Polish Army Day

It falls on 15th August. Why? Because on this day, in 1920, Polish armies successfully repelled Bolshevik troops attacking Warsaw during Polish-Bolshevik War. Bolsheviks, mainly Russians, were defeated and lost the war. Poland didn`t become a communist country as Lenin expected.

There are multiple celebrations all over Poland on the day. The main one takes place in Warsaw as a huge parade of soldiers and weapons.

The current gov is suggesting that this year`s parade is going to be the most spectacular since Poland threw off communism in 1989.

In communist times it was celebrated on 12th October, to commemorate the Polish Kosciuszko Division (created by Soviets) which fought its first battle at Lenino on the Eastern Front in 1943.

Communists barely mentioned the 1920 Polish Bolshevik war. When the system collapsed in 1989, their 12th Oct was replaced with a more patriotic day.

Poland is an interesting country. It was founded in the 10th century, but sometimes it seems like it only appeared yesterday.

No. 15th Aug was already a Polish Army Day before WW2. It was wretched communists who replaced it with their own day.
Interesting fact is that for a few years right after the WW2, the communist Polish army had its day on 9th May, to celebrate the end of the war.

Which was probably the only army in the world to celebrate on the day of a lost war.

Before the war the heart and soul of Poland was defined by four cities: Warsaw, Cracow, Lwów and Wilno. Warsaw lay in ruins, Lwów and Wilno were taken away from us, and only Cracow was left (although with a "nice" communist addition of Nowa Huta). We lost 3 limbs out of 4. :-/ The population loss was horrendous, the country was robbed naked and destroyed, and we had "visitors" for about 45 years (yes, Soviets were not all that bad but it was an occupation nonetheless).

The fact that Poland recovered and is the country she is today is nothing short of miracle.

Another Miracle at the Vistula River! The Lordess takes care of us after all although we are so naughty. .


You forgot Poznań where the Greater Poland Uprising of 1919 broke out - one of few successful risings in our history.

Quite right. Good, old, honest Poznań.

And, of course, after the war we got Gdańsk and Wrocław to wipe our tears with. Yes, it could have ended worse than it did.

I was lucky enough to be in Wrocław for this event 10 years ago. I took loads of photos. To be honest, I had to ask what was going on as I didn't know anything about it but I'm glad I was there to see the parades.

The best ones are in Warsaw. This year`s will be special.

I read that PiS asked Americans to lend their F-35 only for the day and allow Poles to paint Polish insignia on them. Americanos refused and the planes will fly as American.

A very strange request, a bit from kindergarten.

Old communist standards in the army required to paint the grass on the lawn so that it looked greener when a general came for an inspection of the garrison. Today PIS wants to paint planes. Not a big difference.


So far, the biggest parade ever was organised by communists in 1966, to commemorate 1000 years of the Polish state (counting from baptism in 966).

It was interesting coz they arranged the marching troops chronologically, starting with medieval shield warriors at 2:45. Winged riders at 3:55.
Of course, communists didn`t allow AK veterans or Warsaw insurgents to march.

Well, it was cool, Gomółka was delighted, for a moment I thought that they invited Honecker

The main road out of Warsaw going north has been closed entirely for the past two hours. Apparently for rehearsals for Army Day, however there haven't actually been any rehearsals at all. Meanwhile, buses don't run, shoppers can't get back from the shops and people who live on culs-de-sac off it can't get in or out. Shops and businesses on the road can't get customers and disabled residents have to make a detour. Yet no actual movement at all, no rehearsal, no soldiers.

If they must close one of the country's biggest roads, perhaps it's better to do it on Sunday morning when most people don't leave their houses rather than late afternoon/early evening on Saturday, normally a busy time.

Good to see the road empty and quite though perhaps not so good for those who live on it and want to get home.

yes, I read articles about it.


Strange. I have too little info to blame PiS for another failure, let`s wait.

It seems this scheme has become a norm for military parades in Poland. The parade on 100th anniversary of regaining independence also featured old military formations.

The typical chronology of the marching/riding re-enactment troops

Medieval shield warriors from 10th century
Medieval spear riders
Medieval armoured infantry and mounted knights 15th century
Musketeers and pikemen 16-17th cent
Hussaria or winged riders 16-17th cent
Napoleonic wars soldiers 18-19th cent
Insurgents from Polish Risings of 18th - 19th century, among them peasant infantry wielding scythes.
Greater Poland Rising soldiers, 1919
Polish Bolshevik war soldiers, 1920
Uhlans from interwar period
Soldiers from 1939 campaign

See them all in this short video

I'd not seen the local paper so it was a surprise when we couldn't get back from the shops. Hopefully they've finished now and hopefully it was worth it and the parade will be a good one.

There was a dress rehearsal today.

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From the look of it, that picture was taken several miles down the same road. Someone we spoke to when they closed ul. Pulkowa said that they were closing the bridges across the river. Presumably they figure in the celebrations.

I'm quite looking forward to it but will probably watch it on TV.

You forgot to mention that PO is boycotting the parade and celebration of our armed forces. So stop posting about it and follow your masters lead.

This is quite a seismic decision from DT, the probable future government of Poland that wants nothing to do with the military when the country is at war with Russia??!!

Yet were it not for amiga500 I would have heard nothing of this. The media machine is completely broken.

You liar! Not boycotting but they haven`t been invited by PIS. Simple.


Don`t be naive like a child. Amiga is one of the biggest liars in the pf. :):):)

Where did you get that info? I tried to google it and nothing comes up - not even on TVP sites.


Or amiga500 is. If PO was intentionally boycotting the parade this news would be all over TVPiS.


I was wondering about that...

Amiga and Luke are the same liars as the whole PiS. Tfu, kanalie.

It was said by Posel Gajewska on Polsat News. Her whole appearance was full of election talking points so its not like she went off piste and was not saying anything PO would not approve of. And then former PO Posel Mucha adds her inteligent opinion, saying only authoritarian regimes have nice military parades.

youtu.be/Sjuk1g9xmCE?t=3601 at 1:00:00 mark

No, it wasn`t so you are still lying.
Never mind. This thread is about The Day, not your infantile lies.

prove it!

No, darling, it is amiga`s job. Ha!!!

Gajewska said no such thing. She only said that she won't be there at the military parade, she didn't say anything about the rest of PO or any "boycott". The host asked her if she's going to attend and she said that SHE won't. You've drawn some wild conclusions based on that.


...said that she will take part in the celebrations in Lublin.


You're lying again. She didn't say that "only" authoritarian regimes have nice military parades. She said, I quote:

"Don't you have an impression that the more authoritarian the government is, the bigger military parades it organises?"

She does have a point. Besides, not everyone has to be into military parades. Not everyone in the army is a fan of military parades and "military demonstrations" for politicians either, btw.

Also, Anna Mucha is in Polska 2050 now, not in PO.

You are too polite for that liar. :):):)


All the time.

No, show me how to do it! When you are caught, you post this assine - prove it- line. Now the shoe is on the other foot. You prove it!


She is sexist, stupid and rude!