Polish Army Museum

The museum's forecourt boasts a fascinating display of several dozen armored vehicles, artillery pieces, and aircraft, forming a captivating assortment of Soviet, western, and Polish equipment, primarily dating back to the World War II era.

Inside the galleries, the focus shifts to Poland's military history spanning from the 10th century to the present. Particularly emphasized are Poland's glory days during the 17th century, contrasted with the tumultuous period of anarchy in the 18th century. Notable exhibits recount Poland's involvement in the Napoleonic Wars, as well as the national uprisings of 1830-31 and 1863. The centerpiece of the museum showcases the events of the 20th century, with special emphasis on the monumental impact of World War II. Among the treasures housed within are a rare gilded helmet believed to have belonged to a Polish chieftain from the 10th century, and an exceptional collection of hussars' armor.

In addition to this, the museum proudly presents a permanent exhibition of oriental arms and armor, sourced from its extensive collection. These impressive artifacts originate from diverse regions such as Ottoman Turkey, the Crimean Tatar Khanate, Mongolia, and Japan. Adjacent to the main building, heavy weaponry is on display at the park and Fort Czerniakowski (the Museum of Polish Military Technology, temporarily closed for repairs). The surrounding park hosts an open-air exhibition featuring tanks, artillery, aircraft, and mine detection and diffusion equipment. Notably, the Fort is also home to the Museum of Katyń Victims, a subsidiary of the Polish Army Museum.

The museum has recently acquired a poignant collection of equipment from the soldiers who tragically lost their lives in the Presidential Smolensk aircraft crash. This collection, preserved in its original state, includes ID passes, portable radios, torches, holsters, and various other artifacts.

The museum's permanent exhibitions cover a vast array of historical periods and topics:

• Polish Armed Forces in the Middle Ages
• Polish Army at the Time of Renaissance
• History of the Old Polish Military: 1576-1648
• Polish Army in the Second Half of the 17th Century
• Polish Army in Saxon Times
• Polish Army at the Time of the Enlightenment and the Kościuszko Rising
• Polish Legions in Italy and the Army of the Duchy of Warsaw
• The Army of the Kingdom of Poland and the November 1831 Rising
• The January 1863 Rising
• Polish Paramilitary Organizations of the Early 20th Century
• The Roads to Independence: 1914-1945
• The Polish Army: 1921-1939
• Poland's Defense War of 1939
• The Armed Struggle in the Occupied Country: 1939-1947
• Polish Army in the East: 1943-1945
• UN Peace Missions of the Polish Army.

The museum operates under the auspices of the Polish armed forces, offering benefits like access to surplus military stock. However, it also faces challenges, such as the inability to operate a proper gift shop or bookshop due to legal restrictions preventing Polish military facilities from selling goods to the public on a commercial basis.

On December 15, 2008, the Museum of the Polish Army made an exciting announcement about sponsoring an international architectural competition. This competition aimed to select a design for its new premises and the surrounding area, set to be constructed in the historical Citadel of Warsaw's Żoliborz district. The envisioned museum was planned to be a cutting-edge multimedia institution, drawing inspiration from the successful Warsaw Uprising Museum. The winning design was expected to be chosen by August 2009, and construction was slated to commence in 2009 or 2010, with a targeted completion date of 2013. However, by early 2014, the construction had not yet taken place. Once the new Polish Army Museum is eventually erected, its current building in the city center is slated to be handed over to the National Museum in Warsaw.