Poland set for massive military parade

More than 60 airplanes and helicopters, 185 military vehicles and over 2,600 troops were expected to take part in a military parade as Poland marked Armed Forces Day on Thursday.

Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak (centre) speaks during a rehearsal ahead of the Armed Forces Day parade in Katowice.

Photo: gov.pl

This year’s parade on August 15 was due to be held in the southern city of Katowice, rather than the capital Warsaw, to mark the 100^th anniversary of an uprising against the Germans in Poland’s Upper Silesia region.

Last year, some 100 aircraft, 1,500 troops and dozens of military vehicles took part in an annual parade in central Warsaw, attracting some 120,000 onlookers, according to news reports.

Last year’s parade celebrated the centenary of Poland regaining independence.

The August 15 holiday marks Poland’s landmark victory against the Russian Bolsheviks in the 1920 Battle of Warsaw, in which Polish troops led by Marshal Józef Piłsudski defeated an advancing Red Army.

Poland regained independence on November 11, 1918, the day World War I ended, after 123 years of partition by Russia, Austria and Prussia.

(gs)

Source: PAP