17. Plaque commemorating the Oath Crisis in the Polish Legions in 1917 in Zegrze Południowe
On July 13, 1917, the barracks in Zegrze
Południowe were the scene of the Oath Crisis
of the Polish 5th Legions Infantry Regiment.
The event was preceded by a meeting
of the officers who gathered at the casino
and decided, in the presence of Brigadier
Boleslaw Roja, to refuse to swear an oath
of loyalty to the emperors of Germany and
Austria-Hungary. The casino became the
site of pro-independence manifestations
and strong anti-German sentiment. Following
this decision, the officers were interned
in a camp in Beniaminów, while non-commissioned
officers and privates were interned
in Szczypiorno near Kalisz.
Today, in a converted casino building (No. 14) in Zegrze Południowe, there is the Library division of the Nieporęt commune. The events of 1917 are also commemorated by a memorial plaque.
Among the legionaries serving in Zegrze Południowe during the First World War, there have been many distinguished personalities. We can unquestionably name the outstanding poet Władysław Broniewski who, at the end of 1916, was transferred here along with the Polish 4th Legions Infantry Regiment. He was 19 years of age then and his literary success was yet to come. Under the pseudonym “Orlik” (‘Eagle’), Broniewski served in the Legions of April 1915, and along with the 4th Legions Infantry Regiment went through the terrible ordeal of battle.
Today, in a converted casino building (No. 14) in Zegrze Południowe, there is the Library division of the Nieporęt commune. The events of 1917 are also commemorated by a memorial plaque.
Among the legionaries serving in Zegrze Południowe during the First World War, there have been many distinguished personalities. We can unquestionably name the outstanding poet Władysław Broniewski who, at the end of 1916, was transferred here along with the Polish 4th Legions Infantry Regiment. He was 19 years of age then and his literary success was yet to come. Under the pseudonym “Orlik” (‘Eagle’), Broniewski served in the Legions of April 1915, and along with the 4th Legions Infantry Regiment went through the terrible ordeal of battle.