On 11 November 1918, the Regency Council handed over military power to Józef Piłsudski, and Germany signed a ceasefire in France ending planet War I. This day – National independency Day – is simply a symbol of Poland's rebirth after 123 years of occupation. How did this happen? To whom do we owe the free Homeland? We invitation you to the occasional service of the Polish-Army portal – Our Independent.
Day Order No. 1.
Soldiers! I take command of you at a time erstwhile the heart in all Pole beats stronger and more alive erstwhile the children of our land have seen the sun of freedom in all its radiance. Together with you I experience the emotion of this hr of history, together I pledge my life and my blood for the sake of Homeland and the happiness of its citizens.
Soldiers! During the planet War, attempts of Polish military formations were created in various places and conditions. With the handicap—it seemed—untreatable to our nation, trials, even erstwhile they were arrogant and heroic, were necessarily dwarfs and unilateral. The remainder of these relations is the disunity harmful in the military. I hope that each of you can overcome yourself and make an effort to remove differences and frictions, clicks and courtesies in the military, to rapidly make a sense of relationship and facilitate work.
Soldiers! Our full Nation is now faced with issues that he will be able to solve only with extraordinary effort and stress of his strength and will. In their field, these issues stand before us. It will be more hard for us to solve them, that our hard ministry frequently puts more weight on the feelings and heart of the soldier. In both the most joyful of times, the soldier must be calm and balanced, able to execute his task in order and thoroughly. Offences in this respect are easier erstwhile everything around at this breathtaking minute does not have the additional weights a soldier always carries.
In this respect, I want that I did not request to reproach you and that I might be able to make an account of my actions before the Nation, to tell you sincerely about myself and you that we were not only the first, but besides good soldiers of the risen Poland.
Warsaw, 12 November 1918.
Józef Piłsudski
To the P. president of the United States,
To the Royal English Government,
To the Government of the French Republic,
To the Royal Italian Government,
To the Imperial nipponese Government,
To the Government of the German Republic and to the Governments of all warring and neutral States.
As Chief of the Polish Army, I want to notify the governments and nations of the war and neutral existence of the Independent Polish State, covering all the lands of the united Poland.
The political situation in Poland and the yoke of business have not so far allowed the Polish people to talk freely about their fate. Thanks to the changes which have taken place as a consequence of the large victories of the allied army, the resumption of independency and sovereignty of Poland is now a fact made.
The Polish state is created by the will of the full nation and is based on democratic foundations. The Polish government will replace the regulation of violence, which for 1 100 and forty years has been over the destiny of Poland – by the system, built on order and justice. Based on the Polish Army under my command, I hope that from now on no abroad army will enter Poland before we express our formal will. I am convinced that powerful Western democracies will give their aid and brotherly support to the Polish Republic of the Born and Independent.
Chief Chief
Józef Piłsudski
The first paper addressed by Poland to abroad countries, dated 16 November 1918..
