In the face of the defeat of the Central Powers during the Great World War, the political parties operating in Poland began preparations to seize power from the German and Austro-Hungarian administrations. The Act was signed by the members of the Polish Regency Council established by Germany and Austria. It became the first announcement of the creation of democratic Poland after 123 years of partitions.
“The act of 7 October is a declaration of intent creating a certain legal reality and signalling the ambitions of Poles,” said Professor Przemysław Waingertner, a historian from the University of Łódź.
On 7 October 1918, on the initiative of Zdzisław Lubomirski (Member of the Regency Council), the Polish Declaration of Independence was published in the ‘Monitor Polski’, the official journal in which binding legal acts are being published today. The document was signed by all members of the Regency Council, the only Polish authority recognised internationally at the time and was the first proclamation of real political significance.
The Polish Declaration of Independence begins with the phrase to the Polish Nation: ‘The great hour, for which the whole Polish nation has waited with longing, is already ticking away’.
The chapters of popular history studies devoted to the process of regaining independence, focus on the important names of Józef Piłsudski, Roman Dmowski, Ignacy Jan Paderewski or Wincenty Witos. It is rarely mentioned that after all, the actual act of proclaiming Poland’s independence was signed by Prince Zdzisław Lubomirski (president of Warsaw), Cardinal Aleksander Kakowski and a conservative politician, Józef Ostrowski.
“It is important to realise that certain symbols, which can also be dated, are needed in social life. They focalise patriotic feelings. The date 11 November 1918 is one such symbol. However, it is also important to remember that regaining independence was a process. It did not begin and end on 11 November 1918. I think one can go much deeper into the years of the First World War,” said Prof. Waingertner.
The Declaration of Independence meant, in practice, the severance of all ties and any subordination to the states occupying the lands of the Polish Kingdom. By the Declaration of Independence of the Regency Council of the Kingdom of Poland, the Polish Government in Warsaw undertook actions related to the disarmament of the occupying forces and the assumption of military structures into the Polish Armed Forces. Therefore, in the light of the political facts, the formal day of independence is 7 October.
After Józef Piłsudski’s return to Poland from Magdeburg on 10th November, the Regency Council put the Marshal in charge of the army on 11th November, thus making him Minister of Military Affairs. This was the planned and expected course of events. By taking over from the Regency Council as Minister, Józef Piłsudski became one of the members of the Government of the Kingdom of Poland.
Even in the pre-war period, the 7 October date was considered to become the most important national holiday. But because it was promoted by the conservative movement at the time the initiative had not enough political power to change it into legislation. The final compromise was to celebrate Independence Day together with the 3 May Constitution celebrations.
That is why 7 October was never officially celebrated. The fact that the Regency Council was unpopular among Poles as a body that the partitioning states had called into existence was also significant.
It is important to know that the process of regaining independence for Poland was successful due to the loyal cooperation of many politicians, that were able to overcome their differences for the common cause.
Source: Dzieje.pl, Historia i Tradycja
Tomasz Modrzejewski
Photo: Wikipedia, public domain
