A center of Polish culture and art for centuries, before World War I Lvov was a hub of Polish national life. But Ukrainians also lay claims to the city. On 1 November 1918 the latter proclaimed the West Ukrainian People’s Republic with the capital in Lvov. The Ukrainian troops took control of the most important objects in the city. That led to spontaneous Polish self-defense, in which participated school and university students, who went down in history as the Lvov Eaglets. The defenders were soon aided by the forming Polish Army, which on 22 November pushed Ukrainians out of Lvov.
Eaglet Oh, Mother, dry your tears, talk to me smiling, this blood gushing from the chest, this blood – it’s for our Lvov! I’d fought just as the older ones – Mum, praise me! I only miss you, mum, only miss Poland! With a real rifle in hand I stood the first watch. Oh, cry not for your son, who fell for the Motherland! Proud I depart with a bloody stain on my chest. I only miss you, mum, I only miss Poland...
Mum, are you with me? can’t hear your words – my eyes are slightly dark … We did defend Lvov! You’ll remain poor, on your own … Ten hut! For Lvov! Aim, fire! I only miss you, mum, I only miss Poland!
[...] that the Ukrainian soldiers were shooting at innocent people in the city, that somebody was killed here, wounded there, and when a friend informed us that there were weapons at the Polytechnic all of us ran there at once [...] and after driving out the military administration we began to empty the storeroom of rifles, bayonets, helmets, and cartridge boxes, which had bullets inside them.
