Józef Piłsudski in the history of Poland and Europe. Introduction to the biography
Józef Piłsudski in the history of Poland and Europe. Introduction to the biography

Summary/Abstract: This article describes the life of Józef Piłsudski, the marshal of the Second Polish Republic, and his role in regaining independence by Poland in 1918, as well as his impact on Polish politics in the interwar period. His activity made him the symbol of Poland’s independence and one of the most important and popular personalities in the whole history of Poland.Writing about Józef Piłsudski’s early years, the author concentrates on the elements which had an influence on his education and behavior and also his further struggle for Poland’s independence. Before gaining the most important role in Poland’s way to independence, Piłsudski spent five years in Siberia for having plotted against Tsar Alexander. He got also involved in the activity of the Polish Socialist Party. Immediately after the outbreak of I World War, he started forming Polish Legions that fought on the front until 1916. Józef Piłsudski assumed the role of the leader during the reinstallation of Polish authorities from November 1918 and the one of the chief commander during the conflicts with the Ukrainian People's Republic, the West Ukrainian People's Republic and the Red Army. The last conflict and the success in the Battle of Warsaw had a crucial influence on stopping Bolsheviks’ march towards Western Europe. In May 1926 he conducted the coup which led to 379 victims, a fact which he regretted until his death, in 1935. Józef Piłsudski had the main role in shaping interwar Polish borders, army, diplomacy (alliances with France and Romania), as well as in internal politics. His closest collaborators were in charge of Poland until September 1939.

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