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Poland celebrates Armed Forces Day

15.08.2022 11:39
A slew of events across the country are being held to mark the Feast of the Polish Armed Forces established in commemoration of the 1920 victory over the Russian Bolsheviks at the Battle of Warsaw during the Polish-Soviet War.
A ceremonial changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies at the heart of Armed Forces Day celebrations.
A ceremonial changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies at the heart of Armed Forces Day celebrations.twitter.com/PremierRP

Speaking at the Monday celebrations, Polish President Andrzej Duda hailed the historic battle as a remarkable success.

'It is with pride that we look back on Polish history and that victory. The Soviet state lost only one war and it was with Poland,' Poland's head of state remarked.

President Duda also praised Polish soldiers for their excellent service, underscoring that the world has found itself in the throes of an unprecendented situation following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"The Russian regime has transgressed a taboo, which constituted a firm security boundary since the end of World War II," Poland's head of state stressed.

"We haven't experienced such difficult times for many decades of Polish history," he added.

Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak also commented on the dire situation across Poland’s eastern border.

'The years go by, but one thing remains constant – whenever Russia wants to rebuild its empire, it’s always an empire of evil,' he stated.

On Sunday, Minister Błaszczak awarded 69 soldiers with prize money, commemorative gorgets and service medals.

At the awarding ceremony, the official expressed his gratitude to the soldiers for their service: 'Thanks to you Poland is safe. At the same time, the Ministry of Defence is making an effort to increase the army and to provide it with state-of-the-art weapons,' Błaszczak assured the military.

The Battle of Warsaw, fought from August 12 to 25 in 1920, is believed to have salvaged Poland’s newly regained independence after World War I from the Bolshevik revolution that spilt into western Europe.

The Red Army troops led by Mikhail Tukhachevsky approached the Polish capital, Warsaw. Polish forces commanded by Poland’s chief of state Józef Piłsudski counterattacked and compelled the Soviets to retreat.

Also referred to as "the Miracle on the Visutula," the Battle of Warsaw is deemed one of the most important battles in the history of global warfare.

(pjm)

Source: PAP