# Oath crisis (1917)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1917-oath-crisis
Location: Warsaw

Piłsudski and many legionnaires refused to swear loyalty to the German emperor. Piłsudski was imprisoned in Magdeburg, which made him a national hero. 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. Oath crisis mattered because it altered the structure of power and the direction of Polish 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
Oath crisis mattered because it altered the structure of power and the direction of Polish statehood.

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

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