Politics

Duda and Tusk praise Poland’s armed forces on 104th anniversary of Battle of Warsaw

PAP/Leszek Szymański
Duda and Tusk praise Poland’s armed forces on 104th anniversary of Battle of Warsaw. (Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański)
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Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has given glowing now-and-then praise to the country’s armed forces on the 104th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark Polish Armed Forces Day, held every year on August 15th to mark the anniversary, Duda said that today’s soldiers are the direct descendants of those who defeated the Soviet Red Army in 1920, stopped the spread of Bolshevism across Europe, and secured the independence of the newly-born Polish state.

He said: “One hundred and four years ago, Poland, reborn, despite the enormous fears that existed at the time and the despair of many politicians and citizens, managed to defend itself against the Bolshevik invasion.

“It was not just a battle won, it was a great victory. Only the reborn Republic of Poland managed to defeat the Soviets and the Red Army.”

Adding that the Polish army also included enlisted civilians, he continued: “It was a million-strong army, in which, alongside experienced soldiers who had fought in World War I, on all its fronts, in the occupying armies and in the Polish Legions, there were also young people, sometimes complete kids from the Academic Legion, students, high school students.

“Our soldiers carry this ethos with them to this day. They are the direct descendants of those heroes who defeated the Soviets, who chased them east.

“A Polish soldier serves his country. He defends his country, defends the values ​​that we all profess.

“And so, as part of his service and this ethos, he is also ready to give his life for his country and for his country. Just as Sergeant Mateusz Sitek did recently while defending the Polish border [Sitek died after being stabbed by an illegal immigrant attempting to cross into Poland from Belarus].

“Or as our soldiers have done for years in contingents abroad, in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Earlier, Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke of the need for Poland to build a modern army and unity in the face of Russian hostility.

Speaking ahead of the event’s official parade of 2,000 Polish soldiers, he said: “Today we must say it very clearly: we are building with the great effort of all Poles - because everyone contributes to this great effort every month, also financially - not only one of the largest European armies, but we are also building one of the most modern defense formations in the world. Without this we will have no chance.

“We live in a time of war, it is taking place right next to us and that is why today the declarations of readiness for sacrifice, of the courage of our soldiers, of the determination of Polish citizens who chip in for this defense effort every day are so important.

“I want to say that what is also a guarantee of our security, what has failed in the past, that is a real alliance, true allies - this is also something that we are all together.

“We are all patriots with different views, we came from different sides of the political scene, but we are all here together today, because we all love Poland, and because we all love our homeland, we will also be ready to defend it if necessary. All without exception.”
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