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Polish Legions in World War I

{{Short description|Austro-Hungarian military unit}}

{{About|Polish Legions on the Eastern Front in World War I|Polish Legions on the Western Front in World War I|Blue Army (Poland)|other units named the Polish Legions|Polish Legions (disambiguation)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = Polish Legions

| native_name = Legiony Polskie

| image = File:Map Europe alliances 1914-en.svg{{Clear}}Europe in 1914, the Triple Alliance in brown

File:Kielce pilsudski.jpg{{Clear}}Col. Józef Piłsudski with his staff in front of the Governor's Palace in Kielce, 1914

File:Pilsudski and officers 1915.jpg{{Clear}}Col. Józef Piłsudski and his officers, 1915

File:Pilsudski in Otwock.jpg{{Clear}}Pilsudski in Otwock, 1915

File:Polish Legions II Brigade WWI in Volhynia.jpg{{Clear}}II Brigade of the Polish Legions in Volhynia {{circa}} 1915-16

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The Polish Legions ({{langx|pl|Legiony Polskie}}) was a name of the Polish military force (the first active Polish army in generations){{cite book |title=Independence Day: Myth, Symbol, and the Creation of Modern Poland |author=M.B.B. Biskupski |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HsvoAiBX7JwC&pg=PA9 |pages=9–11 |publisher=OUP Oxford |year=2012|isbn=978-0-19-965881-7 }} 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.{{cite book |last=Willmott |first=H.P. |year=2003 |title=World War I |location=New York |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |isbn=0-7894-9627-5 |oclc=52541937 |page=15}} The Legions became "a founding myth for the creation of modern Poland" in spite of their considerably short existence; they were replaced by the Polish Auxiliary Corps ({{langx|pl|Polski Korpus Posiłkowy}}) 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,WIEM Encyklopedia (2015), [http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/43664,,,,polski_korpus_posilkowy,haslo.html Polski Korpus Posiłkowy] at PortalWiedzy.onet.pl {{in lang|pl}} against Imperial Germany. General Haller escaped to France to form the Polish army in the West against the anti-Polish German-Bolshevik treaty.{{cite book |author=Spencer Tucker |author2=Laura Matysek Wood |author3=Justin D. Murphy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gv3GEyB19wIC&dq=Kani%C3%B3w+Brest&pg=RA1-PA332 |title=The European Powers in the First World War: An Encyclopedia |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1996 |isbn=0-8153-3351-X |via=Google Print |page=332}}

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. 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.{{cite book |last=Urbankowski |first=Bohdan |author-link=Bohdan Urbankowski |title=Józef Piłsudski: Marzyciel i strateg (Józef Piłsudski: Dreamer and Strategist) |volume=1–2 |year=1997 |publisher=Wydawnictwo ALFA |location=Warsaw |language=pl |isbn=978-83-7001-914-3 |pages=251–252}} 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.{{fact|date=January 2025}}

History

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."{{cite book |last1=Buttar |first1=Prit |title=Russia's Last Gasp: The Eastern Front 1916-17 |date=2017 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford |isbn=978-1-4728-2489-9 |page=192}}

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.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

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.

{{Infobox

| above = Operations of Polish Legions and the Puławy Legion

| image = 400px

}}

Battles

Below is a list of prominent Polish battles against the Imperial Russian Army in 1914{{ndash}}16, leading to victories in most cases, with notable exceptions especially during the Brusilov Offensive of 1916.

Notable officers who served in the Polish Legions

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

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Polish Legions' prominent members

File:Tomasz Arciszewski, foto z 1906 r..jpg|Tomasz Arciszewski

File:J Beck.jpg|Józef Beck

File:Zygmunt Berling.jpg|Zygmunt Berling

File:Wacław Kostek - Biernacki (22-52).jpg|Wacław Kostek - Biernacki

File:Tadeusz Brzeziński.jpg|Tadeusz Brzeziński

File:Walerian Czuma.jpg|Walerian Czuma

File:GenDabBier.jpg|Stefan Dąb-Biernacki

File:Hubal-portretowe-big.jpg|Henryk Dobrzański

File:GeneralDuch.jpg|Bronisław Duch

File:Gen. Karol Durski-Trzaska.jpg|Karol Durski-Trzaska

File:Generał August Emil Fieldorf.jpg|Emil Fieldorf

File:Jozef Haller.jpg|{{center|Józef Haller de Hallenburg who commanded II Brigade}}

File:Tadeusz Rozwadowski (1918).JPG|{{center|Tadeusz Jordan-Rozwadowski in an Austro-Hungarian military uniform, 1918}}

File:Kasprzycki Tadeusz.jpg|Tadeusz Kasprzycki

File:Kleeberg.jpg|Franciszek Kleeberg

File:Klimecki.jpg|{{center|Tadeusz Klimecki}}

File:Adam Koc.jpg|Adam Koc

File:Stefan Kossecki plk 1931.jpg|Stefan Kossecki

File:Marian Kozielewski.jpg|Marian Kozielewski

File:Julian Kulski.jpg|Julian Kulski

File:Józef Kustroń.jpg|Józef Kustroń

File:Kazimierz Mastalerz.jpg|{{center|Kazimierz Mastalerz}}

File:Henryk Minkiewicz (1880-1940).jpg|Henryk Minkiewicz

File:M.Norwid-Neugebauer.jpg|Mieczyslaw Norwid-Neugebauer who commanded 6th Regiment and 3rd Brigade

File:Okulicki.jpg|Leopold Okulicki who served in 3rd Legions Infantry Regiment

File:Gen.Orlicz-Dreszer.JPG|Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer

