Each year on June 13th, Poland commemorates the proud history of its Military Gendarmerie, a tradition deeply rooted in the nation’s military past. The origins of this day date back to June 13, 1831, when General Tomasz Łubieński established the Field Guard during the November Uprising. This formation, a precursor to Poland’s military police, was tasked with maintaining security within the Polish army. The choice of this date for the annual celebration is a homage to these foundational moments.
Inaugural Military Gendarmerie Day: Honoring Piłsudski and Navigating Wartime Challenges
The first official observance of Military Gendarmerie Day took place in Kraków on June 13, 1936, marked by a large gathering of over 700 soldiers from various gendarmerie units. The event was dedicated to honoring the memory of Marshal Józef Piłsudski, a pivotal figure in Polish history. However, the journey of the Military Gendarmerie has been far from linear. During World War II, the British government oversaw the demobilization of the Polish Armed Forces, forming the Polish Resettlement Corps, which included gendarmerie units maintaining order among the demobilized soldiers.
Reactivating Tradition: The Revival of Poland’s Military Gendarmerie Post-Communism
In post-war Poland, under the Polish People’s Republic, the functions of the gendarmerie were assumed by the Internal Military Service from 1957. It wasn’t until September 1, 1990, after the fall of communism, that the Military Gendarmerie was officially reactivated, restoring its traditional role within the Polish Armed Forces. The significance of June 13th was formally recognized by a law passed on August 24, 2001, highlighting the importance of commemorating the historical legacy of the Mounted Carabineers Division of 1831 and the gendarmerie formations from 1914 to 1945.