The Warsaw Uprising began on August 1, 1944 when armed Polish resistance fighters revolted against German troops occupying Warsaw. The uprising had been called for by the Polish Underground State and Moscow radio. It was hoped that as the Soviet Red Army approached Warsaw, the uprising would last only a few days. However, it ended up lasting 63 days as the resistance fighters battled the German forces. In the end, Warsaw was left almost completely destroyed and its remaining residents were either killed or deported.