Poland marks anniversary of 1920 Battle of Warsaw
The ceremonies included prayers at a monument to Fr. Ignacy Skorupka, a Polish priest and army chaplain who died during the Battle of Warsaw, and a religious service dedicated to the heroes of 1920, in addition to a roll call honouring those killed.
The ceremonies also included a reenactment of the historic battle, which historians say cemented Poland’s newly regained independence and stopped the progression of the Red Army, forcing the Bolsheviks to abandon their plans of igniting a global revolution.
According to many historians, the Battle of Warsaw was one of the most important battles in world history because it helped save Europe from a communist onslaught. It went down in Polish history as the "Miracle of the Vistula."
As part of the ceremonies, officials also unveiled the busts of three senior Polish military officials who died in the 2010 air crash near Smolensk, western Russia: Gen. Tadeusz Buk, Gen. Kazimierz Gilarski, and Adm. Andrzej Karweta.
The Ossów site also holds the busts of some other victims of the air crash - unveiled in previous years - among them those of President Lech Kaczynski, Poland’s last president-in-exile Ryszard Kaczorowski, Polish Army Field Bishop Tadeusz Ploski, and Gen. Franciszek Gagor, chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces. All the victims of the Smolensk disaster have additionally been honoured with 96 oaks planted at the site. (PAP)
