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Wojsko Polskie (WP, or roughly translated as "Polish Military") is the national fighting defence force of Poland
Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian Enclave and exclave, to the north....
. The name has been used since the early 19th century, but can also be applied to earlier periods. The Polish Armed Forces comprise the Army (Wojska Ladowe), Navy
Polish Navy

The Polish Navy is the branch of Polish Armed Forces responsible for naval operations. It has 60 ships and about 14,300 commissioned and enlisted personnel....
 (Marynarka Wojenna) and Air Force
Polish Air Force

Polish Air Force is the air force branch of the Polish Armed Forces. Until 1 July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej ....
 (Sily Powietrzne) and are under the command of the Ministry of National Defense (Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej).

ain articles: History of the Polish Army
History of the Polish Army

Polish Army is the name applied to the military forces of Poland. The name is in use since early 19th century, although it can be used to refer to earlier formations as well....
, Armia Krajowa
Armia Krajowa

The Armia Krajowa , abbreviated "AK", was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II Nazi Germany-History of Poland . It was formed in February 1942 from the Zwiazek Walki Zbrojnej and over the next two years absorbed most other Polish underground forces....
 (Home Army), Polish contribution to World War II
Polish contribution to World War II

The European theater of World War II opened with the German Invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. The Polish Army was quickly pushed back. In keeping with the terms of the of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact Germany informed the Soviet Union that its forces were nearing the Soviet interest zone in Poland and so urged the Soviet Union to move into...
.

The modern day "Wojsko" was created in 1918, from the three separate Russia
Russia

Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
n, Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary

Austria-Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Kaiserlich und k?niglich Monarchy was a state in Central Europe ruled by the House of Habsburg, constitutionally a personal union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary....
, and Prussia
Prussia

Prussia was, most recently, a historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. This state had for centuries substantial influence on Germany and European history....
n armies and equipment left following World War I
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
.






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Wojsko Polskie (WP, or roughly translated as "Polish Military") is the national fighting defence force of Poland
Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian Enclave and exclave, to the north....
. The name has been used since the early 19th century, but can also be applied to earlier periods. The Polish Armed Forces comprise the Army (Wojska Ladowe), Navy
Polish Navy

The Polish Navy is the branch of Polish Armed Forces responsible for naval operations. It has 60 ships and about 14,300 commissioned and enlisted personnel....
 (Marynarka Wojenna) and Air Force
Polish Air Force

Polish Air Force is the air force branch of the Polish Armed Forces. Until 1 July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej ....
 (Sily Powietrzne) and are under the command of the Ministry of National Defense (Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej).

History

Main articles: History of the Polish Army
History of the Polish Army

Polish Army is the name applied to the military forces of Poland. The name is in use since early 19th century, although it can be used to refer to earlier formations as well....
, Armia Krajowa
Armia Krajowa

The Armia Krajowa , abbreviated "AK", was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II Nazi Germany-History of Poland . It was formed in February 1942 from the Zwiazek Walki Zbrojnej and over the next two years absorbed most other Polish underground forces....
 (Home Army), Polish contribution to World War II
Polish contribution to World War II

The European theater of World War II opened with the German Invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. The Polish Army was quickly pushed back. In keeping with the terms of the of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact Germany informed the Soviet Union that its forces were nearing the Soviet interest zone in Poland and so urged the Soviet Union to move into...
.

The modern day "Wojsko" was created in 1918, from the three separate Russia
Russia

Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
n, Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary

Austria-Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Kaiserlich und k?niglich Monarchy was a state in Central Europe ruled by the House of Habsburg, constitutionally a personal union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary....
, and Prussia
Prussia

Prussia was, most recently, a historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. This state had for centuries substantial influence on Germany and European history....
n armies and equipment left following World War I
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
. The force expanded during the Polish-Soviet War
Polish-Soviet War

The Polish-Soviet War was an armed conflict of Russian SFSR and Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic against the Second Polish Republic and the short-lived Ukrainian People's Republic, four states in post-World War I Europe....
 of 1919–1922 to nearly 800,000 men, but then was reduced when peace was reestablished. During the Second World War, on September 1, 1939 the force was nearly one million men strong, but was defeated by a German attack in September 1939, which was followed on September 17, 1939 by a Soviet attack (see: Polish September Campaign).

Some Polish forces escaped from their occupied, divided country, and joined Allied forces fighting in other theatres while those that remained in Poland splintered into guerilla units of the Home Army and partisan groups which fought in clandestine ways against the foreign occupiers of Poland.

