Border Guard Day in Poland Date in the current year: May 16, 2024

The history of the Polish Border Guard began in 1919, when the special military units were formed to protect the state borders during the First World War. However, officially the Border Guard (Straż Graniczna) was founded in 1928 in the Second Polish Republic. It was responsible for protecting Poland’s borders with Germany, the Free City of Danzig, Czechoslovakia and Romania, as well as sea border in the Baltic Sea. Polish border guards celebrated their professional holiday on November 11 (independence anniversary of the Second Polish Republic).

After the Second World War, the borders of Poland were protected by the Border Secure Army (Wojska Ochrony Pogranicza), which was part of the Polish People’s Army. During the period of the People’s Republic of Poland, all members of the military, including border guards, celebrated their professional holiday on October 12 (the anniversary of the Battle of Lenino). Besides, border guards also had their own professional holiday, June 10.

The present-day Polish Border Guard was formed after the fall of the socialist regime and the establishment of the Third Polish Republic. Unlike the Border Secure Army, it is a civil, police-type service, although it does use military ranks. The Polish Border Guard was formed on October 12, 1990 and went into operation on May 16, 1991. The latter date is now celebrated ad Border Guard Day in Poland.