Lublin Gains Independence in November 1918. The Military Aspect

Abstract

The territory of the Lublin region at the turn of October and November 1918 was occupied by two countries – Germany (southern Podlasia) and Austria. Lublin was the see of the general Austrian governor. With regard to the military aspect the taking over of power in Lublin was decisive for the recapture of independence in the territory of the Austrian partition. The key role in this action was played by the Polish Military Organisation (Pol. POW), the organisation then in conspiracy, and a battalion of the Polish Armed Forces earlier under German command; the battalion arrived in Lublin in the beginning of November 1918. Soldiers and officers then in the Austrian army had also declared their intention of joining the Polish army; they were released from their oath by virtue of the Austrian head of the armed forces. In the first days of November 1918 the Polish army took over bloodlessly a complete control of Lublin. At that time the Poles from the Austrian army, remaining in the remaining garrisons of Austrian occupation, established Polish authorities with the support of the local cells of POW. In Podlasia the situation was more complicated because Germans were not willing to hand down power in garrisons, despite the fact that war activities had ended in Europe on 11^th November 1918. Military clashes, often bloody, erupted (Międzyrzec Podlaski). The eastern administrative units of Podlasia as late as January 1919 came under Polish jurisdiction after the German army had completely evacuated the Ukraine and moved by train from Briest to East Prussia.