On August 22, 1914, an order was issued to establish the Chief National Committee and Legions, which contributed to the creation of the first Polish Legions regiment. This Polish military formation established in Galicia was a separate part of the Austro-Hungarian army. Legionaries alongside Austrians fought the Russians, and after the war they were the main force of the reborn Polish army.
The ceremony of taking an oath by soldiers of the Polish Legions. Belina's owlan march.
“Soldiers! Among the general passiveness of our society, historical accidents amazed Poles, leaving them without circumstantial decisions (original spelling – ed.), without anticipation of uniform and strong behaviour. It was essential for the boldest and the most energetic to take on responsibility, an initiative to throw sparks at the dust. You have cast this spark, setting an example to others, as the leaders of the Polish nation's conflict for independency of the homeland." That was the first passage of the order to appoint the Chief National Committee and the Legions. They turned him in. 1 Personnel Company in Kielce on August 22, 1914 Józef Piłsudski, Chief of the Chief of Armed Forces, and Kazimierz Sosnkowski, Chief of the General Staff.
“We shed blood alone”
– After the outbreak of planet War I, in which our invaders stood on other sides: the German Empire, Austro-Hungary and Russia, Poles gained a fresh hope of regaining independence, says Dr. Marek Wrzesiński, a historian investigating the past of the interwar period. Piłsudski, with the approval of the Austro-Hungarian authorities, formed on 3 August 1914 1st Personnel Company with volunteers from the firearm Union and Polish firearm Teams. 3 days later, these troops entered the Russian partition with the task of creating a national uprising. Unfortunately, this effort failed. Polish soldiers were welcomed coolly by the Kingdom residents and had to return to Galicia – the historian explains.
Piłsudski so agreed to support the ultimate National Committee, which was established on 16 August at the initiative of all crucial Polish political parties from Galicia. The Committee was to be the highest institution in the military strategy and political organization of Polish forces. On August 22, Piłsudski signed an order connecting volunteer troops “Kadrówka” to the created Legions. As stated in the order, the Committee with the approval of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy is to issue Polish Legions to fight Russia. "After agreement with the secret National Government in Warsaw, I have reported on my behalf and on your behalf that I have joined a wider organization, providing the Polish army with more resources and stronger action," Piłsudski wrote.
Józef Piłsudski (3rd from the right) in the trenches of the 1st Polish Legion Infantry Regiment. besides visible: Major Albin Fleszar (4th from the right) and Lieutenant Bolesław Długoszowski-Wiawa (3rd from the left). 1916.
“Legions are a soldier's shoe”
On 27 August, Archduke Frederick, Austrian chief commander, established the West Legion in Krakow and the East Legion in Lviv. These Polish military formations formed a separate part of the Austro-Hungarian army. They were expected to fight Russia and have any autonomy, e.g. orders were given in Polish. The East Legion, despite having gathered nearly 4,000 recruits, was not yet formed. “The reason was the swift seizure of Lviv by Russian troops and opposition of the national democratic groups of reluctant legion ideas,” explains Dr. Wrzesiński. Volunteers from this Legion then formed the 3rd West Legion Infantry Regiment under the command of the colonel. Joseph Haller. On the another hand, the West Legion was based on members of the 1st Personnel Company. It was headed by Gen. Rajmund Baczyński, followed by Gen. Karol Durski-Trzaska.
In December 1914, the Western Legion was converted into the First Brigade of the Polish Legions, over which Piłsudski took the command. In May 1915, 2 more brigades were formed: II commanded by Ferdinand Küttner, and then Colonel Haller, III and Wiktor Grzesicki, followed by Stanisław Szeptycki and Zygmunt Zieliński.
“Today we are strong”
Polish legions alongside Austrians participated in bloody battles against the Russian army, including under Laski and Anielin, Molotkowo, Hunczówek, Jastkowo or Costa Rican. On 20 September 1916, the Austrian command transformed the Legions into the Polish Meal Corps, and in the spring of 1917 the central states began transforming the troops into the Polish Armed Forces (Polische Wehrmacht) under German command. It's over. so-called oath crisis in July 1917When most of the soldiers of the 1st and 3rd Brigades refused to curse allegiance to the emperors of Germany and Austria. Polish troops were partially disbanded, legionnaires interned in camps in Beniaminów and Szczypiorno, and Piłsudski in Magdeburg.
One of the Polish Legions infantry regiments.
On the another hand, soldiers of the 2nd Brigade who took the oath were handed over to the Austrian command as the Polish Meal Corps and directed to the east Front. However, news of central states Treaty of Brest with Ukrainewho assumed that she would be dismissed, among others. Chełmszow, Poles rebelled. Under Rarancza at night from 15 to 16 February 1918 under the leadership of Colonel Haller they broke through the front and joined the 2nd Polish Corps formed in Russia.
“Polish legions have become in the Second Republic and are inactive a symbol of the Polish conflict for independence,” says the historian. Through their ranks during the First War over 35–40 1000 soldiers. Many of them in the autumn of 1918 became the nucleus of the Polish Army built.
