was divided into departments, each supervising several banners: Western Department (Wydział Zachodni, Z) – areas annexed by Nazi Germany: Pomeranian banner – ul "Lina" (beehive Line) Greater Polish – ul "Przemysław" (beehive Przemysław) Łódź – ul "Kominy" (beehive Chimneys) Zagłębie – ul "Barbara" (beehive Barbara) Silesian – ul "Huta" (beehive Steel mill) An additional banner was formed in the General Government and commanded all the scouts from Greater Poland expelled from their homes by the Germans (ul "Chrobry" - beehive Chrobry). Eastern Department (Wydział Wschodni, W) – eastern voivodeships of Poland Białystok – ul "Biały" (beehive White) Wilno – ul "Brama" (beehive Gate) Polesie – ul "Błota" (beehive Marshes) Nowogródek – ul "Las" (beehive Forest) Wołyń – ul "Gleba" (beehive Soil) An additional banner was formed for scouts expelled from their homes to the General Government (ul Złoty – "Gold beehive"). Central Poland Department (Wydział Polski Centralnej, C) Warsaw – ul "Wisła" (beehive Vistula) Masovian – ul "Puszcza" (beehive Wilderness) Radom – ul "Rady" (beehive Councils) Lublin – ul "Zboże" (beehive Grain) Southern Poland Department (Wydział Polski Południowej, P) Kielce – ul "Skała" (beehive Rock) Częstochowa – ul "Warta" (beehive Warta) Kraków – ul "Smok" (beehive Dragon) Lwów – ul "Lew" (beehive Lion) Coordination among the departments and beehives was directed by inspectors subordinate to the Headquarters: Eugeniusz Stasiecki, Edward Zurn and Kazimierz Grenda. Ranks by age As of 1 May 1944, the Gray Ranks numbered 8,359 members. Initially, only older scouts (Senior Scouts, Senior Guides, Rovers and Rangers), aged 17 and up, were admitted. Soon, however, younger children were admitted, and in 1942 a new structure was adopted, based largely on the prewar structure of the Polish Scouting Association. Zawisza Zawisza (plural Zawiszacy) was a group of the youngest Scouts of the Szare Szeregi. Troops organised for children between 12 and 14 years of age were code-named Zawisza, after Zawisza Czarny, a medieval Polish knight and diplomat. The troops did not take part in active resistance. Instead, the children were prepared for auxiliary service for the upcoming all-national uprising and taught in secret schools for their future duties in liberated Poland. Among the best-known auxiliary troops formed by the Zawiszacy was the Scouting Postal Service organised during the Warsaw Uprising. Combat Schools The Combat Schools (Bojowe Szkoły) comprised youngsters aged 15 to 17. They took part in "small-sabotage" operations. These included propaganda operations directed at the Poles, German civilians