**Poland’s Military Build-Up: A Nation Preparing for the Worst**
In a sign of growing unease, Poland is rapidly expanding its military capabilities. At a training ground near Wroclaw, civilians are lining up to learn how to survive an armed attack and defend their country against Russia.
The “Train with the Army” program, which includes instruction on shooting, hand-to-hand combat, first aid, and gas mask use, has been oversubscribed. The Polish government plans to expand it so that every adult male in the country receives training. This move is part of a broader effort to strengthen Poland’s military.
The government aims to build “the strongest army in the region,” according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Warsaw has been on a spending spree, purchasing planes, ships, artillery systems, and missiles from various countries. Poland plans to spend almost 5% of its GDP on defense this year, the highest in Nato.
Polish citizens are increasingly concerned about their safety due to statements by Donald Trump and his administration. The US defense secretary’s comment that Europe shouldn’t assume a permanent US troop presence has caused unease. The announced withdrawal of troops from a key military base in Rzeszow has added to worries.
**A Nation Remembering History**
For many Poles, the experience of Russian occupation is still raw. Wanda Traczyk-Stawska, 98 years old and living at a state-run care home in Warsaw, recalls the last time Russia invaded Poland in 1939. Her father was worried about the Russians taking advantage of Germany’s attack on Poland.
Wanda, who brandished a machine gun during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, believes that Poland needs to be prepared to defend itself. “We cannot rely on anyone else,” she says. “Today alliances exist, and tomorrow they are broken.”
**A Nation Divided**
While some Poles, like Dariusz, are eager to volunteer if their country were attacked, others express doubts about joining the army or even fleeing the country.
“I would probably be the first one trying to escape the country,” says Szymon, a student in Wroclaw. “I just don’t really see anything worth dying for here.”
Only 10.7% of adults polled said they would join the army as volunteers in the event of war, and a third said they would flee.
**Preparing for the Worst**
As tensions rise, companies like ShelterPro are seeing increased demand for bomb shelters. Janusz Janczy, the boss of ShelterPro, notes that people are building these shelters because they don’t know what to expect tomorrow.
While some Poles are taking proactive steps to prepare for potential threats, others seem uncertain about their country’s defense and their own roles in it.
**Sources**
BBC News article: “Poland’s military build-up: A nation preparing for the worst”
Additional reporting by Aleksandra Stefanowicz
Read More @ www.bbc.com
