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A photo of J贸zef Pi艂sudski by Witold Pikiel –

Top 10 Incredible Facts about J贸zef Pi艂sudski 

J贸zef Pi艂sudski was born on 5 December 1867 and died on 12 May 1935. He was a Polish statesman who served as the Chief of State from 1918 to 1922. He served as the First Marshal of Poland from 1920.

He was considered the de facto leader of the Second Polish Republic as the Minister of Military Affairs from 1925 to 1935. After World War I, he held increasing dominance in Polish politics and was an active player in international diplomacy. in the article are the top ten incredible facts about J贸zef Klemens Pi艂sudski.

1. Pi艂sudski believed in a multi-ethnic Poland

J贸zef Pi艂sudski photo by an Unknown author –

Pi艂sudski saw himself as a descendant of the culture and traditions of the Polish鈥揕ithuanian Commonwealth. This is why Pi艂sudski believed in a multi-ethnic Poland which was a home of nations. The home of nations to be exclusive included all indigenous ethnic and religious minorities in Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

2. He was once a leader of the Polish Socialist Party

The Polish Socialist Party is a socialist political party in Poland. It was one of the most important parties in Poland from its inception in 1892 until its merger with the communist Polish Workers’ Party to form the Polish United Workers’ Party in 1948.

J贸zef Pi艂sudski, the founder of the Second Polish Republic, belonged to and later led the PPS in the early 20th century. He believed that Poland’s independence would be won militarily and so he formed the Polish Legions.

3. He is the father of the Second Polish Republic

J贸zef Pi艂sudski photo by K. P臋cherski –

On 11 November 1918, Pi艂sudski was appointed Commander in Chief of Polish forces by the Regency Council and was entrusted with creating a national government for the newly independent country.

On 11 November 1918 was when he proclaimed an independent Polish state. He advocated for a coalition government instead of a socialist government. He was successful in convincing the German troops to leave Poland where they left their weapons to the Poles.

4. Pi艂sudski was very deliberate in his decision-making

According to Wac艂aw J臋drzejewicz, a Polish Army officer, diplomat, politician and historian, and an American college professor, Pi艂sudski was very deliberate in his decision-making. Pi艂sudski collected all available pertinent information, then took his time weighing it before arriving at a final decision.

5. He offered to be a scapegoat in the Polish-Soviet War

J贸zef Pi艂sudski photo by an Unknown author –

The White Russian representatives of the old Russian Empire were willing to accept limited independence for Poland, probably within borders similar to those of the former Congress of Poland. They objected to Polish control of Ukraine, which was crucial for Pi艂sudski’s Intermarium project.

The Bolsheviks proclaimed the partitions of Poland null and void. Pi艂sudski speculated that Poland would be better off with the Bolsheviks, alienated from the Western powers, than with a restored Russian Empire.

Marshal Pi艂sudski signed a military alliance called the Treaty of Warsaw with Ukrainian leader Symon Petliura. The goal of the Polish-Ukrainian Treaty was to establish an independent Ukraine and an independent Poland. The treaty allowed both countries to conduct joint operations against Soviet Russia.

When the coalition army of Poland and Ukraine attacked Russian forces, the Bolshevik leadership framed the Polish actions as an invasion. The Soviets then launched a counter-offensive from Belarus, and counterattacked in Ukraine, advancing into Poland. The Polish-Ukrainian army was defeated under Pi艂sudski as the commander in Chief.

Poland’s parliament, the Sejm, formed a Council for Defense of the Nation, chaired by Pi艂sudski to find solutions to the Russian counter in the war. Instead, Pi艂sudski was accused of the failure and demanded that he resign; some even accused him of treason.

On 19 July they failed to carry a vote of no-confidence in the council and this led to Dmowski’s withdrawal from the Council. On 12 August, Pi艂sudski tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Wincenty Witos, offering to be the scapegoat if the military solution failed, but Witos refused to accept his resignation.

6. Pi艂sudski’s Vistula plan which was criticized caused a miracle

Mikhail Tukhachevsky photo by an Unknown author –

Pi艂sudski’s plan called for Polish forces to withdraw across the Vistula River and to defend the bridgeheads at Warsaw and on the Wieprz River while some 25% of the available divisions concentrated to the south for a counteroffensive.

Pi艂sudski’s plan was criticized as amateurish by high-ranking army officers and military experts, quick to point out Pi艂sudski’s lack of formal military education. However, the desperate situation of the Polish forces persuaded other commanders to support it.

When a copy of the plan was acquired by the Soviets, Western Front commander Mikhail Tukhachevsky thought it was a ruse and disregarded it. Days later, the Soviets were defeated in the Battle of Warsaw, halting the Soviet advance in one of the worst defeats for the Red Army.

7. Gabriel Narutowicz got assassinated instead of Pi艂sudski

Gabriel Narutowicz photo by an Unknown author –

The Polish Constitution of March 1921 severely limited the powers of the presidency to intentionally prevent Pi艂sudski from waging war. This caused Pi艂sudski to decline to run for the office.

On 9 December 1922, the Polish National Assembly elected Gabriel Narutowicz of the Polish People’s Party “Wyzwolenie”; his election, opposed by the right-wing parties, caused public unrest.

Therefore On 14 December at the Belweder Palace, Pi艂sudski officially transferred his powers as Chief of State to his friend Narutowicz who replaced Naczelnik as president.

Two days later, on 16 December 1922, Narutowicz was shot dead by a right-wing painter and art critic, Eligiusz Niewiadomski, who had originally wanted to kill Pi艂sudski but had changed his target, influenced by National Democrat anti-Narutowicz propaganda.

8. Pi艂sudski refused the office due to the presidency’s limited powers in 1926

J贸zef Pi艂sudski photo by an Unknown author –

The Polish Constitution of March 1921 severely limited the powers of the presidency to intentionally prevent Pi艂sudski from waging war. So, after he came back to politics, the Sejm elected Pi艂sudski president of the Republic, but Pi艂sudski refused the office due to the presidency’s limited powers.

Another of his old friends, Ignacy Mo艣cicki, was elected in his stead. Mo艣cicki then appointed Pi艂sudski as Minister of Military Affairs, a post he held for the rest of his life through eleven successive governments.

9. Pi艂sudski’s religious views are a matter of debate

Pi艂sudski was baptized Roman Catholic on 15 December 1867 in the church of Powiewi贸rka. His godparents were Joseph and Constance Martsinkovsky Ragalskaya. On 15 July 1899, at the village of Papro膰 Du偶a, near 艁om偶a, he married Maria Juskiewicz, a divorc茅e.

As the Catholic Church did not recognize divorces, she and Pi艂sudski converted to Protestantism. Pilsudski later returned to the Catholic Church to marry Aleksandra Szczerbi艅ska.

Pi艂sudski and Aleksandra could not get married as Pi艂sudski’s wife Maria refused to divorce him. It was only after Maria’s death in 1921 that they were married, on 25 October of the same year.

10. Edward Rydz-艢mig艂y became Inspector-General of Polish Forces because of Pi艂sudski

On 13 May 1935, by Pi艂sudski’s last wishes, Edward Rydz-艢mig艂y was named by Poland’s president and government to be Inspector-General of the Polish Armed Forces, and on 10 November 1936, he was elevated to Marshal of Poland.