In September 1939, Grodno was the city that resisted for the longest time against the regular units of the Red Army entering Poland. Apart from individual units of the Polish Army, volunteers took part in the defence of the city, especially pupils of Grodno schools (including the Adam Mickiewicz State Male Gymnasium, the private Henryk Sienkiewicz Gymnasium, pupils of vocational schools) and a large group of scouts. It was they who took on the main burden of defence. General Władysław Sikorski said of these defenders during his inspection of the 6th Infantry Division in December 1941, in a conversation with the surviving defenders of Grodno: "You are the new Eaglets. I will try to make your city receive the Virtuti Militari and the title of Always Faithful". Some of the young defenders of the city were buried in an unnamed mass grave, located near the stone fence, close to the main gate of the cemetery. It is an earthen grave, surrounded by a thick concrete frame. In the grave field stands a low iron cross with a small metal plaque on which is written: "Students fallen in battle for Grodno in 1939".