Just as France has its Charles de Gaulle, Italy its Giuseppe Garibaldi, and Scotland its William Wallace, so Poland, among other national heroes, has Józef Pilsudski, who is the symbol of Poland's regaining of independence in 1918, after 123 - years of partition. Józef Pilsudski was born on December 5, 1867 in Zułów, Vilnius region (now in Lithuania). Pilsudski was a Polish soldier, politician, statesman and social and independence activist. He is known abroad as a politician and military commander, thanks to whom Poland regained its independence. Already in his youth he became involved in opposition activities against the tsarist regime. For this he was sentenced to five years of exile in Siberia. When World War I broke out, he headed a detachment of the 1st Cadre Company, which he created, then formed the Polish Legions, which were subordinate to Austria, and himself commanded their 1st Brigade. On March 19, 1920, Pilsudski was designated Marshal of Poland. Józef Pilsudski is a symbol of the restoration of independence. His troops won in the Polish-Bolshevik battle known as the "Miracle on the Vistula." The Marshal died in 1935 in the Belvedere. He was laid to rest on the Wawel Hill in Cracow, while his heart, in accordance with his last will, was laid to rest in his mother's grave in the Ross Cemetery in Vilnius. Józef Pilsudski became the patron of streets, squares, schools, in every school child learned about his work for Polish independence.