In anticipation of the upcoming Army Day on Tuesday, the Polish military is in its final stages of readiness, this year’s celebrations taking place against the backdrop of heightened tensions along the border with Belarus, a staunch ally of the Kremlin. The annual event, observed on August 15th, commemorates the historic triumph in the Battle of Warsaw in 1920, locally hailed as the “Miracle on the Vistula.”
A recent video released by the Polish armed forces showcased an impressive nighttime rehearsal in the heart of Warsaw, featuring an array of tanks and military vehicles.
Diplomatic relations between Poland, a prominent NATO member, and Belarus, a key ally of the Kremlin, have strained in recent weeks due to an escalation in military activities near the shared border. The situation was exacerbated earlier this year by the presence of Russian military group Wagner in Belarus following a failed insurrection against Moscow. This development prompted Warsaw to reinforce its border with additional troops.
The upcoming parade, scheduled to commence at 2 p.m. local time (8 a.m. ET) along Wisłostrada, a highway that traverses the capital and runs parallel to the Vistula River, is poised to be a grand spectacle. The Polish Ministry of Defense’s website reveals that the procession will showcase an impressive display of military prowess, featuring “200 units of Polish and foreign military equipment and 92 aircraft, accompanied by a contingent of 2,000 soldiers.”
The parade will encompass a wide range of international military equipment, notably including US-manufactured M1A1 Abrams tanks, South Korean K2 tanks, and K9 self-propelled howitzers. Additionally, the procession will feature HIMARS rocket launchers, Krab self-propelled howitzers, and Patriot air defense systems, integral components of the Polish “WISŁA” defense system, as detailed on the ministry’s website.
Poland’s own domestic military achievements will also take center stage, showcasing advanced Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles, Rosomak armored personnel carriers, and Rak self-propelled mortars. The lineup further includes specialized vehicles such as Baobab-K mine-laying vehicles and Żmija light reconnaissance vehicles.
In the lead-up to the main event, the military has organized nearly 70 “military picnics” spanning from Saturday to Tuesday across various locations in Poland. Attendees of these picnics will have the unique opportunity to interact with military personnel, gaining insights into combat vehicle construction and sampling authentic “military pea soup with bread,” all while enjoying military-themed films.
