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Pilsudski Kisses Jewish Soldier Crippled in War for Polish Independence

August 10, 1926
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(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The extent of Jewish participation in the struggle for the independence of Poland, in the early days of the movement, unrecognized by the Great Powers and Polish public opinion at large, was impressed upon the public mind yesterday when Josef Pilsudski, first Marshal of Poland and leader of the Legionaires, kissed publicly a Jewish invalid who fought in the Legion.

A highly dramatic scene was enacted when the twelfth anniversary of the crossing by Pilsudski’s Legion of the frontier of Congress Poland was celebrated at the Legionaire Congress, opened yesterday in Kielce, the first Polish city to be occupied by the Polish Legion under Pilsudski’s command in 1914. Many Jewish Legionaires were present at the celebration. Pilsudski publicly kissed a Jewish Legionaire who lost both his legs on the battlefield.

M. Stpiczynski, editor of “Glos Prawdy,” Pilsudski’s organ, in his address, stated that Poland, like the Jews in the desert, must wait another forty years for a new, free generation to arise.

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