[citation needed] Though formally independent, the Grey Ranks worked closely with the Government Delegation for Poland and Home Army Headquarters.

The wartime Scouts evolved into the paramilitary Szare Szeregi (Grey Ranks), reporting up through the Polish underground state and the Armia Krajowa resistance organization.

Younger Scouts were involved in so-called minor sabotage under the auspice of the Wawer organization, which included dropping leaflets or painting the kotwica sign on the walls.

During Operation Tempest, and especially during the Warsaw Uprising, the Scouts participated in the fighting, and several Szare Szeregi units were some of the most effective in combat.

The Grey Ranks also included the White Couriers, who between late fall 1939 and mid-1940 helped smuggle many persons out of Soviet-occupied southeastern Poland into Hungary.

[citation needed] The Grey Ranks followed the prewar principles of the Polish Scouting Association: service to the people and country, and education and improvement of their skills.

To control the movement, the area of prewar Poland was divided into departments, each supervising several banners:[citation needed] 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).

An additional banner was formed for scouts expelled from their homes to the General Government (ul Złoty – "Gold beehive").

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.

Other operations occurred after the Germans began destroying monuments to Polish national heroes and historical personalities.

[citation needed] The Assault Groups (Grupy Szturmowe), comprising youngsters aged 17 and up, were directly subordinate to the Home Army's KeDyw (Directorate of Diversion).