“A bit too late and too little, but at least it’s something”. Poles in Galicia’s attitudes towards the Act of 5th November 1916

The outbreak of WWI offered hope to Poles from Eastern Europe’s Galicia that the so-called Austria-Poland solution would ensue. In the face of military and political weakness of Austria-Hungary, the idea failed to take root. The proclamation of the Act of 5th November 1916 indicated that the Polish state would be reconstructed under the auspices of the Second Reich. This arouse resentment among Poles living in Galicia who had hoped to be united with their compatriots in the Kingdom of Poland.

The Polish cause by the Act of 5th November according to Stanisław Koźmian

This article presents the opinions of Stanisław Koźmian (1836-1822) on the way in which the Polish cause was resolved during WWI until the Act of 5th November. According to Koźmian, the best solution was the Austrian-Polish concept revolving around incorporating the Kingdom of Poland to the Habsburg monarchy.