Founding Meeting of the Polish National Committee

Karolina — Wed, 11 May 2022 11:02:52 +0000

During the First World War, the Polish independence milieus disagreed on geopolitical choices and decided to support different European powers. Roman Dmowski, the leader of the National Democracy (Narodowa Demokracja, ND), wanted to strive for autonomy within the Russian Empire so before the outbreak of the war, he supported the Triple Entente that was the alliance of the Russian Empire, the French Third Republic and Great Britain. In contrast, Józef Piłsudski, the leader of the left-wing independence movement, opted for the Central Powers, fighting alongside Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In November 1914, the National Democracy members with other conservative pro-Russian activists established the Polish National Committee (Komitet Narodowy Polski, KNP) calling for a fight against Germany that was considered one of the greatest enemies of Poland. The committee tried to form the independent Polish army, called the Puławy Legion (Legion Puławski), but the undertaking failed due to the lack of commitment of the Russian authorities that only limited themselves to hasty declarations about the future unification of Polish territories.

The following year, the German offensive led to the occupation of Warsaw. In this situation, the committee members and supporters decided to move to Russia. From 1916, when Russia started to grow weaker, Dmowski believed that it was necessary to focus on the Western allies. Therefore, he launched a campaign in France and Great Britain to restore independence in Poland.

After the February Revolution in Russia, Dmowski and his co-workers and allies established the Polish National Committee on 15 August 1917 in Lausanne. Dmowski became the president, and the members included, among others, the conservative Erazm Piltz or count Maurycy Zamoyski, one of the wealthiest Poles who financed the activities of the organisation. Another important member was the pianist and future Prime Minister of Poland Ignacy Jan Paderewski, who was engaged in the work for the compatriots in the United States.

The Polish National Committee became a body that was recognised by the Entente as a political partner and representative of the Poles in international affairs. On the committee’s initiative, the Polish Army, also called the Blue Army because of the colour of the uniforms, was formed in France. It included about 100,000 soldiers and was directed by General Józef Haller. In the autumn of 1918, through the agency of the committee, Chief of State Piłsudski earned international recognition for the state that was being restored. Moreover, the committee members, along with the representatives of the government in Warsaw formed the Polish delegation that was sent to the Peace Conference held in Paris in 1919.

Józef Piłsudski’s address to troops of the Riflemen’s Association and the Polish Rifle Squads

Karolina — Wed, 11 May 2022 11:02:22 +0000

The Republic of Poland lost its independence in the 18th century as a result of 3 partitions of its territory conducted by its neighbors —Russia, Prussia, and Austria —in 1772, 1792 (only Russia and Prussia), and 1795. The 3rd partition whiped Poland off the map. Throughout the 19th century Poles made numerous attempts to reinstate their homeland’s independence, fighting for it on Napoleon’s side, staging uprisings, and conducting diplomatic campaigns. None of those actions suceeded, however, as the three enemy empires solidarily combated the Polish pro-independence efforts. The situation did not change until the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when 2 beligerent military blocs formed in Europe: the Triple Alliance (Italy, Austria-Hungary, and Germany) and the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, and Russia). As Poland’s opressors found themselves on opposite sides, it is no wonder that they began seeking Poland’s support in the upcoming war. Poles enjoyed the most freedom in Galicia, Austria. In that region, which had been autonomous since the 1860s, Poles developed their culture and science and also held the highest political positions. Permitted to establish paramilitary organizations to conduct military training, Galician Poles eagerly used that opportunity, with the Rifleman and the Riflemen’s Associations active in that sphere. Other organizations of that kind included Bartosz Squads (Drużyny Bartoszowe) and the Polish Rifle Squads (Polskie Drużyny Strzeleckie). As those formations could not, however, openly promote Polish independence, the pro-independence structures were formed in the underground, with the most important of them being the Union of Armed Combat (Związek Walki Czynnej) controlled by Józef Piłsudski.

When the war broke out Piłsudski ordered mobilization of the Rifleman, the Riflemen’s Associations, and the Polish Rifle Squads. He called that new joint organization the First Cadre Company (Pierwsza Kompania Kadrowa), assuming that it would become the cadre of the future Polish Army. Piłsudski became the commander of that 144-man-strong detachment. On 6 August 1914 the First Cadre Company crossed the Austrian-Russian border and entered the Polish territories appropriated by Russia in the 18th century. Piłsudski intended to spark off a general anti-Russian uprising. His plan failed though as the uprising did not break out and the Company was liquidated. In autumn Józef Piłsudski became the commander of Brigade I of the Polish Legions — another military formation organised within the Austro-Hungarian Army. The Legions fought against Russia until 1917, when they were reorganized. Piłsudski was imprisoned by the Germans. Released in November 1918, he became the Chief of State in reborn Poland.

First Cadre Company departure / the National Digital Archives

World War I – Polish Freedom

Founding Meeting of the Polish National Committee

Józef Piłsudski’s address to troops of the Riflemen’s Association and the Polish Rifle Squads