This day commemorates the anniversary of the restoration of Poland’s sovereignty as the Second Polish Republic in 1918 from the German, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Empires. Following the partitions in the late 18th century, Poland ceased to exist for 123 years until the end of the First World War. It was a day of military ceremony since 1920, and the holiday was constituted in 1937. After World War Two, the communist authorities of the People’s Republic removed Independence Day from the calendar, although it was celebrated informally. This caused issues in the 1980s when they were brutally dispersed by communist militarised police forces, with many arrested. When it emerged by communism in 1989, the original holiday was restored.
A military parade is held on television formed of two battalions, two composed of armed forces personnel and the other made up of personnel of the civil service.
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