Władysław Sikorski: Difference between revisions

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== Biography ==

=== Early life and World War I ===

Sikorski was born May 20, 1881, in TuszowTuszów Narodowy, Polish [[Galicia (Central Europe)|Galicia]], then a territory of the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]]. His father was Tomasz Sikorski, of impoverished [[szlachta|Polish gentry]] ([[coat of arms]] [[Kopaszyna coat of arms|Kopaszyna]]); his mother was Emilia Habrowska. Young Sikorski studied engineering at the [[Politechnika Lwowska|Lwów Polytechnic]], specializing in road and bridge construction. After graduation he worked for the [[Galicia (Central Europe)|Galicia]]n administration in the [[petroleum]] industry. In [[1906]] Sikorski volunteered for a year's service in the Austro-Hungarian army and attended the [[Austrian Military School]], obtaining an [[officer]]'s diploma and becoming a reserves sublieutenant (''podporucznik rezerwy''). In [[1909]] he married Olga Helena Zubrzewska.

In [[1907]] Sikorski joined the underground [[Polish Socialist Party]] ''([[Polska Partia Socjalistyczna]])'', which was intent on securing Polish independence. It was then that he met [[Józef Piłsudski]]. In [[1908]], in Lwów, Sikorski — together with [[Marian Kukiel]], [[Walerey Sławek]], [[Kazimierz Sosnkowski]], [[Witold Jodko-Narkiewicz]] and [[Henryk Minkiewicz]] — organized the secret Combat Association ''(Związek Walki Czynnej)'', directed at organizing an [[uprising]] against the [[Russian Empire]], one of Poland's three [[Partitions of Poland|partitioner]]s. In [[1910]], likewise in Lwów, Sikorski organized a [[Riflemen's Association]] ([[Związek Strzelecki]]) and became responsible for military organization within the Commission of Confederated Independence Parties (''Komisja Skonfederowanych Stronnictw Niepodległościowych'').