The History Of Poland As An Independent Nation
             Poland is a land of beautiful countryside and rapidly growing cities. Along with the colorful landscape, Poland also has a very colorful history. The 1795 partition of Poland among Russia, Prussia, and Austria wiped the nation from the map. Poland was controlled by Russia, Austria, and Germany, but after World War I Poland was an independent nation.
             In 1906 Josef Pilsudski, the founder of the Polish Socialist Party (PPS), set up organizations that attacked Tzarist officials and raided offices. In Galicia, the Austrian authorities turned a blind eye to the setting up of "sporting" clubs. They were followed by a Riflemen's Union. In 1912, Pilsudski reorganized these on military lines, and by 1914 there were 12,000 men under arms.
             When World War I broke out, the Polish people were divided into the armies of Germany, Austria, and Russia. They were forced to fight among themselves in a war that was not theirs. Poles sympathized for France and Austria but did not like fighting with them on the Russian's side. They also had little sympathy for the Germans. Pilsudki thought of Russia as the greater enemy and formed Polish Legions to fight independently for Austria. Some Galician Poles went to fight the Italians when they entered the war in 1915, preventing any clash of conscience. The Russians were driven out of most of Poland by 1915. The next year, Germany and Austria established a small Polish kingdom under their protection. Most of the fighting in the East took place in Poland.
             The Tzarist regime in Russia collapsed in 1917. The Poles main purpose for fighting with The Central Powers (Germany and Austria) disappeared. Germany and Austria promised Poland independence, but they were slow in carrying out their promise. Pilsudski's Legions were required to swear allegiance to Germany but refused to do it. Because of this, Pilsudski's wa...