November 11, National Independence Day
“The day of November 11, as the anniversary of the Polish nation regaining its independent existence and as a day for all times associated with the great name of Józef Piłsudski, the victorious leader of the nation in the fight for the freedom of the homeland, is a solemn Independence Day”.
November 11, we celebrate the 103d anniversary of Poland regaining independence after 123 years of enslavement by Austria, Prussia and Russia. This day was recognized as a public holiday by the above-mentioned Act of April 23, 1937 on Independence Day, but the ceremonial events had been held earlier.
In the interwar period, the date of the rebirth of Poland remained a matter of debate. However, its symbolic character did not raise any doubts, because it was impossible to indicate one event that determined the restoration of Poland’s statehood. The choice of the date of Independence Day was associated with the end of World War I as a result of the signing of the armistice in Compiègne on November 11, 1918. At the same time, the Regency Council, the supreme authority of the Kingdom of Poland, handed over the military power and the supreme command of Polish troops, its subordinates, to Józef Piłsudski, who had returned to Warsaw from captivity in Magdeburg the day before. Three days later, the Council also entrusted him with civil authority. The Provisional Government of the Republic of Poland in Lublin under the leadership of Ignacy Daszyński, operating since November 7, subordinated to the future Chief of State.
Regaining independence was for the first time commemorated on November 14, 1920. Previously, it had not been fully possible due to the ongoing struggle for the shape of the borders and the existence of the Republic of Poland. In the years 1919-1936, the celebrations of regaining independence were usually held on the first Sunday after November 11 and were of a military nature. At that time, military parades, Holy Masses for the Homeland and state ceremonies were held throughout the country. Virtuti Militari awards for bravery in the fight for freedom were given in Belvedere.
However, it was not until 1926 that November 11 was formally recognized as the date of independence. The circular issued by President of the Council of Ministers Józef Piłsudski established this day off from work in the government administration. From that time on, Marshal Piłsudski reviewed the troops and received the parade every year at the Saxon Square in Warsaw named after him on the 10th anniversary of the rebirth of Poland. The last time he did it was in 1934 in the Mokotów Field. In 1932, November 11 was also free from education. According to the then Ministry of Religious Denominations and Public Education, "it should be used for the purposes of educating young people in the civic spirit of the state against the background of historical events related to this day".
November 11 was celebrated as a public holiday in the interwar period only twice, in 1937 and 1938. In the first case, the celebration was enhanced by the unveiling of a statue of General Józef Sowiński in Wolski Park. On the other hand, on the 20th anniversary of the rebirth of Poland, in the atmosphere of the impending war threat, a great military parade was organized, combined with a demonstration of the nation's support for the army.
During World War II, Independence Day was forbidden. However, memory was cultivated conspiratorially, mainly as part of "small sabotage" activities. Commemorative inscriptions appeared on city walls, and wreaths were laid in places with permanent national symbolism and white and red flags were attached.
After the war, the State National Council, by the Act of July 22, 1945 on the establishment of the National Day of the Rebirth of Poland, made July 22 a national holiday - the anniversary of the announcement of the Manifesto of the Polish Committee of National Liberation in 1944, at the same time abolishing the Independence Day. Until 1989, the communist apparatus of the Polish People’s Republic repressed the celebration of November 11. However, patriotic demonstrations were organized, which were considered illegal gatherings. And although in the 1980s government delegations began laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, still in 1988 the militia dispersed people who were celebrating.
The Sejm of the Polish People’s Republic restored the Independence Day, celebrated on November 11, by the Act of February 15, 1989, called "National Independence Day". In turn, on November 11, 1997, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland adopted a resolution declaring, among others: "This solemn anniversary also prompts reflection on the half-century in which the freedom and democratic aspirations of Poles were suppressed by the Nazi and Soviet occupiers, and then - foreign to our tradition - communist power subordinated to the Soviet Union".