Pilsudski Coup-1926 Poland

[sylvieK4]

Does anyone have any information about the military actions and counter actions as Pole fought Pole in and around Warsaw during the coup led by Marshal Jozef Pilsudski in May 1926?

Where did the bulk of the fighting take place inside the city of Warsaw? I read somewhere that air strikes were called on Warsaw itself during the coup. If this did in fact occur, how many casualties and damage was incurred?

How long did the actual street fighting take place?

Does anyone know what units marched in support of Pilsudski, or which fought against them with the government?

Any information or comments about the coup are welcome.

Thanks.

[henryk]

An interesting topic. Pilsudski established the only left wing, non-fascist dictatorship in Central and East Europe (excluding USSR). From the book: Pilsudski’s Coup d’ Etat (Joseph Rothschild, Columbia University Press, 1966) (military action highlights):
Early May:
Right Wing (anti-Pilsudski) paramilitaries sent from Poznania and Pomerania to Warszawa.
03 May:
Cadet Corps and Infantry officers School (pro-government) issued live ammunition in expectation of seizure of power by Pilsudski.
11-12 May(night):
Alleged attack on Pilsudski’s home in Sulejowek.
11 May:
7th Uhlan Regiment (Pilsudski supporter) leaves Minsk-Mazowieckie( 40 km east of Warszawa), with live ammunition, going to Rembertow training camp near Warszawa.
12 May:
7th Regiment moves to protect Sulejowek. 22nd Infantry Regiment (Pilsudski supporter) leaves Siedlce (90 km east of Warszawa), going to Rembertow. Pilsudski’s advance guard occupies Praga, part of Warszawa on east side of Wisla River. Pilsudski, with 7th, 22nd and 1st Light Cavalry Regiments, moves to Praga and attempts to cross on the Piatowski Bridge. Machine gunners of Infantry Officer school prevent crossing. Negotiation on bridge between Pilsudski and Wojciechowski, President of Poland. Passage denied.
22nd Regiment moves to Kierbedz Bridge (near Royal Castle) to attempt crossing. 36th Infantry Regiment, holding the bridge, open the bridge. The troops, moving into Central Warszawa, clash with the 30th Infantry Regiment, with dead and wounded on both sides. Pilsudski is surprised at fighting as he expected a peaceful take-over.
Pilsudski sets up headquarters at the Warszawa Garrison Headquarters (Komenda Miasta), Plac Saski. Northern Warszawa is occupied, including the important railroad stations, main telephone exchange and War Ministry Building, Nowowiejska street. Pro-government strong-point is at the presidential Belweder Palace, manned by the Cadet Corps, Infantry School and several other regiments. Their main contact with the rest of Poland is through the Air Force at Molotow airdrome and radio. General strike and railroad strike and pro-Pilsudski strong-points outside Warszawa (Kutno, Pultusk, etc) hinder movement of pro-government reinforcements to Warszawa.
13 May:
Pilsudski artillery shells Belweder. Air Force bombs Pilsudski occupied points in Warszawa (many bombs deliberately dropped in open fields). Pro-government forces reinforced by 10th, 57th and 5th Infantry Regiments. They launch offensive actions, and with heavy casualties take the 1st Light Cavalry barracks, east of Belweder, and the War Ministry, moving northward as far as Plac Saski. Part of pro-government forces in the Citadel, to the north, rebel and take over, preventing an attack on Pilsudski forces from the north. 37th Infantry Regiment (Pilsudski supporter) moves from Kutno to Warszawa, despite repeated bombing attacks on the troop train. Other Pilsudski supporting regiments, coming from Pultusk, Ostroleka and Wilno, also move to Warszawa ,despite bomb attacks.
14 May:
Pilsudski forces assault the Belweder which is taken by the end of the afternoon. Pro-government forces retreat to Wilanow Palace.
Early 15 May:
Ceasefire proposed by pro-government forces accepted. Military combat ceases at noon.

[sylvieK4]

Thanks, Henryk! That is a lot of great information.

