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| 1917 | |
| history of poland 1795–1918 | |
| polish-german relations | |
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Initially supporting the Central Powers against Imperial Russia , Piłsudski wanted to defeat one of the Partitioning Powers with the hands of the two remaining states, the Austria-Hungary and Germany . However, after the Russian defeat in The Great War it became clear that the Central Powers were in no position to guarantee the independence of Poland . Despite the Act Of November 5th of 1916 and the creation of Kingdom Of Poland , it was clear that the newly-created state would not become anything more than a puppet buffer state of Germany, a part of its Mitteleuropa plan. Piłsudski then decided to switch sides and gain the support of the Entente for the cause of Polish independence. A good pretext appeared in July of 1917 , when the Central Powers demanded that the soldiers of the Polish Legions swore allegiance and obedience to the Kaiser . Following the inspiration of Józef Piłsudski, the majority of the soldiers of the 1st and 3rd Brigades of the Legions declined to pass the oath. The citizens of Austria-Hungary (roughly 3000) were then forcibly drafted into the Austro-Hungarian Army or the Polnische Wehrmacht , demoted to privates and sent to Italian Front , while people born in other parts of occupied Poland were interned in Prisoner Of War camps in Szczypiorno and Beniaminów . Approximately 7500 soldiers were joined with the rump Polish Auxiliary Corps . Piłsudski himself was interned in a German fortress in Magdeburg . SEE ALSO |
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