# Blue Army formed (1917)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1917-blue-army-formed
Location: France

A Polish army was formed in France, later commanded by General Józef Haller. Named after its blue uniforms, it reached Poland in 1919. 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 (1917), 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. Blue Army formed mattered because it shaped the armed forces through which Poles defended or fought to regain their statehood. 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
Blue Army formed mattered because it shaped the armed forces through which Poles defended or fought to regain their statehood.

Ruler at the time: [Regency Council](https://poland-history.com/rulers/regency-council)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Blue Army (Poland)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Army_(Poland))
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Blue Army formed](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Blue+Army+formed)
- [Wikipedia — History of Poland during World War I (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_during_World_War_I)