After the war, the Soviets
Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was a Constitution of the Soviet Union socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991.The name is a translation of the , romanization of Russian Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik, abbreviated ????, SSSR....
 imposed their own structure and name (see Ludowe Wojsko Polskie
Ludowe Wojsko Polskie

Ludowe Wojsko Polskie was the second formation of the Polish Armed Forces in the East and later the armed force of the Polish communist government of Poland ....
) on the military, which was ultimately discarded after the fall of communism
Communism

Communism is a socioeconomic structure and political ideology that promotes the establishment of an egalitarianism, classlessness, stateless society based on common ownership and control of the means of production and property in general....
. Currently the military is being re-organized according to NATO
NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization , also called the Atlantic Alliance, is a military alliance established by the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949....
 standards. Some of the major problems facing the Polish Army Forces are the transition from a draft-based to a contract-based army and elimination of "Fala" - the hazing of young conscripts by older ones.

Grom

Organization

The combined Polish armed forces consists of 124,000 active duty personnel and in addition 234,000 reserves. In 2009 the Armed Forces transformed into a fully professional organization and compulsory military service was abolished. . Personnel levels and organization in the different branches are as follows (2004):

  • Land Forces: 76,000 (4 divisions and 2 military districts plus independent units and territorial forces)


  • Air Force: 36,450 (Air and Air Defense Corps)


  • Navy: 14,300 (2 Fleets)


  • Special Forces (3 Special Units - Grom, 1.PSK, Formoza)


Equipment


Land Forces

  • Main Battle Tanks
    MBT

    MBT may refer to:*Mahindra British Telecom, the former name of Tech Mahindra*Mathbright Technology Manufacturer of FFL *Majlis Bachao Tehreek...
    : 947 (Leopard 2A4
    Leopard 2

    The Leopard 2 is a Germany main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979. The Leopard 2 replaced the earlier Leopard MBT as the main battle tank of the German Army....
    , PT-91
    PT-91

    The PT-91 Twardy is a Poland main battle tank. It is an extensive modernization of the T-72 and first entered service in 1995. The PT-91 was designed at the and is produced by the company - part of polish military consortium - ....
    , T-72
    T-72

    The T-72 is a Soviet Union-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1971. It is a further development of the T-62 with some features of the T-64#T-64A and has been further developed as the T-90....
    , T-72M1Z
    PT-91

    The PT-91 Twardy is a Poland main battle tank. It is an extensive modernization of the T-72 and first entered service in 1995. The PT-91 was designed at the and is produced by the company - part of polish military consortium - ....
    )
  • IFV/APC
    APC

    APC or Apc or may refer to:...
    : 3506 (XA-360, BWP-1, BRDM-2
    BRDM-2

    The BRDM-2 is an Armoured patrol car used by Russia and the former Soviet Union. It was also known under designations BTR-40PB, BTR-40P-2 and GAZ 41-08....
    )
  • Artillery
    Artillery

    Artillery is a military Combat Arms which employs any apparatus, machine, an assortment of tools or instruments, a system or systems used as weapons for the discharge of large projectiles in combat as a major contribution of fire power within the overall military capability of an armed force....
    : 1322 (120mm or greater)
  • Army Helicopters
    Helicopter

    A helicopter is an aircraft that is Lift and propelled by one or more horizontal plane Helicopter rotors, each rotor consisting of two or more rotor blades....
    : 214 (PZL W-3
    PZL W-3 Sokól

    The PZL W-3 Sok?l is a Poland medium-size, twin-engine, multipurpose helicopter manufactured by PZL-Swidnik....
    , PZL SW-4, Mi-8
    MI-8

    MI-8 may refer to:* MI8, the WWII British signals intelligence agency* Mil Mi-8, the Soviet-designed helicopter* Mitten im 8en, an Austrian TV soap/comedy series...
    , Mi-17
    MI-17

    MI-17 can refer to:* Mil Mi-17, Soviet helicopter*M-17 ...
    , Mi-24 )


Air Force

  • Jet Fighter
    Jet fighter

    Jet fighter may refer to:* Jet fighter, a class of fighter aircraft* Jet Fighter , a 1975 arcade game by AtariSee also*Jet...
    : 93 ( MiG-29, F-16)
  • Attack Aircraft: 48 (Su-22)
  • Cargo aircraft
    Cargo aircraft

    File:An-225 Mriya.jpg A cargo aircraft plane is a fixed-wing aircraft designed or converted for the carriage of goods, rather than passengers....
    : 43 (C-295, C-130, An-26, PZL M-28
    PZL M-28

    The PZL M28 Skytruck is a Polish STOL light cargo and passenger plane, produced by PZL Mielec, as a development of licence-built Antonov An-28. Early licence-built planes were designated PZL An-28....
    )
  • Helicopters: 192 (PZL W-3
    PZL W-3 Sokól

    The PZL W-3 Sok?l is a Poland medium-size, twin-engine, multipurpose helicopter manufactured by PZL-Swidnik....
    , PZL SW-4, Mi-8
    MI-8

    MI-8 may refer to:* MI8, the WWII British signals intelligence agency* Mil Mi-8, the Soviet-designed helicopter* Mitten im 8en, an Austrian TV soap/comedy series...
    , Mi-17
    MI-17

    MI-17 can refer to:* Mil Mi-17, Soviet helicopter*M-17 ...
    , Mi-2)


Navy
Polish Navy

The Polish Navy is the branch of Polish Armed Forces responsible for naval operations. It has 60 ships and about 14,300 commissioned and enlisted personnel....

