During and after the Warsaw Uprising in 1944 Jan Chrzan directed - as a Red Cross volunteer - the evacuation of the wounded from Warsaw.

During the Warsaw Uprising, Jan Chrzan headed up a department of the underground government, responsible for safeguarding artworks in the central northern districts of the city.

Right up until the time of liberation, Chrzan was involved in evacuating exhibits from libraries, archives and museums in Warsaw.

In 1980, Jan Chrzan was awarded the Chevalier's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for his lifetime achievements.