Polish Armed Forces

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Wojsko Polskie (WP, Polish Army) is the name applied to the military forces of Poland. The name has been used since the early 19th century, although it can be used to refer to earlier formations as well. Polish Armed Forces consist of the Army (Wojska Lądowe), Navy (Marynarka Wojenna) and Air Force (Siły Powietrzne) branches and are under the command of the Ministry of Defense (Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej).

[edit] History

Main articles: History of the Polish Army, Armia Krajowa (Home Army), Polish contribution to World War II

The modern day Wojsko was created in 1918, from the three separate Russian, Austro-Hungarian, and Prussian armies and equipment left following World War I. The force expanded during the Polish-Soviet War of 1919–1922 to nearly 800,000 men, but then was reduced when peace was reestablished. During the Second World War, on 1 September, 1939 the force was nearly one million men strong, but was defeated by a German attack in September 1939, which was followed on 17 September 1939 by a Soviet attack.

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

After the war, the Soviets imposed their own structure on the military, which was ultimately discarded after the fall of communism. Currently the military is being re-organized according to NATO 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.

[edit] Organization

The combined Polish armed forces consists of 163,000 ^[2] active duty personnel and in addition 234,000 reserves. The armed forces are made up of conscripts who serve for a period of 9 months, and professional soldiers. Personnel levels and organization in the different branches are as follows (2004):

• Army: 104,050 (3 Mechanized Divisions (1, 12 and 16) and 1 Armoured Division (11), 6 armored cavalry brigades.)

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

• Navy: 14,300 (1 Battle Fleet)

As of 2006 professional soldiers make up 60% of military personnel, while the current government of Poland intends to make the Army fully professional by 2012 by ending the draft or reducing it to short training of recruits that would last up to two or three months. Conscripts currently have to do 9 months service and every male aged 18 is due for this service

[edit] Equipment

Main article: Equipment of the Polish Army

The Polish military continues to use mostly Soviet-era equipment, however after joining NATO in 1999 Poland has begun upgrading and modernizing its hardware to NATO standards. The General Staff has been reorganized into a NATO-compatible J/G-1 through J/G-6 structure. Recent modernization projects include the acquisition of F-16 fighter jets from the United States, Leopard 2 MBTs from Germany, ATGM technology from Israel (as well as possible future acquisition of Rafael Python 5 and Arrow missiles), and Patria AMV AFVs from Finland. Poland has also modernized it's armoured forces by developing the PT-91, one of the best tanks based on T-72 and by getting rid of obsolete T-55 tanks. As of now PT-91, PT-91A, T-72M1 and T-72M1Z are forming a bulk of polish armoured forces. Poland is also planning to phase out T-72M1 in 2010, hence their decreasing amount over the past three years. Recently, Poland has discussed having a US military base and a ballistic missile defence shield in Poland. In return for the Poles allowing the US to have the shield on Polish territory, the Army is hoping to get M1 Abrams tanks, Patriot missile systems and the Air force wants Apache helicopters and a new medium helicopter such as the Black Hawk Equipment, see in detail:

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

[edit] 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 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 European 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).

[edit] Recent operations

Polish Armed Forces took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, deploying 2,500 soldiers in the south of that country and commanding the 17-nation Multinational force in Iraq. In addition to this, Polish soldiers are currently deployed in five separate UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNDOF, UNIFIL, SFOR, AFOR and KFOR) with a total of approximately 2,200 troops, on top of the 1,500 soldiers remaining in southern Iraq. Total international deployment of Polish military is 3,727 troops.

Current deployment (2006):

• Iraq: Operation Iraqi Freedom – 900 soldiers
• Afghanistan: NATO-led force – 1,200 soldiers - NOTE: Pledged as of 14 September 2006.

• Lebanon: UN Interim Force (PMC/UNIFIL) – 632 soldiers

• Golan Heights, Syria: UN Disengagement and Observation Force (PMC/UNDOF) – 355 soldiers

• Balkans: Stabilization Force (PMU/SFOR) – 300 soldiers

• Democratic Republic of the Congo:Stabilization Force (PMU/KFOR) 172 soldiers

[edit] Trivia

Polish military forces are the origin of the two-fingers salute.

[edit] Branches

The Wojsko consists of the following branches:

• Polish Land Forces (Wojska Lądowe Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej)
• Polish Navy (Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej)
• Polish Air Forces (Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej)

[edit] Gallery

[edit] See also

• Czesław Piątas, current Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army
• History of Polish Intelligence Services
• List of Polish wars
• Polish Army oaths
• Polish military awards and decorations
• Polish Armed Forces rank insignia
• Podhale rifles
• Polish Army Museum
• List of Polish armoured fighting vehicles
• Polish military eagle

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Polish Army Galeries
• Official Website of the Polish Land Forces
• Official Website of the Polish Ministry of Defense
• Official Website of the Polish Air Force
• Official Website of the Polish Navy
• kamouflage.net > Europe > Poland (Republic of Poland)
• Pictures from Iraq of Polish Army

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