I managed to find a link that discusses the coup: http://members.lycos.co.uk/jozefpilsudski/coup.html The information on it is not as detailed as what you provided, and doesn't have a map. (Thanks for including the map, too! ) It did, however, include this reference to casualty figures:

379 Poles had died and 920 had been wounded.

I didn't realize so many people had lost their lives during the incident. As we saw in the text henryk posted, apparently Pilsudski didn't anticipate it, either.

A few (scantly detailed) sources I came across indicate that Pilsudski acted when he did to prevent (or preempt) a right wing coup plotted by the leader of the National Democratic Party, Roman Dmowski. Is it certain that Dmowski would have staged a coup of his own if Pilsudski hadn't first?

Any additional information regarding the fighting, casualty figures, or the political side of the coup is welcome.

The above-mentioned link included a few photos taken during the fighting:

[sylvieK4]

Does anyone know the extent of the military's involvement during the coup? In other words, did the government put the whole of the armed forces on alert during this time? Did all units participate, in one way or another, in the incident or did most remain where they were posted throughout Poland while limited groups actually took part in the fighting?

As we have seen, a good deal of the fighting too place in and around Warsaw, but did other cities and towns in Poland see heated action / counteractions, as well? (How wide-spread was the fighting during the coup?)

[henryk]

From "Pilsudski's Coup D'Etat" by Joseph Rothschild. The book does not mention number of casualties and is not clear on conflicts outside Warszawa.
THE COUP'S MILITARY SYMPATHIES AND OTHER ACTIONS
The Polish military officers of that time can be placed in four groups:
1) sympathetic to Pilsudski and supported him,
2) sympathetic to Pilsudski, but obeyed their military oath and supported the government,
3) hated Pilsudski and did every they could to thwart him,
4) whatever their sympathies they did little or nothing to support either side.
The officer cadre was drawn from a number of sources. Pilsudski's most loyal supporters were his former Legionaires (First- from Austria and Third- from Russia) (Generals Orlicz-Dreszer, Trojanowski and Sosnkowski, Col Burhardt-Bukacki, Lt Col Beck, )and the related underground movement POW (Polskea Organizacja Wojskowa)( General Rydz-Smigly). The Second Brigade (from Austria) veterans had an Austro-Polish political orientation and supported his rivals Generals Jozef Haller and Sikorski. Strongly opposed to Pilsudski and his supporters were the the ex-Austrian Army officers (General Majewski, Prych), particularly the General Staff officers: Generals Stanislaw Haller, Rozwadowski, Szeptycki and Zagorski.

Former Russian Army officers were pro-Pilsudski generally (Generals Zeligowski, Iwaszkiewicz, Osinski, Berbecki (also Legionaire) and Konarzewski) (Col Anders -pro-government). There were few officers from the German Army (General Raszewski, against Pilsudski) and the Poznan Uprising Forces. General Jozef Haller also commanded the Polish Corps in France. The right-wing paramilitaries sent sent early May to Warszawa from Poznan and Pomerania were veterans of Haller's Polish Corps.

On 12 May, a state of emergency and suspension of civic rights was decreed for the city and province of Warszawa, the adjacent counties Siedlce and Lukow of Lublin, and Wilno Province, a Pilsudski stronghold. May 12, Rybak , ex-Austrian Army and commander of the Brzesc Military District (50 km east of Warszawa), was allegedly instructed to intercept Pilsudski reinforcements, and May 13, to attack from the rear any penetrating toward Warszawa. He took no action.

May 12, General Sikorski, commander of the Lwow military district, was summoned to Warszawa, and to bring reinforcements. He replied it was dangerous and impractical to do so. Reinforcements were dispatched from remote quarters near the USSR border, but reached Krakow only at the end of the coup. General Romer, ex-Austrian army, commander of the Lublin miliary district, was neutral. General Stanislaw Wroblewski, ex-Austria Army and division commander at Czestochowa, did send the government reinforcements as ordered, but blocked railroad passage of government reinforcements from Krakow and Silesia. His brother, Jan Wroblewski, ex-Austrian Army and deputy commander of the Warszawa military district, supported Pilsudski.

