431:
487:
395:
415:
475:
447:
519:
503:
463:
379:
31:
217:), or Soldiers Day, in 1923. In proclaiming the holiday, Szeptycki declared that, "n the anniversary of the memorable defeat of the Bolshevik onslaught on Warsaw, we honor the memory of those killed in battles with enemies throughout all ages and for Polish independence." The date of 15 August was chosen as it coincided with the
221:
evening counterattack on
Russian troops, eventually forcing the Red Army's general retreat. Additionally, the government of the Second Republic desired the military's greater integration with the new state, as well as for the armed forces to improve its image among the civilian public.
277:, church masses across the country reflect on the memory of Poland's military dead. Additionally, a number of military-themed events are held throughout many of the nation's larger towns and cities, including equipment demonstrations for the general public and open house events.
414:
394:
430:
354:
or other historical periods. The first grand military parades since the holiday was reinstated in Warsaw were in 2007 and 2008, and parades have been held yearly since 2013. In 2019, the parade took place in the southern city of
714:
474:
486:
253:
in
October 1943. The communist government found it impossible to celebrate the original date of 15 August and its coinciding historical significance, owing to its glorification of the
798:
849:
273:
Armed Forces Day is celebrated throughout Poland, with military parades, commemorations for active personnel, veterans, and the dead. As the day coincides with the religious
350:. Active servicemen and women participate at many events, joined often by volunteers appearing in historical dress, including those donning the equipment and dress of the
636:
502:
462:
265:
approved the restoration of Armed Forces Day to the original 15 August date and meaning on 30 July 1992, repealing the earlier communist era 1950 declaration.
662:
743:
718:
446:
242:
915:
929:
824:
607:
205:
offensive outside of Warsaw in mid-August 1920. The defeat of the
Russian army ensured the capital's protection and the survival of the young
378:
802:
518:
148:
853:
218:
969:
744:"Dz.U. 1950 nr 45 poz. 411, Dekret z dnia 7 października 1950 r. o ustanowieniu dnia 12 października Dniem Wojska Polskiego"
237:
passed regulations to officially celebrate the military on 12 October. Renaming the celebration as Polish Armed Forces Day (
994:
959:
321:
297:
773:
225:
The Feast of the
Soldier remained a celebrated holiday until 1947, when the newly installed communist government of the
964:
179:, the holiday was barred by authorities during the communist era beginning in 1947, only to be revived again in 1992.
331:
member state, Armed Forces Day in Poland typically draws representatives from other allied militaries in attendance.
989:
979:
304:. The events in Warsaw typically involve the participation of the nation's political establishment, including the
334:
The centennial celebrations for 2020 were "1920 Battle of Warsaw - a Polish victory for the freedom of Europe".
751:
226:
575:
292:
presides over promotions of high-ranking officers, including the promotion of colonels to generals at the
974:
954:
293:
281:
984:
309:
799:"Dz.U. 1992 nr 60 poz. 303, Ustawa z dnia 30 lipca 1992 r. o ustanowieniu Święta Wojska Polskiego"
175:, which hosts a large military parade through the city's center. Originally celebrated during the
544:
539:
346:
of servicemen and women, as well as a review of existing military equipment, held normally along
188:
152:
65:
206:
176:
210:
949:
640:
405:
351:
156:
87:
234:
317:
198:
663:"Prezydent uczcił gen. Szeptyckiego, który 90. lat temu ustanowił Święto Wojska Polskiego"
8:
421:
305:
289:
258:
168:
493:
301:
209:. To commemorate the republic's victory over the Red Army, Minister of Military Affairs
688:
549:
453:
364:
285:
274:
160:
424:
together with officers of the Polish Armed Forces during the Armed Forces Day in 2019
313:
230:
715:"Święto żołnierzy: "Wolność nie jest dana raz na zawsze. Wymaga codziennego wysiłku"
385:
347:
250:
171:
across the country. One of the most prominent events of the day is in the capital
890:
343:
164:
136:
75:
480:
Representatives of the main service branches of the Polish Armed Forces in 2019
876:
280:
In Warsaw, the holiday is commemorated by several state events in the central
943:
777:
579:
684:
902:
401:
246:
468:
Polish
Special Operations soldiers on Armed Forces Day in Katowice in 2019
930:"Military parade to be held in Katowice in honour of Silesian insurgents"
916:"Military parade to be centrepiece of Battle of Warsaw anniversary - MoD"
898:
509:
194:
193:
In the event known by the critics as the "Miracle of the
Vistula," the
167:, equipment reviews, showcases and remembrances by all branches of the
894:
525:
97:
552:, a holiday in Russia celebrating Russian victory over Polish forces
356:
254:
202:
30:
608:"21 lat temu Sejm ustanowił 15 sierpnia Świętem Wojska Polskiego"
360:
257:'s defeat. Following the return of democracy in the wake of the
172:
144:
55:
36:
615:
437:
143:), is a national holiday celebrated annually on 15 August in
747:
342:
One of the main attractions of the Warsaw festivities is a
328:
262:
163:, itself a separate public holiday. The event is marked by
825:"Święto Wojska Polskiego: festyn, grochówka, zmiana warty"
241:), the day marked the anniversary of the Soviet-organized
147:, commemorating the anniversary of the 1920 victory over
436:
Soldiers dressed in traditional uniforms of the Polish
408:
arrive at the Armed Forces Day parade in Warsaw in 2016
296:. The pageantry continues with commemorations near the
159:. Armed Forces Day is held in conjunction with the
570:
568:
566:
941:
766:
563:
243:Polish 1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division
774:"Poland marks Armed Forces Day and Assumption"
316:. Leading politicians also lay wreaths at the
685:"Po raz pierwszy obchodzono Święto Żołnierza"
284:borough of the capital. As head of state and
844:
842:
709:
707:
705:
817:
602:
600:
598:
596:
337:
839:
738:
736:
702:
512:'s First Artillery Regiment, Warsaw, 2007
229:discontinued the tradition. In 1950, the
889:. At 12:00 noon, representatives of the
874:
593:
161:Day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
850:"15 sierpnia - Święto Wojska Polskiego"
791:
942:
733:
213:established the Feast of the Soldier (
677:
13:
576:"Troops march on Armed Forces Day"
14:
1006:
905:armies can be seen in attendance.
