Many Polish insurgents wore red and white armbands to represent their national colours

England have The Polish Home Army has begun a battle to liberate Warsaw, the first European capital to fall to the Germans nearly five years ago.

At 1700 local time, the code signal "Tempest" was given and there was a wave of explosions and rifle fire throughout the city.

Reports from Poland say the timing of the uprising was chosen for maximum effect as the Germans appeared to be about to withdraw from Warsaw.

The German frontline has been forced to retreat over the past few months in the face of a sustained attack from the Red Army, forcing them out of the Baltic States, Belorussia and western Poland.

Soviet troops are now said to be fighting within 10-12 miles of Praga, the suburb on Warsaw's right bank.

To the north of the city, Soviet troops are advancing north-westward to Warsaw, with the River Vistula on their leftflank.

General Tadeusz 'Bor' Komorowski, commander-in-chief of the Home Army, or Armia Krajowa, wanted to take the Germans by surprise and seized his opportunity in late afternoon.

He sent out a rallying call to his troops: "Today I have issued the order you have been waiting for, the order to begin open battle against Poland's age-old enemy, the German invader.

"After nearly five years of uninterrupted and heavy fighting underground, today you will carry your arms in the open in order to free your country again and torenderexemplary punishment to the German criminals for the terror and crimes committed on Polish soil."

He has an estimated 40,000 troops, including 4,000 women, but they have only enough arms for about 2,500 - and most of those are rifles and tommy guns.

During the first day's fighting significant areas of the city's left bank have been captured, including the main post office and mint. Gas, electricity and water services have all been returned to Polish hands.

A network of street barricades has beenerectedblocking the flow of traffic in and out of the city.

Reports speak of a great pall of smoke hanging over the city - though to have been caused by the Germans setting fire to buildings.

Casualty reports suggest 2,000 Poles and 500 Germans may have been killed.

Niki Lauda was trapped in his burning car

The Austrian-born driver became trapped inside his Ferrari after it swerved off the track before bouncing back into the path of the oncoming cars and catching fire.

Fellow driver Guy Edwards managed to avoid the blazing wreckage but Harald Ertl and Brett Lunger both hit it.

All three drivers raced to the burning Ferrari and, with the help of the Italian driver Merzario, who also stopped, eventually managed to pull 27-year-old Lauda from his vehicle.

Niki Lauda, who has led this drivers' championship since the beginning of the season, began the race second on the grid behind James Hunt in pole position.

Guy Edwards said they had had problems getting the trapped driver out.

"Lauda was basically sitting in the middle of a fire and I would guess it would be about a minute before we managed to get the belts undone.

"In the meantime Ertl had got a fire extinguisher from somewhere and was aiming it towards the centralcockpitarea so he was able to keep the fire under some sort of control."

"Lauda was conscious most of the time and was saying 'get me out'".

Mr Lauda was taken to nearby Adenau hospital with serious burns. From there he was flown to the University Hospital in Mannheim where his condition is described as critical.

flank: the side of military or naval formation （军队侧翼）

render: give or supply （给予；实施）

erect: to set up or establish; to found （建立）

horrific: causing fear or dread or terror（可怕的）

cockpit: compartment where the pilot sits while flying the aircraft （驾驶员座舱）