With the war that set the countries of the tri-pact (Austro-Hungary, Germany and Italy) and the countries of tri-treaty (England France and Russia) against each other, Poland associated hopes for independence. They had a dilemma, however: which of the countries had the biggest chances of success? Which of the occupants will be able to unify the Polish lands? Endecja put their money on Russia, claiming that Germany is the biggest threat for Poland: the Slavic culture may only be protected efficiently by the Russian tsar, which will grant the unified Polish lands wide autonomy. PPS and PSL were ready to fight against Austro-Hungary by the side of Russia. J. Piłsudski creating the Union of Active Combat in 1908, assumed that with the help of Austria he will be able to evoke a rebellion in the Kingdom of Poland, which will be the center for a revived country. Russia, Austro-Hungary and Germany treated Poland as a instrument, and at the beginning of the war made doubtful promises of freedom and unification, but England and France treated Poland as an internal matter of their ally – tsar of Russia. When the Germans suffered failure in the east in 1916 and in 1917 the February revolution in Russia broke out Poland’s help was in need. Despite problems and confusion, the Polish were ready to fight for independence. In the middle of August 1914 Polish Legions have been created. The cadre company formed by J. Piułsudzki was the ovule of the Legions. The company from August 6th 1914 fought in the Kingdom of Poland. The Legions which number amounted to 15 thousand soldiers were constituted out of 3 brigades – led by J. Piułsudzki, lieutenant J. Haller and lieutenant S. Szeptycki. They were dissolved in 1817 after J. Piłsudski backed out of cooperation with the central countries. On the territories of the Kingdom of Poland in 1914 J. Piułsudski formed the Polish Military Organization (POW), which fought against Russia, and after the promise crisis it came out against Austria and Germany. T. Żuliński was the first commander of POW, at the end of the war the function has been held by lieutenant E. Rydz – Śmigły. By the Russian side (may-July 1915) the Polish fought in the so called Legion of Puławy, formed by the initiative of lieutenant W. Gorczyński; in 1916 it was transformed into the Polish Shooting Brigade. After the February revolution, and the fall of the czarism, the Temporary Parliament in Russia gave permission to form an army consisted of Polish soldiers fighting in the Russian army. It included 3 corps and 24 thousand soldiers. The most tragic fate happened to the II corps which was smashed by Germany in the bloody battle of Kniów in May 1918. In the middle of 1917 the president of France allowed forming an army consisted of Polish emigrants who lived in France, USA and Canada, as well as Polish prisoners, former soldiers of the central countries. J.Haller became the commander of the army.
The failure of Germany and Austro-Hungary, the victory of the revolution and Russia’s retreat from the war, the Polish military effort, diplomatic steps on the international arena and the activity of Polish power centers caused, even before signing the treaty in Verse, the Polish country to revive after 123 year of captivity.
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Origin of Poland. The early feudal monarchy in Poland (10th -12th century) | The unification and restoration of the country in the 14th century. | The Jagiellonian age | The 17th century – 100 years of war | Poland in the age of collapse. | Loss of independence | I World War | Poland revived 1918 - 1939 | II World War | 1945-1989