Day of the Polish Army in the Vilnius

Tomorrow, on the August 15^th, not only in Poland but also in the Vilnius region will be celebrated Polish Army Day commemorating one of the greatest Polish victories in the Battle of Warsaw 1920 against the Soviet Union.

On Friday, at noon, representatives of the Embassy of the Polish Republic in Vilnius and the representatives of Polish organizations in Lithuania will lay wreaths at the Rasų kapinės, at the Tomb of the Virgin and the heart of her Son.  At 15 in Dūkštos, at the Cemetery of Polish Army Soldiers who died in 1919-1920, field mass and the blessing of new monuments will take place. Meanwhile, in Visaginas, at 17 the commemorative concert will be held with the participation of the ZPL associations from Vilnius, Visaginas and Zarasai.

Celebrations on the occasion of the Polish Army also will continue on Saturday, August 16^th. At 15 in Zalavas the new frames at the Avenue of National Remembrance will be blessed. On Sunday, August 17^th, Cultural Center in Medininkai will present an artistic program of Polish Theatre Studio, patriotic hip-hop and military kitchen.  The ceremony at 12 will start with the Mass starts. After the mass, the march will be held to the cemetery, where a prayer and call for the fallen soldiers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Polish Army will take place.

“For children and young people something interesting will be for sure the exhibition of weapon, that was used by the Polish Army. The participants will be able to hold the exhibits in hands. Everything on display will be authentic. I think the kids should get to know the history of their nation “- said Edward Kiejzik in the interview with ” Radio Znad Willi”, one of the organizers of the event.

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Battle of Warsaw, which took place from 13^th to 25^th August 1920, was the decisive battle of the Polish-Bolshevik War. After this, as on 10^th March 1920 the command of the Red Army approved the plan of the attack on Poland, the Polish army commander Jozef Pilsudski ordered the start of pre-emptive offensive in the Ukraine.
Poles arrived to Kiev, however, the Soviets quickly mastered the situation and went on the offensive in Belarus and Ukraine, forcing the Polish Army troops to retreat. In late July, the Soviet forces were already on the Polish territory, approaching Warsaw at a rapid pace. The decisive attack, determining course of the war, started on August 16^th and ended with the spectacular success of the Polish army and Marshal Jozef Pilsudski.