  • Frigate
    Frigate

    A frigate is a warship. The term has been used for warships of many sizes and roles over the past few centuries.In the 18th century, the term referred to ships which were as long as a ship-of-the-line and were square rig on all three masts , but were faster and with lighter armament, used for patrolling and escort....
    s: 2 (Oliver Hazard Perry Class
    Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate

    The Oliver Hazard Perry class , is a class of frigates named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. The class was designed in the United States in the mid-1970s as general-purpose escort vessels, capable of most naval operations, yet cheap enough to be bought in large quantities to replace World War II-era destroyers....
    )
  • Corvette
    Corvette

    A corvette is a small, manoeuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a offshore patrol vessel, although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role....
    s: 5 (Kaszub class, Tarantul Class
    Tarantul class corvette

    The Project 1241.1 Molniya are a class of Soviet Union missile corvettes. The NATO designation is Tarantul. These ships were designed to replace the Osa class missile boat....
    , Orkan Class)
  • Submarine
    Submarine

    A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below water. It differs from a submersible, which has only limited underwater capability....
    s: 5 (Kilo Class
    Kilo class submarine

    Kilo class is the NATO reporting name for a type of military diesel-electric submarines that are made in Russia. The original version of these vessels is designated in Russia Project 877 Paltus ....
    , Kobben Class
    Kobben class submarine

    The Kobben class or Type 207 is a version of the Germany Type 205 submarine submarine customized for use by the Royal Norwegian Navy....
    )
  • Over 60 other vessels (including survey ships, landing vessels, tankers and training ships


Modernisation

The Polish military is in the middle of a long term modernisation programme. Recent modernization projects include:

  • Lockheed Martin F-16 for the Air Force (48 + option for another 48)
  • Lockheed C-130 for the Air Force (5)
  • EADS CASA C-295 for the Air Force (11)
  • Patria XA-360 for the Land Forces (690)
  • WR-40 Langusta
    WR-40 Langusta

    WR-40 Langusta is a Poland self-propelled multiple rocket launcher developed by Centrum Produkcji Wojskowej Huta Stalowa Wola. The first 32 units of the WR-40 will enter service in 2010....
     for Rocket artillery
    Rocket artillery

    Rocket artillery is a type of artillery equipped with rocket launchers instead of conventional guns or mortar .Types of rocket artillery pieces include multiple rocket launchers....
     (62 ordered + option for another)
  • MRAP Cougar
    Cougar (vehicle)

    The Cougar is an armored fighting vehicle designed to be resistant to landmine and Improvised Explosive Device....
     for the Land Forces (40)
  • Leopard 2A4
    Leopard 2

    The Leopard 2 is a Germany main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979. The Leopard 2 replaced the earlier Leopard MBT as the main battle tank of the German Army....
     for the Land Forces (125 + option for another 125)
  • Gawron Class Frigate for the Navy (7 to be built)
  • Kormoran 2 Class Minehunters for the Navy (5 to be built)
  • OHP Class Frigate
    Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate

    The Oliver Hazard Perry class , is a class of frigates named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. The class was designed in the United States in the mid-1970s as general-purpose escort vessels, capable of most naval operations, yet cheap enough to be bought in large quantities to replace World War II-era destroyers....
     for the Navy (2)
  • Projekt TYTAN
    Projekt TYTAN

    The Titan Project is Poland Future Soldier military project. Project started in 2007 and currently is in advanced stage of development. First prototype of battle gear has been shown on 2008 Future Soldier Fair in Czech Republic....
     Polish Future Soldier
    Future Soldier

    Future Soldier is the overall name given to a multi-nation military project by the United States and its allies launched in the late 1990s. Future Soldier is also name of the major international military exhibition for NATO and Partnership for Peace members....
     project.


Modernisation plans also include acquiring new transport helicopters, AA Missile Systems, advanced jet trainers, light infantry vehicles, aerial refueling aircraft, VIP transport aircraft, submarine and attack helicopters.

