On 12 May 1926, Marshal Józef Piłsudski took up arms against the government led by Wincenty Witos. Early that morning, troops loyal to Piłsudski began mobilising to enter Warsaw. After their entry into the city, attempts to negotiate with the government failed, resulting in violent street battles that marked the most significant crisis in the brief history of the independent Polish Republic. The aftermath of the May Coup had profound implications for Polish democracy, leading to the resignation of the president and the dissolution of the government.
Józef Piłsudski, a key figure in the establishment of independent Poland, had officially resigned from all public roles in June 1923 after unsuccessful negotiations with Prime Minister Witos. He retreated to his estate in Sulejówek, where he frequently met with loyal officers and observed the political landscape, critically evaluating the governance of the People’s Party and the Nationalists.
With the formation of Witos’ third government, the political climate suggested an impending crisis, and it became evident that Piłsudski would spearhead the movement for change. On 11 May, General Lucjan Żeligowski, the outgoing Minister of Military Affairs, initiated military manoeuvres near Rembertów and transferred command of the troops to Marshal Piłsudski. This action faced strong opposition from the new minister, General Józef Malczewski, who commanded the troops to return to their barracks. However, officers loyal to Piłsudski defied this order, and during the night of 11 May, additional military units began advancing towards Warsaw, escalating tensions.
It is worth noting that Piłsudski exacerbated the situation when he openly criticised the new coalition government comprising the People’s Party and Nationalists in an interview with 'Kurier Poranny’ on 11 May. He condemned the government for its abuse of power and prioritising party interests over the state’s needs.
Witos responded to Piłsudski’s remarks with decisive action, confiscating the issue of 'Kurier Poranny’ that featured the marshal’s interview and initiating moves to oust Piłsudski’s loyalists from military leadership. Rumours circulated in Warsaw about government-loyal troops being dispatched to the capital from Pomerania and Greater Poland.
As a result, on 12 May, Piłsudski sought to demonstrate strength to exert pressure on the government, distributing anti-government leaflets throughout the capital. He aimed to meet with President Stanisław Wojciechowski in the Belweder Palace to address the political turmoil, but the president was unavailable, residing at his estate in Spała.
Eventually, the two leaders met at 4 p.m. on the Poniatowski Bridge in central Warsaw. The conversation was charged, with the president firmly rejecting Piłsudski’s actions, viewing them as tantamount to a coup d’état. Piłsudski also confronted Sejm Marshal Maciej Rataj, asserting that he had troops at his disposal and that armed conflict loomed. Rataj relayed this message to Wojciechowski, who, as the representative of legitimate authority, refused to negotiate with Piłsudski.
From that point, events escalated swiftly. By evening, Piłsudski’s forces had occupied Castle Square, and the first shots were fired. Government forces in the capital were led by General Tadeusz Rozwadowski, with Colonel Władysław Anders as his chief of staff. The situation was dire, with government troops numbering around 1,700 compared to Piłsudski’s approximately 3,400 soldiers.
Despite the president’s orders to reinforce the city with troops from various regions, by 13 May, virtually all of Warsaw fell under Piłsudski’s control. The fighting was intense and bloody, with the Polish Socialist Party (PPS), the Peasant Party, and PSL ‘Wyzwolenie’ (Liberation) politically supporting the marshal’s actions. The PPS called for a general strike, and railway workers halted military transports from Greater Poland and Pomerania, averting further bloodshed in the streets.
14 May proved to be a decisive day in the ongoing political and military crisis. Piłsudski’s forces, totalling over 8,500 soldiers, launched an assault on the Belweder Palace, facing just over 2,000 soldiers loyal to the president. Confronted by superior forces, Wojciechowski retreated to Wilanów, where, around 6 p.m., he decided to resign from the presidency, leading to the government’s resignation as well. Marshal Rataj assumed power and ordered a ceasefire, bringing the street fighting to an end. The toll from three days of conflict was devastating, with 379 lives lost, nearly half of whom (164) were civilians, and over 900 wounded.
On 15 May, a new government was appointed by the Marshal of the Sejm, led by Kazimierz Bartel, while Józef Piłsudski took on the role of Minister of Military Affairs until his death. On 31 May, the National Assembly elected him president, but he declined the position, leading to Professor Ignacy Mościcki’s election as president. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in the evolution of Polish democracy during the interwar period.
Dr. Rafał Leskiewicz
Historian, archivist, IT manager. Director of the Press Office of the Institute of National Remembrance. In the past, he led the archival department of the IPN and the Central IT Center. Author, co-author, and editor of over 160 scientific, popular science, and journalistic publications.
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