Military power (Poland #21 in the world)

Russia has replaced China for #2.

What happened here? I know Russia was planning a major modernization program but I'm sure if it's already taken effect.

Oh dear, looks as though they are ready and willing.

I was surprised to see the French outdo the Germans, must be hangover from WWII.

France has a few hundreds nukes.

but I just wanted to point out that Germany and Japan were not allowed to have this after WWII

I don't know how reliable that data is. For Ukraine they put 1 million active reserve and Poland has 20,000. Either we are crazy or our military reserves are far overblown. Anyhow, I don't know much about military stuff.

Germany was offered nukes in the 1950's, but they declined, AFAIK.

Just a few years ago Poland also had a larger army and more reserves. But they decided for the army to be "Professional" and smaller.

I don't know how reliable that data is. For Ukraine they put 1 million active reserve and Poland has 20,000. Either we are crazy or our military reserves are far overblown. Anyhow, I don't know much about military stuff.

Germany was offered nukes in the 1950's, but they declined, AFAIK.

Good move. I hope the nonsense of inflated active army reserves will end here too.

What happened here? I know Russia was planning a major modernization program but I'm sure if it's already taken effect.

Germans had nukes just not their own

Oh dear, looks as though they are ready and willing.

True, in case of a war they would have had direct access to the American nukes. BTW: do you know about Poland? Did they have access to the Soviet nukes at all?

Poland itself has never possessed nuclear weapons, but as the part of Warsaw Pact was equipped with aircraft (such as MiG-21, Su-7 and Su-22), as well as short range ballistic missiles (such as R-300 Elbrus, 9K52 Luna-M and OTR-21 Tochka) that could be used to deliver Soviet nuclear weapons, which would be provided in time of war.[1] Since the end of the World War II the Soviet Union maintained large amounts of troops on Polish territory, these troops were equipped with nuclear weapons. In 1991 Poland announced they would remove the nuclear capable delivery systems from their weapons inventory.

True, in case of a war they would have had direct access to the American nukes. BTW: do you know about Poland? Did they have access to the Soviet nukes at all?

I've read projections of it somewhere and its a horror story, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Baltic States, Low Countries had a projected fatality rate of 100%, France had a projected fatality rate of 40% just from the initial fallout, Italy only 20% initially but over 70% overall due to water irradiation.

China, India....Neither of them can feed a large portion of the populations. But they maintain these huge militaries.

It can't, more than a milion people would lose their jobs, thats enough to collapse ukrainian society given that the army is one of the few things that holds Ukraine together.

Ukraine for example has almost twice the tanks Poland has but only 300-500 of them are capable of even driving from point A to point B

When have you seen the last time tanks on Ukrainian streets, historian? In Lviv it was in 1944 :)

Regarding the jobs: when people are doing nothing, producing nothing and getting money, how worse can it be to have them work for a bit more, but producing something?

If B is Poland, all of them will get there, no worries ;)

"Tysiąclecie Państwa Polskiego" - It was pure propaganda. However, rather famous. Some streets have been named after this event.

Sokrates

Would you know how they select the soldiers to be part of the "Batalion Reprezentacyjny Wojska Polskiego", is it the luck of the draw or do they have some other selection criteria?

At that time? You need to be tall and fit and serve in the Warsaw central command disctict (aka be a part of Warsaw garrison units) then if you fit the criteria you were drafted into the Battalion, today soldiers file an application as its voluntary and considered prestigous.

In communist times you were also required to be an able equestrian to join the mounted company, today they teach you how to ride a horse since horses have become rare in the countryside.

You need to be tall and fit and serve in the Warsaw central command disctict (aka be a part of Warsaw garrison units) then if you fit the criteria you were drafted into the Battalion, today soldiers file an application as its voluntary and considered prestigous.

I originally came to Poland to teach those guys and can assure you they ant that well thought of by the rest of the army for very good reason.

What is the reason?