The 3rd Convention of the Polish Legions Association; 9-10 August 1924, Lublin

Abstract

Demobilized soldiers of the 1914-1918 war were not satisfied with their material status. At the beginning attempts at uniting the combatants of particular formations from the time World War I had a friendly and mutual aid character. With the passage of time a legend of the soldiers' and their commanders' acts was born and consolidated. In the case of the Legions' soldiers the situation was similar. This was complemented with Marshal Piłsudski's soldiers' general dissatisfaction when he was depraved of any influence on the state and the army after 1921. The Polish Legions Association (ZLP) established in 1922 only for a short time remained a non-political organization. Dissatisfaction with the political situation in Poland could already be seen during the 2^nd Convention of the Association that took place in Lvov on 5-6 August 1923.

The next convention, organized in Lublin, was already an attempt at consolidating the ranks for a struggle against the rule of parliamentary democration. In the period preceding the Convention the ZLP branches in the Lublin Province became active; also the Rifle Club intensified its activity. Numerous initiatives were launched before the convention started. Dissatisfaction with the existing situation was loudly manifested by the Lublin organization of the Polish Socialist Party.

The 3^rd Convention took place on 9-10 August 1924. The Polish Legions soldiers' complicity and their insufficient activity were mentioned in connection with Marshal Piłsudski being debarred from the Army. The Legions' battles in the Lublin Province in 1915 were reminded. For this reason the battlefield and military cemetary in Jastków were included in the celebrations. During the Convention days it was declared to the whole country that the Association joins Poland's political life. Nearly two years later the ideology accepted by Józef Piłsudski's supporters during the Convention resulted in an armed coup that was the beginning of the “Sanacja” system that lasted till September 1939.