, with the grand Polish capital all but wiped off the map.