Józef Klemens Piłsudski (1867–1935)

Known as Wiktor, Mieczysław, Ziuk, Pan Marian, and towards the end of his life also Dziadek (The Grandpa), Marszałek (The Marshal), and the Komendant (The Commandant) – eminent Polish independence activist, military commander, politician, Head of State in 1918–1922, and Commander in Chief of the Polish Army, first Marshal of Poland (from 1920). Following 1926, when Piłsudski de facto seized power, he had a decisive influence on the most important political questions in Poland, permanently holding the office of General Inspector of the Armed Forces and minister for defence; held the post of prime minister twice (in 1926–1928 and in 1930). In Kraków, he established the Sokół Polish Sports Association; it was from here also that he marched off in 1914 with the First Cadre Company, an infantry detachment (riflemen), that was the first regular military formation and the nucleus of the future Polish army.

Laid to rest in Wawel, in accordance with his last will, Piłsudski had his heart buried in the grave of his mother in the Cemetery na Rossie in Vilnius (Lithuania).



Józef Piłsudski on a 1915 postcard