268:
660:
517:
501:
485:
473:
461:
445:
429:
413:
393:
377:
370:
133:Feast of the Polish Armed Forces
29:
922:
908:
868:
420:President Andrzej Duda and the
359:to honour the participation of
877:"Święto Wojska Polskiego 2013"
852:. prezydent.pl. Archived from
654:
629:
388:reviewing troops, Warsaw, 2007
1:
970:1923 establishments in Poland
556:
312:, and leading members of the
197:under the command of Marshal
78:, equipment reviews, silences
320:Monument, as well as at the
7:
717:. Gazeta.pl. Archived from
533:
322:Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
298:Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
227:People's Republic of Poland
10:
1011:
995:Polish military traditions
960:Military parades in Poland
186:
182:
16:National holiday in Poland
965:Public holidays in Poland
637:"Święto Wojska Polskiego"
118:
103:
93:
82:
71:
61:
51:
43:
28:
23:
875:Parzuchowski, Zdzisław.
404:and Chief of Staff Gen.
219:21st Mountain Division's
201:successfully repulsed a
990:Summer events in Poland
980:Annual events in Poland
545:Polish Independence Day
540:Feast of the Assumption
338:Armed Forces Day Parade
189:Battle of Warsaw (1920)
141:Święto Wojska Polskiego
66:Battle of Warsaw (1920)
47:Święto Wojska Polskiego
35:Armed Forces Day 2023,
801:. Sejm. Archived from
239:Dzień Wojska Polskiego
207:Second Polish Republic
140:
641:Museum of Polish Arms
440:light cavalry in 2018
275:Day of the Assumption
233:under Prime Minister
492:Celebrations on the
363:'s residents in the
231:Council of Ministers
131:, known also as the
508:Honor guard of the
422:Marshal of the Sejm
367:from 1919 to 1921.
294:Presidential Palace
290:President of Poland
211:Stanisław Szeptycki
169:Polish Armed Forces
975:August observances
955:Military of Poland
856:on 23 October 2013
805:on 7 December 2013
754:on 7 December 2013
721:on 3 December 2013
689:Polish Army Museum
550:Unity Day (Russia)
454:Polish Land Forces
365:Silesian Uprisings
286:commander-in-chief
235:Józef Cyrankiewicz
985:Armed Forces days
665:. Historia,org.pl
352:Polish–Soviet War
157:Polish–Soviet War
126:
125:
1002:
934:
933:
926:
920:
919:
912:
906:
888:
886:
884:
872:
866:
865:
863:
861:
846:
837:
836:
834:
832:
821:
815:
814:
812:
810:
795:
789:
788:
786:
784:
770:
764:
763:
761:
759:
750:. Archived from
740:
731:
730:
728:
726:
711:
700:
699:
697:
695:
681:
675:
674:
672:
670:
658:
652:
651:
649:
647:
633:
627:
626:
624:
622:
604:
591:
590:
588:
586:
572:
521:
505:
494:Piłsudski Square
489:
477:
465:
452:Soldiers of the
449:
433:
417:
406:Mieczyslaw Gocul
397:
381:
302:Piłsudski Square
251:Battle of Lenino
215:Święta Żołnierza
165:military parades
153:Battle of Warsaw
129:Armed Forces Day
114:
112:
76:Military parades
52:Observed by
33:
24:Armed Forces Day
21:
20:
1010:
1009:
1005:
1004:
1003:
1001:
1000:
999:
940:
939:
938:
937:
928:
927:
923:
914:
913:
909:
882:
880:
873:
869:
859:
857:
848:
847:
840:
830:
828:
823:
822:
818:
808:
806:
797:
796:
792:
782:
780:
772:
771:
767:
757:
755:
742:
741:
734:
724:
722:
713:
712:
703:
693:
691:
683:
682:
678:
668:
666:
659:
655:
645:
643:
635:
634:
630:
620:
618:
606:
605:
594:
584:
582:
574:
573:
564:
559:
536:
529:
522:
513:
506:
497:
490:
481:
478:
469:
466:
457:
450:
441:
434:
425:
418:
409:
398:
389:
382:
373:
344:military parade
340:
318:Józef Piłsudski
271:
199:Józef Piłsudski
191:
185:
177:Second Republic
110:
108:
39:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1008:
998:
997:
992:
987:
982:
977:
972:
967:
962:
957:
952:
936:
935:
921:
907:
867:
838:
827:. TVN Warszawa
816:
790:
765:
732:
701:
676:
661:Duch, Wojtek.
