Poland
11 November 1918
11 November: Poland regains independence
On 11 November 1918, the Regency Council – a provisional authority on Polish territory – passed a decree on the transfer of military command to Józef Piłsudski, the commander of the Legions (a Polish military unit) just released from German captivity. The decree was backed by nearly all political groups. 11 November was considered the day when Poland regained independence. In the streets of Polish towns spontaneous disarmament of the Germans and Austrians began.