A Piłsudskiite () was a political supporter of Marshal

Józef Piłsudski Józef Klemens Piłsudski (; 5 December 1867 – 12 May 1935) was a Polish statesman who served as the Naczelnik państwa, Chief of State (1918–1922) and Marshal of Poland, First Marshal of Second Polish Republic, Poland (from 1920). He was ...

, the founder of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

Polish Legions and the first

Chief of State A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...

of the

Second Republic of Poland The Second Polish Republic, at the time officially known as the Republic of Poland, was a country in Central and Eastern Europe that existed between 1918 and 1939. The state was established on 6 November 1918, before the end of the First Worl ...

. The Piłsudskiites had a major influence on Polish politics in the interwar period (1918–1939).

History

Piłsudski was the dominant political figure in the interwar Second Polish Republic. Most of the successive governments supported Pilsudski, who served as

from 1918 to 1922 and as Prime Minister from 1926 to 1928 and for several months in 1930. Piłsudski was highly influential, never dropped out of public life, remained active in Polish politics and exercised considerable influence until his death in May 1935. His special position was highlighted by the position of the General Inspector of the Armed Forces, which was created specifically for him and was not responsible to the

Sejm The Sejm (English: , Polish: ), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland ( Polish: ''Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej''), is the lower house of the bicameral parliament of Poland. The Sejm has been the highest governing body of ...

(Parliament) but only to the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

. In May 1926, Piłsudskiite forces conducted the May Coup, deposed the legally-elected government and installed their own. The ''

Sanacja Sanation ( pl, Sanacja, ) was a Polish political movement that was created in the interwar period, prior to Józef Piłsudski's May 1926 ''Coup d'État'', and came to power in the wake of that coup. In 1928 its political activists would go on ...

'' political camp was formed, and Piłsudski's power grew. The ''Sanacja'' began to strengthen its own power and to curb the activities of opposition political parties. Many parties in that time became Piłsudskiite to get closer to power and stay safe from potential problems. When Piłsudski died in May 1935, the ''Sanacja'' movement lost its leader. The political situation in Poland became radicalised, and the pressure of opposition camps on the ruling ''Sanacja'' (especially by the right-wing National Democracy) became stronger. To unite the Piłsudskiites and hold on to power, the leading Piłsudskiite politicians formed the

Camp of National Unity ''Obóz Zjednoczenia Narodowego'' (, en, Camp of National Unity; abbreviated "''OZN''"; and often called "''Ozon''" (Polish for "ozone") was a Polish political party founded in 1937 by sections of the leadership in the Sanacja movement. A yea ...

. To gain voters from the opposition National Democracy, the Camp of National Unity radicalised its program and even took some issues from the opposition camp such as becoming more nationalist. Still, it advocated Piłsudski's points of view and followed his political heritage.

History

See also