War is simply a complex and all-inclusive system. It's not just a government administration with armed forces. Without full public commitment, no state can defend itself against the invader. The awareness of this issue forces Poles and Poles to examine the readiness of Poles to make an effort in times of increased global tension, which does not have to, but may escalate into a planet war. A 1000 days of fighting in Ukraine is simply a cesium worth considering about the lesson which brought Polish society out of the war following Bug. I will not discuss the state of preparation of our administration and government as coordinator of actions, due to the fact that with this, apart from the process of crucial expansion of the Polish Armed Forces, it may not be good (it is worth mentioning the study of the NIK of March 2024, where it is pointed out explicitly that in the case of flying bombs over our heads, only 1 in 25 citizens will have a safety shelter prepared) [1], but the assessment of the very possible of mobilizing compatriots in building the defence capacity of our country, with 1 proven origin – volunteering.
My brother's guardian
The last days of February 2022 were in our memory rather particularly. Information chaos, streams of people fleeing through border crossings in Medica, Hrubieszów, Hrebenny or Dorohusk, videos and photos uploaded by Ukrainians to social media and another communicators showing strong opposition to the Russian aggressor – all this has sparked a legitimate desire for support for the victim. rather spontaneously in the first drowsy action of the government and improvised revolt of local government, our citizens rushed to support the Ukrainians. Materially, Polish volunteering for Ukraine in the first fewer months of the war covered nearly PLN 10 billion! [2] Although in relation to Polish GDP for 2022 it is only 0.32% of the full amount [3], it should be remembered that it was an uncoordinated, dispersed and highly altruistic action. At the same time, for 1 of the most prominent purposes, in which Poles participate annually, i.e. in the large Orchestra of Christmas Charity, since the very beginning of its existence, i.e. since 1993, more than PLN 2.3 billion has been collected. So over the course of 33 years, with advanced media support and mass engagement of average WOŚP people, only 1⁄4 of what we showed in the first and second 4th of 2022. This is indeed a fascinating fact, given that we have acted straight on behalf of the neighbouring country and its citizens, and only indirectly on behalf of our security. There is besides an aspect of reducing our social and economical needs and cutting from the household budget the appropriate amount of support we have allocated to Ukrainian refugees. According to the data of the Polish economical Institute, more than half of Poles have decided to show financial assistance through cash contributions or acquisition of needed foodstuffs and another materials [4]. specified a form of assistance is known, for example, for the principles of organizing the Noble Package. Attention should be paid to the percent of those active in the activities. For can we call it a insignificant act of sheltering a abroad household for an indefinite period? Is abandoning tasks resulting from the employment relation in a factory, store or corp to engage in volunteering at railway stations in Warsaw, Rzeszów or Przemyśl an easy action? Only during the first 4th of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 7% of Poles felt that they could “walk over” and retreat an angle in their own home for the benefit of their neighbour from the east border. all 5th Polish citizen provided real aid in dealing with urgent cases to stray guests, and all 20th utilized his car for the purposes of personal/good transport for Ukrainians. Not much? Let us add to this a drop – online issues for a good purpose, which we organized to support the military possible of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 1 of the most famous, initiated by Sławomir Sierakowski, editor-in-chief of Political Criticism, was to rise funds for the acquisition of the Bayraktar reconnaissance and combat drone, which proved itself in the first weeks of the war. The information provided in social media led to a gathering of more than PLN 24 million, which was impressive. The consequence of this mobilization was the free handover of the drone by the Turkish arms company fighting Ukraine. Collected money was spent for war anyway.
Polish self-defense
The scale of Polish aid “instant” of 2022 is simply a proposition as to how we could respond to a full-scale attack on our country. So far, it was possible to callback the backlash of our ancestors in 1939, erstwhile the society of the Second Polish Republic, having contributed hundreds of millions of zlotys to the work of the National Defence Fund, decided to further support the state's efforts with its own enlistment to the Polish Army, order services or fortification work. Despite the disaster of the September campaign, this confirmed the rule that we are a nation able to show tough spirit and extraordinary mobilisation in the event of a higher need. This feature proved its impermeability 3 years ago. At the same time, it is simply a clue for our rulers that if we direct a stream of efforts with exemplary top-down leadership, which will declare an ambitious goal and show the ability to accomplish it, then Polish society, composed of many extraordinary individualities, is simply a collective entity that can always be counted upon.
[1] https://infosecurity24.pl/internal security/n-n-in-polsce-civil defence-no-exist-a-to-refuge-can-count-end-4-proc-polakow [access date: 21.01.2025].
[2] https://www.President.pl/updates/events/Polish-help-for-Ukraine-plen,93620 [access date: 31.01.2025].
[3] https://business.interia.pl/economy/news-value-pkb-Polish-crossed-3-bln-zl-w-2022-r-gus-podal-,nId,6778650 [access date: 31.01.2025].
[4] https://pie.net.pl/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Help-pol-spol-UKR-22.07.2022-D-1.pdf [access date: 31.01.2025].
