Post by kaima on Apr 25, 2008 22:59:13 GMT -7
www.univ.rzeszow.pl/WW1/Polish%20Legions/Polish%20Legions.html
Some old references led me to this site, so I hope to pass on the opportunity to refresh this history ... For teh full story go to
www.univ.rzeszow.pl/WW1/IntroductionWW1.html
Polish Legions
In the years immediately before World War I Józef Piłsudski, the future founder of the Second Polish Republic, became a leading figure who linked and helped several military and paramilitary groups, one of which was his Galician riflemen's association. He believed that Poles should play an active role in the war if the war should lead to Poland's independence. For Pilsudski the main enemy was Russia, and on August 6th 1914 he led his riflemen across the border of Russian Poland, transferring the private club into an irregular military unit
His tiny army took the name Polish Legion (First Brigade), evoking memories of the Polish Legions of the Napoleonic wars. Following the efforts by Wladyslaw Sikorski, on 19th August 1914 a decision was taken to establish three Polish Legions of volunteers. The Legions were to be armed by the Austrians and to take an oath to the Austrian crown. Pilsudski was forced to accept the situation. Their first task was to liberate their homeland, Russian-occupied Galicia, and we see at postcards the Legions in action in the Carpathians. At the end of 1916 Legions were transformed into the Polish Auxiliary Corps commanded by Colonel Stanislaw Szeptycki under direct Austrian control. This put an end to this stage of the armed struggle for independence.
Polish Legion in the Carpathians
much to my disappointment it seems the post card photos are not able to be shown directly here.... so please go to
www.univ.rzeszow.pl/WW1/Polish%20Legions/index.html
for the index.
www.univ.rzeszow.pl/WW1/Content.html
