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Poland's Amateur Defenders

Thousands of young people in Poland are joining paramilitary groups to defend their country against a possible invasion. But from whom? Tim Whewell reports.

Playing war-games in the woods has become an ever-more popular pastime in Poland as thousands of young people join paramilitary groups to defend their country against possible invasion. Others 鈥 so-called 鈥減reppers鈥 - are building bunkers and storing food supplies so their families can survive any disaster. Now the government plans to recruit such enthusiasts into a state-run volunteer defence force 鈥 to counter a possible Russian threat. But are the authorities stoking fear 鈥 and creating an amateur force that鈥檚 no use in 21st Century warfare? Tim Whewell reports from the forests of north-eastern Poland, close to the Russian border.

Producer: Estelle Doyle

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27 minutes

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