653:
628:
592:
561:
560:
558:
555:
554:
553:
547:
542:
535:
532:
531:
530:
523:
516:
514:
507:
500:
498:
491:
484:
482:
479:
472:
470:
467:
460:
458:
451:
444:
442:
435:
428:
426:
419:
412:
410:
399:
392:
390:
386:Lech Kaczyński
383:
376:
372:
369:
348:Ujazdów Avenue
339:
336:
310:prime minister
270:
269:Commemorations
267:
259:events of 1989
187:Main article:
184:
181:
124:
123:
120:
116:
115:
107:15 August 2025
105:
104:Next time
101:
100:
95:
91:
90:
84:
80:
79:
73:
69:
68:
63:
59:
58:
53:
49:
48:
45:
41:
40:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1007:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
947:
945:
931:
925:
917:
911:
904:
900:
896:
892:
878:
871:
855:
851:
845:
843:
826:
820:
804:
800:
794:
779:
778:Polskie Radio
775:
769:
753:
749:
745:
739:
737:
720:
716:
710:
708:
706:
690:
686:
680:
664:
657:
642:
638:
632:
617:
613:
609:
603:
601:
599:
597:
581:
580:Polskie Radio
577:
571:
569:
567:
562:
551:
548:
546:
543:
541:
538:
537:
528:tanks in 2019
527:
520:
515:
511:
504:
499:
495:
488:
483:
476:
471:
464:
459:
455:
448:
443:
439:
432:
427:
423:
416:
411:
407:
403:
396:
391:
387:
380:
375:
374:
371:Image gallery
368:
366:
362:
358:
353:
349:
345:
335:
332:
330:
325:
323:
319:
315:
311:
307:
303:
299:
295:
291:
287:
283:
278:
276:
266:
264:
260:
256:
252:
249:units at the
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
228:
223:
220:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
190:
180:
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
149:Soviet Russia
146:
142:
138:
134:
130:
121:
117:
106:
102:
99:
96:
92:
89:
85:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
64:
60:
57:
54:
50:
46:
44:Official name
42:
38:
32:
27:
22:
19:
950:Victory days
924:
910:
881:. Retrieved
870:
858:. Retrieved
854:the original
829:. Retrieved
819:
807:. Retrieved
803:the original
793:
781:. Retrieved
768:
756:. Retrieved
752:the original
723:. Retrieved
719:the original
692:. Retrieved
679:
667:. Retrieved
656:
644:. Retrieved
631:
619:. Retrieved
611:
583:. Retrieved
402:Andrzej Duda
341:
333:
326:
279:
272:
238:
224:
214:
192:
132:
128:
127:
72:Celebrations
62:Significance
18:
883:28 November
860:29 November
831:28 November
809:27 November
783:28 November
758:28 November
725:28 November
694:28 November
669:28 November
646:28 November
621:27 November
585:28 November
510:French Army
282:Śródmieście
195:Polish Army
155:during the
944:Categories
891:Lithuanian
557:References
400:President
384:President
111:2025-08-15
879:. YouTube
612:Kontakt24
526:Leopard 2
306:president
245:engaging
119:Frequency
98:15 August
895:American
534:See also
357:Katowice
300:held in
255:Red Army
203:Red Army
903:Latvian
524:Polish
496:in 2022
456:in 2019
361:Silesia
314:cabinet
183:History
151:at the
109: (
899:German
438:uhlans
308:, the
288:, the
261:, the
247:German
173:Warsaw
145:Poland
137:Polish
122:annual
86:13:00
83:Begins
56:Poland
37:Warsaw
616:TVN24
327:As a
901:and
885:2013
862:2013
833:2013
811:2013
785:2013
760:2013
748:Sejm
727:2013
696:2013
671:2013
648:2013
623:2013
587:2013
329:NATO
263:Sejm
94:Date
88:CET
946::
897:,
893:,
841:^
776:.
746:.
735:^
704:^
687:.
639:.
614:.
610:.
595:^
578:.
565:^
324:.
139::
932:.
918:.
887:.
864:.
835:.
813:.
787:.
762:.
729:.
698:.
673:.
650:.
625:.
589:.
135:(
113:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
