Józef Piłsudski’s Monument (Aleje Ujazdowskie Street)
Józef Piłsudski (1867-1935) a politician, an independence activist, a soldier, a statesman. He devoted his whole life to Poland – first acting in conspiracy (Polish Socialist Party), then co-creating the Polish Legions, finally defending the independence of Poland. Pilsudski formulated the concept of armed struggle for independence at a time when hardly anyone believe in it. He consistently put it into practice – he initiated the creation of the Union of Active Struggle (Związek Walki Czynnej) and riflemen’s association, before The First World War, and after its outbreak – the Polish Legions. He commanded the 1st Brigade of the Legions and fought for independence with Russia, and then Germany and Austro-Hungary. In November 1918, as the Head of State, he began the process of restoration of Polish statehood and the Polish Army. As the Chief Commander, he led the army to war of the eastern border of the Commonwealth. Victory in these struggles with the Bolsheviks invasion, was the beginning of a young state.
Among the many merits, the monument commemorates one of the most important – the victorious war with the Bolsheviks in the 1920. It is no accident that the monument is located at the Belvedere. When the Bolshevik army approached Warsaw in 1920, the concept of the battle was being developed in this building. Piłsudski also lived here in the last years of his life, and here on May 12th 1935, he ended his life. There is the inscription on the pedestal “The Marshal Józef Piłsudski. Its defender in 1920 – Warsaw”. The Battle of Warsaw was declared the 18th most important battle in the history of the world. Undoubtedly, many factors contributed to the victory, and it is the merit of many people, but we have to remember that Piłsudski was the chief general.
From Jerzy Waldorff’s initiative, the monument was unveiled on November 11th 1998, on the 80th anniversary of the battle. The ceremony was attended by the Marshal’s daughter Jadwiga Piłsudska-Jaraczewska. This monument is a copy of the marble statue of the 1930s by Stanisław Ostrowski. It was cast from bronze, obtained from cannon shells.