# Germans take Warsaw (1915)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1915-germans-take-warsaw
Location: Warsaw
Categories: battle, main-event

German troops entered Warsaw on 5 August 1915 as the Russians withdrew. The whole of the Kingdom of Poland came under German and Austro-Hungarian occupation. Within the broader World War I & Independence period: The First World War destroyed the partitioning empires. Poland regained independence in November 1918 and fought for its borders in a series of wars and uprisings until 1921. At this point in the timeline (5 August 1915), the governing authority was Central Powers occupation (German and Austro-Hungarian governors-general). After the Russian retreat the former Congress Poland was administered by German (Warsaw) and Austro-Hungarian (Lublin) governors-general. Germans take Warsaw mattered because it changed the military or territorial balance and influenced the political choices that followed. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Germans take Warsaw mattered because it changed the military or territorial balance and influenced the political choices that followed.

Ruler at the time: [Central Powers occupation](https://poland-history.com/rulers/central-powers-occupation)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Great Retreat (Russia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Retreat_(Russia))
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Germans take Warsaw](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Germans+take+Warsaw)
- [Wikipedia — History of Poland during World War I (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_during_World_War_I)