  • Land Forces (Equipment)
  • Air Forces (Equipment)
  • Navy (Equipment)


Mission

The most basic goal of the armed forces is the defense of Polish territorial integrity, and Polish interests abroad. Poland's national security goal is to further integrate with NATO
NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization , also called the Atlantic Alliance, is a military alliance established by the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949....
 and other west European defense, economic, and political institutions via a modernization and reorganization of its military. Polish military doctrine reflects the same defense nature as its NATO partners. Poland continues to be a regional leader in support and participation in the NATO Partnership for Peace Program and has actively engaged most of its neighbors and other regional actors to build stable foundations for future Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
an security arrangements. Poland is also playing an increasingly larger role as a major European peacekeeping power in the world through various UN peacekeeping actions, cooperating with neighbouring nations (LITPOLBAT, POLUKRBAT).

Recent Operations

Polish Armed Forces took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq

The 2003 invasion of Iraq, from March 20 to May 1, 2003, was spearheaded by the United States, backed by United Kingdom forces and smaller contingents from Australia, Spain, Poland and Denmark....
, deploying 2,500 soldiers in the south of that country and commanding the 17-nation Multinational force in Iraq
Multinational force in Iraq

The Multi-National Force - Iraq is a military command , led by the United States, that is fighting the Iraq War against Iraqi insurgency. Multi-National Force - Iraq replaced the previous force, Combined Joint Task Force 7, on May 15, 2004....
. In addition to this, Polish soldiers are currently deployed in five separate UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNDOF, UNIFIL, EUFOR and KFOR). Total international deployment of Polish military is over 4,500 troops.

Current Deployment


Trivia

Polish Armed Forces are the only military entity in the world to use a two-finger salute which is only used while wearing a hat with the emblem of the Polish eagle, such as military hat rogatywka. The salute is performed with the middle and index fingers extended and touching each other, while the ring and little fingers are bent and touched by the thumb. The tips of the middle and index fingers touch the peak of the cap, two fingers meaning honour and fatherland (Honor i Ojczyzna).

Branches

The "Wojsko" consists of the following branches:
  • Polish Land Forces
    Polish Land Forces

    Polish Land Forces is a branch of Poland's Polish Armed Forces....
     (Wojska Ladowe Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej)
  • Polish Navy
    Polish Navy

    The Polish Navy is the branch of Polish Armed Forces responsible for naval operations. It has 60 ships and about 14,300 commissioned and enlisted personnel....
     (Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej)
  • Polish Air Forces (Sily Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej)
  • Polish Special Forces (Wojska Specjalne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej)


See also

  • Czeslaw Piatas
    Czeslaw Piatas

    General Czeslaw Piatas is a Poland general, former Chief of the General Staff . He is one of the authors of the plan of modernisation of the Polish armed forces and one of the architects of its integration with the structures of NATO....
    , one-time Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army
  • History of Polish Intelligence Services
    History of Polish Intelligence Services

    This article covers the history of Poland intelligence services dating back to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth....
  • List of Polish wars
    List of Polish wars

    Below is a list of military conflicts in which Poland armed forces participated or took place on Polish territory....
  • Polish Army oaths
    Polish Army oaths

    The following is a list of the Poland military oaths, both historical and contemporary....
  • Polish military awards and decorations
    Polish military awards and decorations

    The following is a list of medals, awards and decorations in use in Poland. Most of them are awarded by the Polish Army, but some of them are civilian decorations that may be worn by the military personnel....
  • Polish Armed Forces rank insignia
    Polish Armed Forces rank insignia

    OriginsPresent Polish system of rank insignia is a direct descendant of various systems used in the past in the Polish Army. Some of the grades trace their name back to Middle Ages, for instance the rank of chorazy literally means a flag bearer....
  • Podhale rifles
    Podhale rifles

    Podhale Rifles is the traditional name of the mountain infantry units of the Polish Army. Formed in 1918 out of volunteers of the region of Podhale, in 1919 the smaller detachments of Podhale Rifles were pressed into two mountain infantry divisions, the Polish 21st Infantry Division and Polish 22nd Infantry Divisions, as well as into...
  • Polish Army Museum
    Polish Army Museum

    Polish Military Museum is a museum in Warsaw documenting the military aspects of the history of Poland. Created in 1920, it occupies a wing of the building of the Polish National Museum as well as several branches in Poland....
  • List of Polish armoured fighting vehicles
    List of Polish armoured fighting vehicles

    This is a list of armoured fighting vehicles used by Poland forces....
  • Polish military eagle
    Polish military eagle

    Military eagles are military insignia used in the Polish Armed Forces, based on the White Eagle of the coat of arms of Poland. They are used on elements of military uniforms such as hats and buttons, as well as on military banners, flags, medals, emblems, publications etc....


External links