Great Poland Uprising

At the end of World War I (1914-1918), the fate of Poznań and Greater Poland was still undecided. With the public speech of Ignacy Paderewski, famous Polish pianist and politician, on 27 December 1918, Polish inhabitants of Poznań started a military uprising against Germany.

The uprising forces consisted of Polish Military Organization of the Prussian Partition, People's Guards, Guards and Security Service and many volunteers. The ruling body was High People's Council and the military commanders: major major S. Taczak and general Jozef Dowbór-Muśnicki.

By 15 January 1919, the uprising forces managed to take control of most of Poznań province engaging in heavy fighting with regular but demoralized German army, up until the German-Allies ceasefire on 16 February 1919. The Poznań high command subjugated to Warsaw government in May 1919.