Lt-Col Bortnowski, ex-Legionaire and commander of the Kutno garrison (100 km west of Warszawa, in former Russian Poland), sent troops to Warszawa and attempted to block passage of pro-government forces from Poznan and Pomerania. General Malachowski, ex-Russian Army and division commander at Lodz (100 km southwest of Warszawa), by-passed the commander of the Lodz military district (ex-Austrian Army). Malachowski barricaded Lodz and sent forces to Pilsudski in Warszawa. General Sosnkowski, ex-Legionaire, commander of the anti-Pilsudski Poznan military district was seriously wounded at the start of the coup, either by his own hand or a rightist officer. His deputy, General Hauser, ex-Austrian Army, sent pro-government reinforcements to Warszawa. Hauser sent troops to Kutno, capturing the train station, and dispatched his Kalisz garrison to check the barricade at Lodz.

In Torun, (140 km northest of Warszawa), General Skierski, ex-Russian Army, attempted to seize control of the garrison. General Hubischta, ex-Austrian Army, arrested Skierski and sent massive reinforcements to Warszawa against Pilsudski. Colonel Boruta-Spiechowicz, ex-anti-Pilsudski Second Legion Brigade, attempted to march his Regiment to Warszawa from Ostrow Mazowiecki (90 km northeast of Warszawa in Pilsudski controlled territory). During clashes with Pilsudski forces part of his Regiment defected to Pilsudski.

Fear of invasion by Germany and the USSR constrained sending of reinforcements from the border regions (Poznan and Pomerania, near Germany, and Wilno and Lwow, near USSR).

[sylvieK4]

Thanks again, henryk, for the information

Is there further discussion of the barricade at Lodz? For example, how many troops were used in this venture? Was it heavily challenged?

Does anyone have further information regarding how the post-coup government was received internationally? Were many objections raised outside Poland to this unorthodox changing of the guard?

Did Pilsudski et. al. recall the previous government's ambassadors and replace them with their own diplomats?

Thanks.

[henryk]

"Pilsudski's Coup D'Etat", Joseph Rothchild:
There is no further information at what happened in Lodz.
There was little change in the Foreign ministry .The new Foreign Minister was August Zaleski, a career diplomat. In May he was in Warszawa in the process of being transferred as envoy from Rome to Tokyo.
The British reaction to the coup is given below. French, German and Soviet to follow.

[henryk]

Here is the French and Soviet reaction to the coup.

[henryk]

This is the German reaction to the coup:

[sylvieK4]

Special thanks, once again, to henryk!

[henryk]

My mother told me this story. During an election after the coup, my mother went to a neighboring town to hear a member of the opposition give a speech. When she arrived she found the rynek (town square) had a ring of soldiers in the center, surrounded by a crowd. A man was allowed to enter the circle. As he started to speak, the church bells rang out, drowning the speech, and continued until he abandoned the effort.

[sylvieK4]

Thanks for sharing that story, henryk! I could picture the frustrated speaker storming away when he realized he would not be heard. ( )

Apparently that particular town was firmly behind Pilsudski. Were there any towns or regions notably opposed to the post-coup government? Where in Poland did the political opposition have the most support?

[henryk]

sylvieK4
The town was Wislica, Kielce. I don't know how strongly pro-Pilsudski Wislica was. I expect the tactics I described were used everywhere except in places over-welmingly pro-Pilsudski, such as the north-east (Wilno). From Rothschild, the strongly anti-Pilsudski areas were Poznan (Poznan, Bydgoszcz) and Pomerania (Torun) provinces.

To forum members in Poland: What does the Polish-language literature say on the coup and Pilsudski?
a) pre-WWII
b) during communist era
c) post communist era.

In 1995, a first cousin I met for the first time, in Poland, gave me a bust of Pilsudski.

[Liluh]

sylvieK4
The town was Wislica, Kielce. I don't know how strongly pro-Pilsudski Wislica was. I expect the tactics I described were used everywhere except in places over-welmingly pro-Pilsudski, such as the north-east (Wilno). From Rothschild, the strongly anti-Pilsudski areas were Poznan (Poznan, Bydgoszcz) and Pomerania (Torun) provinces.

To forum members in Poland: What does the Polish-language literature say on the coup and Pilsudski?
a) pre-WWII
b) during communist era
c) post communist era.

In 1995, a first cousin I met for the first time, in Poland, gave me a bust of Pilsudski.

