"Before GROM struck...", an exhibition organized by the Museum of the Polish Army in conjunction with Targi Kielce, featuring special units and airborne assault forces

The exhibition, housed in the main building of the Museum of the Polish Army, illustrates how the special and airborne assault forces have evolved in the last few years.

Among the exhibits are uniforms, commando combat knifes, as well as guns, including the hand guns, automatic and assault rifles which were used by Polish commandoes during various special operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia. Soldiers also offered their private photographs taken during the missions to be displayed at the exhibition. A significant part of the exhibition is dedicated to the elite GROM unit, which was established on 13th July 1990. Its ID, designated No 1, was issued to General Sławomir Petelicki, its founder, who was appointed its commander twice.

Soldiers of GROM also paid tribute to another commander of the unit, the late Colonel Leszek Drewniak, who passed away in February 2007. Exhibition space was also assigned to other Polish special units, such as FORMOZA, Marine Special Operations Unit, whose origin dates back to 1974. One of the showcases is dedicated to the 1st Commando Regiment with its headquarters in Lubliniec, which has recently arrested Mullah Dawood, one of the top Taliban leaders, in Afghanistan, a deed which has made this unit famous.

The exhibition also features objects which commemorate the legendary "Cichociemni" - Polish paratroopers who were dropped in the territory of Nazi-occupied Poland during WW II.

The exhibition will be open to the public until the end of 2011.