Poland’s National Independence Day

Poland’s National Independence Day (Polish: Narodowe Święto Niepodległości) is celebrated on 11 November. It is a public holiday and a day off work, commemorating the restoration of Poland’s independence in 1918 after 123 years of partitions.

Historical background

Poland disappeared from the map of Europe as a result of the three partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1772, 1793 and 1795) between the Russian Empire, Prussia and Austria. During the First World War the partitioning powers weakened and collapsed. The process of restoring statehood unfolded gradually:

• On 7 October 1918 the Regency Council proclaimed independence.
• On 7 November a Provisional People’s Government of the Republic of Poland was formed in Lublin under Ignacy Daszyński.
• On 10 November Józef Piłsudski arrived in Warsaw, having been released from German imprisonment in Magdeburg.
• On 11 November 1918 the Regency Council handed military authority and supreme command of the Polish forces to Piłsudski. On the same day the Armistice of Compiègne was signed, ending the First World War.
• On 14 November the Regency Council transferred full civil authority to him and then dissolved itself.

The date of 11 November became symbolic precisely because it coincided with the transfer of military power to Piłsudski and the end of the war.

Main figures (“Fathers of Independence” / Ojcowie Niepodległości)

The six figures most commonly named are leaders who represented different political currents but united around the goal of restoring the state:

• Józef Piłsudski – the central figure. Military leader, commander of the Polish Legions, organiser of the underground Polish Military Organisation. On 11 November 1918 he took military power, became Head of State (Naczelnik Państwa) and played a key role in the war against the Bolsheviks (1919–1921).
• Roman Dmowski – leader of the National Democrats (Narodowa Demokracja), diplomat. He represented Poland at the Paris Peace Conference and favoured cooperation with the Entente.
• Ignacy Jan Paderewski – world-famous pianist and politician. He conducted diplomatic work in the United States, helped secure the inclusion of Polish independence in Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points”, and later became prime minister.
• Ignacy Daszyński – socialist, head of the Provisional Government in Lublin.
• Wincenty Witos – leader of the peasant movement (Polish People’s Party).
• Wojciech Korfanty – Silesian activist who played an important role in the struggle to incorporate Upper Silesia into Poland.

Piłsudski remains the most recognisable symbol of the day.

Since when has it been celebrated?

• Military ceremonies were already held in 1919–1920 (especially from 1920 onwards).
• In 1926 Piłsudski, as prime minister, made 11 November a day off for state officials.
• The holiday was officially established by the law of 23 April 1937. Before the Second World War it was officially observed only twice (1937 and 1938).
• After the war the communist authorities abolished the holiday (law of 22 July 1945) and replaced it with the “National Day of Poland’s Rebirth” on 22 July (commemorating the PKWN Manifesto of 1944).
• The holiday was restored by a Sejm law of 15 February 1989 and has been a national holiday again ever since.

Today, 11 November is marked across Poland with parades, wreath-laying ceremonies, marches, concerts and other events.