Józef Piłsudski was born on December 5, 1867, in Zulów, a small village in Lithuania which was at the time part of the Russian Empire. He was the second son of Maria and Józef Piłsudski. Growing up, he was heavily influenced by his father, who was a Polish national activist. This early exposure to political activism would shape Piłsudski's future path.
As a young man, Piłsudski became involved in revolutionary socialist movements in Poland. While studying medicine at Kharkov University in 1885, he joined the underground organization Narodnaya Volya. His involvement in student demonstrations led to his suspension from university and subsequent exile to Siberia on false charges of plotting to assassinate Tsar Alexander III.
After his release, Piłsudski returned to Warsaw and began organizing paramilitary groups to fight for Polish independence. He played a key role in the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-21, leading the country to victory and securing its independence.
In 1899, Piłsudski married Maria Koplewska, with whom he had two daughters. After her death in 1921, he remarried to Aleksandra Szczerbinska. Piłsudski was known for his fluency in multiple languages, including Polish, Russian, French, and German. He also famously always slept with a loaded firearm by his side for security.
Józef Piłsudski is considered a national hero in Poland and is often referred to as the father of modern Poland. His funeral in 1935 drew a massive crowd of over 300,000 people, including representatives from 16 different countries. World leaders such as Pope Pius XI, Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, Emperor Hirohito, and King George V all expressed condolences and praise for Piłsudski upon his passing.
His legacy as a revolutionary and statesman continues to be celebrated in Poland and around the world. Józef Piłsudski's contributions to the independence and development of Poland have left a lasting impact on history.
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