Distributed by the Polonia Media Network

PART 2

The following material is published with permission of Michael C. Krupinsky, the talented creator of a website at http://www.HallersArmy.com designed by him in tribute to the Blue Army of General Jozef Haller. It has been adapted for publication.

HALLER’S ARMY AND THE POLISH FALCONS

Although the exact numbers are slightly disputed, nearly one third of the 20,000+ volunteers from America came from the Polish Falcons of America (PFA). The Polish Falcons of America was and is a Polish organization with a focus on physical fitness, patriotic education and the establishment of an independent and reunified Polish state.

The Polish Falcons were originally establish in Chicago in 1887 as an association for Polish immigrants new to America. Their design was a direct offshoot of similar associations operating in partitioned Poland. Physical education, maintaining a firm link to their Polish heritage, and continuing the struggle for Poland’s independence were their core pillars. In the early 1900's they had slowly become more militant and forces within the Falcons oriented the organization towards favoring some form of direct military action [czyn zbrojny]. As early as 1905 Falcons organized pseudo-military maneuvers.

The Falcons story is long and complex one which would require much more time and space devoted to it to tell it properly. Political fighting with other Polish organizations and mergers and splits make their story quite long. Because of this I will have to jump to the time around 1916. Many factors played a part, but in general the Falcons were preparing to start building a Polish Army in the US. With a discreet agreement with Canada, a small group of Falcons made their way across the border and began training the Canadian Officers' Training Program. These men would become the first future officers of the Polish Army in France. Five of them would be the ones to open another officer training program at the Alliance School in Cambridge Springs, PA.

Everything came to a boil on April 3, 1917. President Wilson asked Congress to declare war on the Central Powers, and the following day Ignacy Paderewski was convinced by the president of the Falcons, Theo Starzynski, to speak at the extraordinary convention of the Falcons in Pittsburgh, Pa. His subject would be the formation of a Polish Army to fight along with the forces of the United States.

As it turned out, fighting along side the U.S. would not come to fruition. However, not much later (June 4, 1917) the French government announced its intent to form a Polish army in France. The makeup of this army was to be primarily from Poles living in Western Europe, Polish POW's and immigrants from the United States. Their announcement paved the way for the process of recruiting to get started. The Falcons formed a military commission to interact with the French government and pass them recruits from America. The concept of a foreign army being trained and formed in the United States was not a welcomed one by the administration of President Wilson. Because of this it took a few months to iron out an agreement between all the parties involved. In the end the U.S. officially allowed recruiting of only Polish immigrants who: were not U.S. citizens, hadn’t applied to be citizens and had no family to take care of, i.e., they were single and had no dependents. Additionally there was a concern about Poles from the areas under control of the Germans or Austrians. If caught in battle, they could be considered traitors and suffer extreme punishment such as execution. So on top of all the other factors, only Poles from what was Russia could be considered for recruitment! On top of it all, restrictions were put on the Polish recruitment posters so that they were small and somewhat discreet, so they didn't interfere with the U.S. Army recruitment drive.

Despite all these factors there were around 3,000 men training at the Niagara on the Lake camp by November of 1917, just six months after the Falcon convention in Pittsburgh.

BATTLES FOUGHT IN WWI - FRANCE

During the summer of 1917 and the fall of 1918 the Polish units in France did not yet serve as an independent force, instead they were directly under French command as a part of the F0urth French Army commanded by General Gourand. During this time they served as replacements for French units, earning combat experience while at the same time undergoing further training with French forces. Many French officers became part of their forces and many of the Polish officers served in other French units for grooming before returning the Polish units.

Finally on June 18, 1918, the of the new Polish forces had their chance to join in the fighting. The First Polish Regiment relieved the Tennessee "Wildcat" 81st Division at the front in the Champagne region. This First Polish Regiment was made up of a variety of men including former POW’s from Europe, but the large majority (around 3 quarters) of the men were Polish volunteers from America. Their fighting won them recognition of their valor at a special military review held four days later. This event marked the first time since 1831 that an army unit flying the Polish colors had taken part in battle, a truly historic moment for Poles and their hopes of independence.

As part of the Fourth French Army, the First Polish Regiment continued to participate in heavy fighting along the Western Front through the summer and fall of 1918. In July they played an active role in beating back the German offensive on the Marne River. This was the second battle of the Marne.

Additionally, they helped capture the town of Auberive and repel the German 66th Regiment at Bois Raquette (near Saint Hilary le Grand). Further action continued in battles near Rheims, Mere Henry, Alsace and Lotharingia, for the latter of which they won much French praise.

The French military command ordered the Polish forces to be combined into one Polish Army division on August 3, 1918. This first completely Polish division was comprised of 9,965 troops and 227 officers. They were organized into three infantry regiments, one company of engineers, one squad of light cavalry and an artillery brigade. It was not until October 6, 1918, that General Jozef Haller officially took command of the Polish forces fighting in France.

To honor their contribution to the fighting the Polish forces were included in the victory parade in Paris. Now officially under General Haller’s command, they marched as a full Allied unit.

The first Polish American officer to give his life in fighting in France was Second Lieutenant Lucjan Chwalkowski. He had been a member of the Falcons from New York.

Their total losses during the 1918 campaign were 206 killed in action, 106 of who were volunteers from America. A total of 862 were wounded plus an additional 15 others suffered permanent disability.