During World War II and the occupation, Poland lost 6 million citizens ... more than one out of every five Poles. This is almost twice the losses per population size suffered by Russia, 70 times the relative losses in the United States. The city was literally turned into a heap of rubble and ashes. 800,000 inhabitants died. 85% of all of Warsaw's buildings, 90% of its hospitals and industrial plants and historic structures were destroyed.

And that's when the miracle began.