Recruiting Agencies in the Military Department of the Supreme National Committee at the Territories Occupied by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1915–1916

Abstract

In 1915–1916, recruiting the volunteers to the Polish Legions at the territories of the Kingdom of Poland was conducted by the Military Department of the Supreme National Committee. The activity took place in an outright and organised manner at the territories occupied by the Austro- Hungarian Empire. The recruiting work was hindered in the areas administered by the Germans. Altogether 28 recruiting agencies were established in the General Military Government in Lublin. In the majority of them, four or five legionaries served there. Apart from recruiting men volunteering to serve, the main form of activity of the recruiting agencies was organising the informative meetings, distribution of newspapers and propaganda forms, getting involved in the undertakings of patriotic nature (i.e. commemorations of national anniversaries). Initially, a vast part of the society of the Kingdom of Poland demurred the recruiting actions and at times was even hostile. However, thanks to the explanatory actions, the attitude of people was gradually changing, even though it did not always have an effect on increasing significantly the number of the recruited men.