Picture above: Józef Piłsudski, the founding father of the reborn Poland
An article in Vatican’s daily “Complicated Mozaic called Poland” analyses the rebirth of Poland after 123 years of partition. Independence came after constant struggle and suffering, as witnessed by two major uprisings and participation in the First World War.
For decades Poland had been the “Christ among nations” as the poet Adam Mickiewicz called it. But in 1918 the age of the poets ended and Poland was present in history on its own terms
According to the Vatican’s emissary to Poland, later Pope Pius XI, Józef Piłsudski, the Polish commander who was the founding father of the reborn Poland was “a Polish Garibaldi”, a national idol.
He had no illusions about the difficult task of bringing the country together after occupation by three separate partition powers and having to deal with territorial disputes with the Germans, Russians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians and Czechs. He made the maintenance of armed forces a top priority, as there was no ally Poland could rely on.
In 1918 the most important thing was the rebirth of Poland. For decades Poland had been the “Christ among nations” as the poet Adam Mickiewicz called it. But in 1918 the age of the poets ended and Poland was present in history on its own terms.
