The annual event celebrates the decisive victory of Polish forces in 1920 when they successfully repelled the Red Army, securing the newly reborn nation’s independence.
The battle also prevented the spread of Bolshevism into Western Europe and was one of the most important elements of the historical memory of the Second Republic, inspiring artists and generations of Poles living in a reborn homeland after 123 years of partitions.
The day was first recognized as Polish Armed Forces Day in 1923, a tradition that continued until 1947 and was revived in 1992.
Major Events in Warsaw
In the Polish capital, the day will begin with a Holy Mass for the homeland, followed by a ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and culminate in a military parade showcasing over 2,000 soldiers and 200 military units.
President Andrzej Duda, the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces, will play a prominent role in the day’s events, starting with the laying of a wreath at the Józef Piłsudski monument near the city’s neoclassical Belweder Palace.
President Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda will attend the Holy Mass at the Field Cathedral of the Polish Army, which will also be attended by the Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
At noon, a ceremonial changing of the guard will take place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Marshal Józef Piłsudski Square. President Duda, Parliament Speaker Szymon Hołownia, Senate Speaker Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, and other top officials are set to be present.
Grand Military Parade
The main event in Warsaw, a grand military parade along the Wisłostrada expressway, which runs along the Vistula River, is scheduled for 2:00 PM.
In addition to over 2,000 Polish troops, the parade will feature nearly 100 soldiers from allied forces, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Romania, as well as representatives from Eurocorps and NATO's Joint Force Training Centre.
The parade will also showcase around 80 aircraft and 220 military vehicles, including Abrams tanks, Rosomak and Borsuk transporters, Krab and K9 howitzers, and the Himars rocket launchers, along with Patriot and Mała Narew anti-aircraft systems. President Duda, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz are expected to deliver speeches during the event.
Additionally, the Polish Army Museum at Warsaw’s Citadel will host an exhibition of modern military equipment, featuring displays from allied armies, open to the public from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Commemorative Events Across Poland
Commemorative events will also be held at locations historically tied to the Battle of Warsaw. In Ossów, near Warsaw, Holy Mass led by Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz will be followed by a Roll Call of the Fallen and a reenactment of the 1920 battle.
A remembrance ceremony will take place at the Radzymin cemetery, where fallen soldiers from the battle are interred. Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz will be among those attending.
Military parades are planned in several other cities, including Kraków, Kielce, Białystok, Poznań, Łódź, Lublin, and Szczecin. Other towns such as Gorzów Wielkopolski, Ostrów Świętokrzyski, Olsztyn, Wrocław, and Szczecin will host military equipment displays.
In Kraków, the main celebrations will be held at Matejko Square, beginning at 10 AM with a Holy Mass at Wawel Cathedral. The ceremony will include the raising of the national flag, the singing of the anthem, and the reading of the Roll Call of the Fallen. Soldiers will receive state decorations and promotions, and the event will conclude with a parade.
Meanwhile, in Gdynia, the Polish Navy will mark the occasion with a grand display of flags on their ships. Visitors to Świnoujście from Thursday to Saturday will have the opportunity to tour vessels of the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla, including a minesweeper, tugboat, and transport-minelayer.
