August 15, a public holiday, celebrates a decisive victory by the country’s soldiers in 1920 when they successfully repelled the Soviet Red Army, securing the independence of newly-reborn Poland.
The highlight of the commemorations in the Polish capital, a grand military parade, kicked off along the Wisłostrada expressway, a key artery running along the Vistula River, at 2 p.m. Thousands of spectators gathered along the route to watch the military spectacle.
In addition to Polish troops, 100 soldiers from allied forces, including the U.S., the United Kingdom and Romania, as well as representatives from Eurocorps and NATO's Joint Force Training Centre, are participating.
The day also serves as an opportunity to showcase some of Poland’s newest military hardware, including Abrams tanks and Himars rocket launchers.
The parade includes a fly-past by military aircraft, while some 220 military vehicles are thundering along the route.
