# Poland regains independence (1918)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1918-poland-regains-independence
Location: Warsaw
Categories: main-event

The Regency Council handed military command to Piłsudski, after 123 years of partitions. 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 (11 November 1918), the governing authority was Regency Council (Regency Council of the Kingdom of Poland). Three-member council (Kakowski, Lubomirski, Ostrowski) created by the Central Powers; it handed power to Józef Piłsudski in November 1918. Poland regains independence 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
Poland regains independence mattered because it altered the structure of power and the direction of Polish statehood.

Ruler at the time: [Józef Piłsudski](https://poland-history.com/rulers/jozef-pilsudski)

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