File:Wilhelm Orlik-Rückemann.PNG|Wilhelm Orlik-Rückemann

File:Antoni Pająk 1.JPG|Antoni Pająk

File:Witold Pilecki 1.JPG|Witold Pilecki

File:Tadeusz Piskor.jpg|Tadeusz Piskor

File:Belina1914.jpg|Władysław Belina-Prażmowski

File:Stanisław_Puchalski.jpg|Stanisław Puchalski

File:Władysław Raczkiewicz 1934.jpg|Władysław Raczkiewicz (President of Poland)

File:Tadeusz Różycki-Kołodziejczyk.jpg|Tadeusz Różycki-Kołodziejczyk

File:Rómmel Juliusz.jpg|Juliusz Rómmel

File:Stefan Rowecki - 1926.jpg|Stefan Rowecki

File:Waclaw Sieroszewski ca 1915 (161980903) (cropped).jpg|{{center|Waclaw Sieroszewski}}

File:Wladyslaw Sikorski 2.jpg|Władysław Sikorski

File:Skuratowicz Piotr.jpg|Piotr Skuratowicz

File:Edward Rydz-Smigly.jpg|Edward Rydz-Śmigły

File:Mieczyslaw Smorawinski.jpg|Mieczysław Smorawiński

File:Sosnkowski Kazimierz.jpg|Kazimierz Sosnkowski

File:Julian Stachiewicz.JPG|Julian Stachiewicz

File:Stachiewicz 1917.jpg|Wacław Stachiewicz in 1917, after the Oath Crisis

File:Stamirowski.jpg|Kazimierz Stamirowski

File:Stefan Starzyński Legiony 2.jpg|Stefan Starzyński

File:Szeptycki.jpg|{{center|Stanisław Szeptycki.}}

File:Thommee.jpg|Wiktor Thommée

File:Michał Karaszewicz.JPG|{{center|Michał Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski}}

File:Władysław Wejtko 2.jpg|{{center|Władysław Wejtko}}

File:Narcyz Witczak-Witaczyński - Gen. Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski (107-478-4).jpg|{{center|Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski}}

File:Józef Olszyna-Wilczyński.PNG|{{center|Józef Olszyna-Wilczyński}}

File:Włodzimierz Ostoja-Zagórski.jpg|{{center|Włodzimierz Zagórski (general)}}

File:Gen. Józef Zając.jpg|Józef Zając

File:Ferdynand Zarzycki (-1932).jpg|{{center|Ferdynand Zarzycki}}

File:Marian Januszajtis.jpg|{{center|Marian Januszajtis-Żegota}}

File:ZygmuntZieliński.jpg|{{center|Zygmunt Zieliński}}

File:Rola-Żymierski Michał.jpg|{{center|Michał Rola-Żymierski}}

Polish Legions' Emblems

File:Sztandar Legionów ofiarowany przez Węgrów.jpg|{{center|1914 Polish Legions' banner donated by the Hungarians

File:Marek z chorągwią ofiarowaną przez Węgrów, 1914.jpg|{{center|1914 Standard-bearer Marek with a banner donated by the Hungarians.

File:Sztandar ufundowany przez Komitet Obrony Narodowej w Ameryce (22-187).jpg|{{center|1915 Polish Legion banner embroidered by Polish women from Chicago, funded by the National Defense Committee in America and brought by Aleksander Dębski.

File:Oficerowie chorągwi 3 pp LP, 1917.jpg|{{center|1917 banner officers by the highlander delegation of the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legions.

File:Defilada 4 pułku piechoty LP.jpg|{{center|4th Infantry Regiment POlish Legion

File:Chorągiew 4 Pułku Piechoty (Legiony Polskie).jpg|{{center|Banner of the 4th Infantry Regiment (Polish Legions)

File:Sztandar ofiarowany Armii Polskiej we Francji przez mieszkańców Filadelfii NAC 1-H-292.jpg|{{center|1918 Banner donated to the Polish Army in France by the citizens of Philadelphia.

File:Odznaka II Brygady Legionów Polskich.jpg|{{center|Badge of the 2nd Brigade of the Polish Legions.

File:Odznaka szkoły podchorążych LP.jpg|{{center|Badge of the Polish Legions cadet school.

File:Odznaka 1 Kompanii Kadrowej.JPG|{{center|Badge of the 1st Cadre Company

File:Odznaka 1pułleg.jpg|{{center|1st Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legion

File:Odznaka 2 pułku uł LP.jpg|{{center|2nd Uhlan Regiment of the Polish Legions

File:Odznaka 3pp LP.jpg|{{center|3rd Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legion

File:4 Pułk Piechoty-odznaka.jpg|{{center|4th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legion

File:Odznaka 5 pułku piechoty Legionów.jpg|{{center|5th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legion

File:Odznaka 6pp LP.jpg|{{center|6th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legion

File:Odznaka 15 pp.jpg|{{center|15th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legion

File:Odznaka uczestnictwa w szarży pod Rokitną.jpg|{{center|Badge of participation in the charge of Rokitna

See also

{{Commons category|Polish Legions in World War I}}

External links

  • Centek, Jarosław: [https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/polish_legions Polish Legions], in: [https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/home/ 1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War].
  • Brudek, Paweł: [https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/polish_legions Polish Legionaries Union], in: [https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/home/ 1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War].

Notes and references

{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Polish Legions In World War I}}

Category:Military units and formations of Austria-Hungary in World War I

Category:Military units and formations established in 1914

Category:1914 establishments in Poland

Category:Józef Piłsudski