Kielce is in south-west part of Poland, it`s the area where Pilsudski with his legions operated in the end of WWI. So it`s not suprising he had a lot of supporters in that region.

About the literature:

a) Coup lead to more or less total domination of the victorious camp - "sanation", changing Poland into autocratic country. It`s obvious that literature at that time glorified Pilsudski and soldiers, officers, uhlans were the most elite part of society. So before the war, the idea of coup being rightfull and necessary dominated. Which wasn`t that straight true as you`d want it to be.

b) I remember hearing about it in primary school. The doctrine tried to show Pilsudski as polish Hitler, madman and tyran. Fortunatelly, we had a nice teacher who after "shhhhh`ing" us told the truth, also about communism but that`s a different topic. Nevertheless, that was in mid `80 and books didn`t lie that much, at least those in school. Later, after `89 I remember learning it again, and all what was offered by the books were straight facts without much pointing out if it was good or wrong.

c) Real good and full coverage of this topic wasn`t possible any time in the past, so 90`s gave a big freedom for all writers.

There are different publications but in mine opinion viewing Pilsudski May coup d`etat is considered as a sad but necessary event of history. Pilsudski had every right to do it etc. etc.

I`d sum up this event like this.
Why did it actually happend? There are few reasons:

- weakness of government and parliment and the frustration it started among citizens
- bad economical situation (inflation, duty customs war with Germany)
- Locarno conference (need of urgent change in foreign policy)
- frustration in the society

Poland was still a very young democracy, not quite estabilished and hardened, with weak constitution. Constant quarells in the parliment and fights for power lead to a chaos. New governments falling and raising all the time only enlarged the economical crisis and prevented any real reform of the country internal/external policy. Pilsudski saw that and understood the danger this situation provided for his beloved country.
He`d mostly likely stop himself from leading a coup if it wasn`t for citizens support, who were pretty angry and frustrated already and demanded radicall actions. Pilsudski was always treated as the "good uncle" who will come when needed to save the day. I bet it`s also how he felt about himself. Coup was prepared since the fall of 1925 till the spring next year.
I`ll pass to the sumarry as Henryk wrote about the battle enough.

First thing Pilsudski done after removing the right-national government - he choosed a new one with professor Kazimierz Bartlel as a prime minister. Ignacy Moscicki, chemistry professor, genious and famous inventor was nominated to become the president. Both gentlemen togheter with their cooperators were accepted by the parliment - becouse (!) Pilsudski left parliment as is, untouched. That was a big act of good will from the marshall and I bet senators and others understood that very well. As far as I know, none gov-supporters who fought in Warsaw were imprisoned.

What was the final outcome? Military men in power, change of constitution, the president becoming biggest power while parliment was constantly drawn back so finally it had a very little influence on policy. "Sanation" (which stated for healing the country) camp dominated till the break of war. After Pilsudski death in 1935 it also led to preventing any reforms of the not efficient military doctrine.

Well, just my two cents on the topic.

[henryk]

Thank you Liluh for your response. It is beneficial to get the viewpoint of someone living in Poland.

Your comment about the primary school teacher in the 1980s deviating from the text book to provide the truth reminded me of a cousin's experience. He attended primary school in Poland in the 1970s. He told me that when he came home from school he would tell his parents what he was taught that day. They would then teach him the truth. One example he gave was the story of the Soviet 1939 invasion of Poland.

I have returned the book "Pilsudski’s Coup d’ Etat by Joseph Rothschild" to the library. However my recollection is that a number of government supporters were imprisoned. Disregarding Pilsudski's instructions the Wilno prison in particular handled prisoners very harshly. A prominent prisoner was General Zagorski, commander of the Air Force, who ordered bombing of Pilsudski supporters. He disappeared while in custody.

After Pilsudski death in 1935 it also led to preventing any reforms of the not efficient military doctrine.

One of the main reasons for the coup was Pilsudski's disagreement on the organization and control of the army and their French derived operational doctrine. I presume Pilsudski changed the situation. Certainly there was an over emphasis on the cavalry. Also the book "History of the Polish Air Force- Jerzy Cynk" criticized the General Staff for their interference with the Air Force. They considered the main function of Air Force was to provide airborne reconnaisance for the Army. This resulted in an poor choice of the bombing capability.