![[1916-1919 flag]](../images/p/pl-16.gif)
Last modified: 2018-12-15 by rob raeside
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by Jaume Ollé, 28 October 2001
With the German occupation of Poland (1915-1916), Marshall Hindenburg entered Warsaw in summer 1916 and later the German forces entered Galitzia. The Polish legions went over to the Germans and the Czar hastened to grant autonomy to the ancient Kingdom. Germany answered by proclaiming the independence of Poland from Russia, but not determining what kind of government had to take over the new country, that remained under a military occupation regime. Anyway, it was clear that the new Poland could only encompass the Russian territories, and perhaps the Austrian Galitzia, but it would not affect the Polish territories under Prussian administration.
Polish Kingdom (1917)
After some months the central powers agreed to create a Kingdom of
Poland and in September 1917 it was constituted a regency headed by the
archbishop of Warsaw Mgr A. Kakowski, the mayor of the capital, prince
Lubomirski, and Joseph Von Ostrowski. It was also appointed a cabinet with
limited powers for the country's civil administration, chaired by J. Kucharzewski, substituted in spring 1918 by Steczkowski, after the
peace treaty of the central Powers with Ukraine assigned to this country
the district of Kholm, that the Poles considered had to form part of Poland.
The new government pressed Germany to review the peace Treaty, obtaining
that part of Kholm returned to Poland.
Polish Republic (November 1918)
After the collapse of the German front in November 1918, the socialists
took the control of Krakow on 3 November and on 6 November the socialist
leader Dazynski proclaimed the Polish Peoples Republic in that town, then
heading a leftist government. This government took over part of the country,
but was later dissolved after Marshall Pilsudski assumed the control of
the country. The government of the regency, now headed by Moraczewski,
that controlled Warsaw and a part of the country, claimed the only representation
of Poland and thanks to the support of the Polish military forces under
the command of Marshall Pilsudski, managed to impose its authority in most
of the country. Pilsudski, after collaborating with the Germans, had broken
with them in July 1917, and was sent to Magdebourg, but returned in time.
On 14 November Pilsudski was proclaimed Chief of State. On 17 November
Poznan fell also under Polish control. The head of the National Council,
who was a refugee in Paris, returned to Warsaw, and substituted Moraczewski. The Polish
forces invaded Galitcia and took Lemberg (Lvov) on 23 November In February 1919 the Constituent Assembly was under the control of
the followers of Paderewski, and Pilsudski was confirmed as provisional
president. In November 1919 the Constituent Assembly approved the new Constitution.
The bicolor flag, white over red, flew in demonstrations in Warsaw on 3
May 1916. The government of the regency used de facto these colors but
did not adopt them officially. They were also used by the Polish National
Council in Paris (1916-18) and in Galicia (1917-1918). The Polish Republic
used also these colors and adopted them as national flag on 1 August 1919,
with the shade of red much darker that the current one. Same day were adopted
the arms. Flag was adopted by Republic (1 August 1919) as
civil land flag. Shade was fixed as crimson (later from crimson was
moved to cinnabar in 1928, and, 1980, to medium red). For the arms see
below
Jaume Ollé, 28 Oct 2001
![[National flag on land (1919)]](../images/p/pl-19.gif)
image
by Jaume Ollé, 28 Oct 2001
Adopted 1st August 1919, proportions 5:8
Same law dated 1 August 1919 introduced a civil ensign, naval ensign
and presidential standard (Choragiew Rzeczyposolitej) that only
were hoisted in 20 February 1920. Civil ensign was also the flag for diplomatic
and consular service.
Jaume Ollé, 28 Oct 2001
![[Civil ensign (1919)]](../images/p/pl-cv-19.gif)
image
by Jaume Ollé, 28 Oct 2001
Adopted 1st August 1919, proportions 5:8
Jaume Ollé, 28 Oct 2001
![[War ensign (1919)]](../images/p/pl-en-19.gif)
image
by Jaume Ollé, 28 Oct 2001
Adopted 1st August 1919, proportions 10:21
Jaume Ollé, 28 Oct 2001
![[Presidential Standard (1919)]](../images/p/pl-pr-19.gif)
image
by Jaume Ollé, 28 Oct 2001
Adopted 1st August 1919.
Jaume Ollé, 28 Oct 2001
![[Coat of Arms (1919)]](../images/p/pl)19.gif)
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by Jaume Ollé, 28 Oct 2001
Adopted 1st August 1919.
Jaume Ollé, 28 Oct 2001
![[Historical jack - other version]](../images/p/pl-kaper.gif)
image
by Adam Kromer, from his
website
The legend is that Lech, Czech and Rus were three brothers, each of whom set off in a different direction. Czech founded the Czech nation, Rus the Ruś (i.e. East Slavs) and Lech the Poles. He camped in a spot where he saw a white eagle nesting at dusk in a nest in a tree against the red sunset. Thus, the Polish white eagle on a red field, and thus also the name of the first Polish capital, Gniezno (perhaps an old form of gniazdo, the current word for nest).
Of course, this is but a legend. I have a Polish book on the Polish
symbols at home, and it says that in the 13th century, Polish knights were
going into battle with a black eagle on a white or yellow field. In fact,
prior to the 1 or 2 Czech kings Poland had, there is no evidence of the
white eagle. So, in some likelihood, it may well be an adopted symbol.
Robert Czernkowski, 19 May 1998
