Ewolucja dowodzenia obroną przeciwlotniczą w polskich siłach zbrojnych w latach 1916-1990

The content of the article concerns main trends and concepts which exerted the greatest influence on contemporary air defence (AD) command and control process in the Polish Armed Forces. The research results refer to the period of 1916 - 1990 and basically oscillate around crystallising the AD command and control process and organisational structures of AD forces’ command and control bodies. The research results are divided in three main periods corresponding to general phases of the armed forces development in Poland. The first part of the research refers to the period between the world wars (1916 - 1939). Quite small interest in the air defence of the country and AD forces was characteristic for the air defence of that time. The concepts of AD development expressed then were fragmented and not systemic. Additionally the main obstacle to implement them were financial problems. They mainly concerned procurement or production of air defence guns whose potential was too little to undertake effective defence in September 1939. The evaluation of methods and ways of AD command and control bodies’ work conducted by the author is of crucial importance and particularly exposes difficulties in planning and AD organisation during World War II and after the war until 1990. In this aspect the author refers to the command and control evaluation of AD units formed in the Soviet army and the Polish Army units. In both of these cases under analysis the subject of strong AD gained importance, which was exemplified by, among others, organising specialist AD command posts equipped with modern command and control assets. According to the author the research results allow concluding that in most analysed cases the problems of air defence was ignored by military authorities. The lack of high standing and interest in AD development caused that in further concepts of the Polish Armed Forces’ development the AD problems were neglected or treated lightly, what had an influence on the army efficiency and combat capabilities. Therefore, the conclusions drawn from war history should make present decision makers reflect, what might be greatly important for the future development of AD forces.