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Polish Legions in World War I

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Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox military unit The Polish Legions (Template:Langx) was a name of the Polish military force (the first active Polish army in generations)<ref name="Biskupski">Template:Cite book</ref> established in August 1914 in Galicia soon after World War I erupted between the opposing alliances of the Triple Entente on one side (comprising the British Empire, the French Republic and the Russian Empire) and the Central Powers on the other side, comprising the German Empire and Austria-Hungary.<ref name=Willmott15>Template:Cite book</ref> The Legions became "a founding myth for the creation of modern Poland" in spite of their considerably short existence;<ref name="Biskupski"/> they were replaced by the Polish Auxiliary Corps (Template:Langx) formation on 20 September 1916, merged with Polish II Corps in Russia on 19 February 1918 for the Battle of Rarańcza against Austria-Hungary, and disbanded following the military defeat at the Battle of Kaniów in May 1918,<ref name="WIEM">WIEM Encyklopedia (2015), Polski Korpus Posiłkowy at PortalWiedzy.onet.pl Template:In lang</ref> against Imperial Germany. General Haller escaped to France to form the Polish army in the West against the anti-Polish German-Bolshevik treaty.<ref name="TWM">Template:Cite book</ref>

The Legions took part in many battles against the forces of the Imperial Russia, both in Galicia and in the Carpathian Mountains. They suffered heavy casualties outnumbered three to one in the Battle of Łowczówek. They captured Kielce, and in 1915 took part in the offensive on Warsaw. In June 1916 the unit had approximately 25,000 soldiers.<ref name="Biskupski"/> Both the number of troops and the composition of units changed rapidly. After the Battle of Kostiuchnówka where 2,000 Polish soldiers died delaying a Russian offensive, Józef Piłsudski demanded that the Central Powers issue a guarantee of independence for Poland and partially succeeded.<ref name="BU251">Template:Cite book</ref> The Polish Legions became the Polish Auxiliary Corps. After the Act of 5th November of 1916 which pronounced the creation of the puppet Kingdom of Poland of 1916–18, the Polish Legions were transferred under German command. However, most of the members refused to swear allegiance to the German Kaiser and were interned in Beniaminów and Szczypiorno (the Oath crisis). Approximately 3,000 of them were drafted into the Austro-Hungarian army and sent to the Italian Front while approximately 7,500 stayed in the Polish Auxiliary Corps, part of the failed German Polnische Wehrmacht.Template:Fact

HistoryEdit

According to Prit Buttar, "When war broke out, Piłsudski was quick to recognize that an important preliminary step in Poland's path to independence was the defeat of tsarist Russia... Piłsudski was no supporter of the Central Powers, and once Russia had been driven out of Polish territory, he believed that he and his fellow Poles would have to persuade the Germans and Austro-Hungarians to leave too, but he held secret meetings with representatives of France and Great Britain to make clear to the western members of the Entente that Polish troops would never fight against them, only against Russia."<ref name="rlg">Template:Cite book</ref>

The formation of the Legions was declared by Józef Piłsudski in his order of 22 August 1914. The Austrian government, having jurisdiction over the area, officially agreed to the formation on 27 August 1914.Template:Fact

The unit became an independent formation of the Austro-Hungarian Army thanks to the efforts of the KSSN and the Polish members of the Austrian parliament. Personnel came mostly from former members of various scouting organizations, including Drużyny Strzeleckie and Związek Strzelecki, as well from as volunteers from all around the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Initially, the Polish Legions were composed of two legions: the Eastern and the Western Legion, both formed on 27 August. After a Russian victory in the Battle of Galicia (August–September 1914) the Eastern Polish legion refused to fight on behalf of the Austro-Hungarian side against Russia and was disbanded on 21 September. On 19 December, the Western legion was transformed into three brigades: the I Brigade of the Polish Legions under Józef Piłsudski, formed in mid-December; the II Brigade of the Polish Legions under Józef Haller de Hallenburg, formed between mid-December and March (sources vary); and the III Brigade of the Polish Legions under Zygmunt Zieliński (later Bolesław Roja), formed on 8 May 1915. All brigades had the following:

  • Artillery Battalions with served with I, II, and III Brigade
  • Cavalry Regiments: 1st served in I Brigade; 2nd served in II Brigade; 3rd served in III Brigade
  • Infantry Regiments: 1st, 5th, 7th served in I Brigade; 2nd, 3rd served in II Brigade; 4th served in both II and III Brigades; 5th, 6th served in III Brigade.

The commanders of the Legions were consecutively: Gen. Karol Trzaska-Durski (September 1914 – February 1916), Gen. Stanisław Puchalski (until November 1916), Col. Stanisław Szeptycki (until April 1917), and Col. Zygmunt Zieliński (until August 1917). After the war ended the officers of the Polish Legions became the backbone of the Polish Army. {{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other

BattlesEdit

Below is a list of prominent Polish battles against the Imperial Russian Army in 1914Template:Ndash16, leading to victories in most cases, with notable exceptions especially during the Brusilov Offensive of 1916.

Notable officers who served in the Polish LegionsEdit

Following the foundation of the Second Polish Republic, many served in the Polish Army, and held political as well as elected offices.

Polish Legions' prominent membersEdit

Polish Legions' EmblemsEdit

  • Sztandar Legionów ofiarowany przez Węgrów.jpg

    1914 Polish Legions' banner donated by the Hungarians

  • Marek z chorągwią ofiarowaną przez Węgrów, 1914.jpg

    1914 Standard-bearer Marek with a banner donated by the Hungarians.

  • Sztandar ufundowany przez Komitet Obrony Narodowej w Ameryce (22-187).jpg

    1915 Polish Legion banner embroidered by Polish women from Chicago, funded by the National Defense Committee in America and brought by Aleksander Dębski.

  • Oficerowie chorągwi 3 pp LP, 1917.jpg

    1917 banner officers by the highlander delegation of the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legions.

  • Defilada 4 pułku piechoty LP.jpg

    4th Infantry Regiment POlish Legion

  • Chorągiew 4 Pułku Piechoty (Legiony Polskie).jpg

    Banner of the 4th Infantry Regiment (Polish Legions)

  • Sztandar ofiarowany Armii Polskiej we Francji przez mieszkańców Filadelfii NAC 1-H-292.jpg

    1918 Banner donated to the Polish Army in France by the citizens of Philadelphia.

  • Odznaka II Brygady Legionów Polskich.jpg

    Badge of the 2nd Brigade of the Polish Legions.

  • Odznaka szkoły podchorążych LP.jpg

    Badge of the Polish Legions cadet school.

  • Odznaka 1 Kompanii Kadrowej.JPG

    Badge of the 1st Cadre Company

  • Odznaka 1pułleg.jpg

    1st Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legion

  • Odznaka 2 pułku uł LP.jpg

    2nd Uhlan Regiment of the Polish Legions

  • Odznaka 3pp LP.jpg

    3rd Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legion

  • 4 Pułk Piechoty-odznaka.jpg

    4th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legion

  • Odznaka 5 pułku piechoty Legionów.jpg

    5th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legion

  • Odznaka 6pp LP.jpg

    6th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legion

  • Odznaka 15 pp.jpg

    15th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legion

  • Odznaka uczestnictwa w szarży pod Rokitną.jpg

    Badge of participation in the charge of Rokitna

See alsoEdit

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External linksEdit

Notes and referencesEdit

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