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Polnische Wehrmacht




The Polnische Wehrmacht was created on April 10 , 1917 , as a result of the Act Of November 5th of 1916 and the creation of Kingdom Of Poland . The backbone of the formation were the soldiers of the Polish Legions fighting together with the Austro-Hungarian Army against Russia. Most of the soldiers of that formation were to be transferred to the new unit under German command.

However, as a result of the Oath Crisis of July 1917 most of the soldiers of the Polish Legions denied to pledge loyalty to the German Kaiser . Approximately 15 000 of them were interned in internment camps in Beniaminów and Szczypiorno , while almost 3 000 were drafted to the Austro-Hungarian Army .

As a result, the planned force of 50 000 had only 2 775 soldiers, mostly untrained recruits from Central Poland. After the command of the unit was passed to the Polish Regency Council 19 October , 1918 the number soon reached 9 000. After Poland declared her independence on November 11 , 1918 , the Polnische Wehrmacht became part of the newly-formed Polish Army .

The titular commander of the unit was general-governor Hans Hartwig Von Beseler , while the actual commander was General der Infanterie Felix Von Barth .


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