Politics · Other · 1 hr ago
Thousands join nationalist Independence Day march in Warsaw
Thousands gathered in Warsaw for Poland’s annual Independence Day march on Wednesday, carrying Polish flags as police secured the area.
The march has been held on November 11 since 1918 to mark the end of more than a century of partition by Russia, Prussia and Austria.
The event has long divided right-wing groups and centrist governments: critics say it has been a platform for anti-immigrant and antisemitic rhetoric, while supporters call it an expression of national pride.
Organisers expected a record turnout, including nationalists from other European countries, though the sources do not say whether that number was reached.
The gathering came days after a Krakow shooting killed six people and wounded more than a dozen; ministers said the gunman may have been motivated by far-right ideology.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged people to show restraint and said Poland’s independence, freedom and security were a shared good.
Extra police and street barriers were in place in Warsaw as the march took place.
Thousands of nationalist supporters gathered in Warsaw on November 11 for Poland’s annual Independence Day march.
Police deployed extra officers and installed concrete barriers around the march’s starting point.
The march took place amid political tension after a shooting in Krakow killed six people and authorities said the gunman may have been motivated by far-right ideology.
Supporters described the march as an expression of national pride, while centrists have criticized it as a platform for racism and antisemitism.
Organisers said they expected a record turnout, including nationalists from other European countries.
- Who
- Thousands of nationalist supporters, including expected participants from other European countries, gathered for the march.
- What
- An annual Independence Day march was held under the motto “A Pole is the host in Poland.
- When
- Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
- Where
- Central Warsaw, Poland.
- Why
- The march commemorates Poland’s independence and is described by supporters as an expression of national pride.
Poland’s governing centrists
March supporters and organisers
Purpose
Poland’s governing centrists
Centrists say the march is a platform for racism and antisemitism.
March supporters and organisers
Supporters say it expresses national pride.
Political use
Poland’s governing centrists
Organisers urged people not to exploit the march for political ends.
March supporters and organisers
Supporters say the gathering is an expression of national pride.
A gunman opened fire from his car in Krakow, killing six people and wounding more than a dozen.
Police announced that the 24-year-old gunman had died in hospital after being shot by police and arrested.
Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek said the gunman had been interested in Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik.
Thousands gathered in Warsaw for the annual Independence Day march as police increased security.
- March date
- November 11, 2026
- March location
- Central Warsaw, Poland
- Krakow shooting death toll
- Six people
- March motto
- A Pole is the host in Poland
- Expected foreign groups
- Spain’s Revuelta and Hungary’s Mi Hazánk party
3 sources
What people are saying
Anyone who truly cares about Poland must understand that this space, defined by independence, freedom and a secure Republic, is a common good.
Poland “does not exist today so that the political elites can grant themselves the right to manage citizens … against the will of the nation
We have condemned political attacks linked to this tragedy - regardless of whether they came from the right or the left
We want a sovereign Poland, independent of foreign capitals ... We also envision a Poland that is as mono-ethnic as possible