Poland regained its independance on 11th of November 1918 when Polish stateman, Józef Piłsudski, returned from German prison in Magdeburg to Warsaw. German backed Regancy Council gave him all their power and he became a Temporary Head of State (Tymczasowy Naczelnik Państwa).

He declared a Republic and prepared Poland for her first modern elections in January 1919 in which Polish Parliament (Sejm) was elected. Sejm later approved him on the position of the Head of State (without "Temporary" this time) and started drafting new constitution.

Polish-Bolshevik war started a month later, in February. New Sejm turned out to be unable to rule during the time of war and the Council of National Defense (made up of representatives of verious parties with Piłsudski as main chairman) took care of most important tasks. In the meantime Sejm was busy with new Constitution.

Piłsudski's enemies (Nationalists) were afraid he might candidate for the position of the president so they decided to reduce the powers of the president to the minimum while giving a lot of power to the Sejm itself.

The war ended (1921), new constitution was implemented and the last step was to elect new president (1922). Piłsudski decided to not parcipiate in the elections because he did not want to be a puppet of the Sejm. Nationalists expected their candidate will win (they were the biggest party in the National Assambly) but Gabrial Narutowicz (a candidate of leftist Agrarians) came out victorious thanks to the support of MPs representing national minorities.

Piłsudski stepped down from his position as Head of State and gave his power to new president. In the meantime Nationalists started a campagn against Narutowicz (he was an atheist with Switz citizenship so they did not see them as a real Pole). After less than a week Narutowicz was shot dead by Polish nationalist. New president was elected (Stanisław Wojciechowski, former member of Polish Socialist Party) and Piłsudski decided to leave politics.

The period between 1922-1926 is known for partisanship in the parliament, economic cricis and political isulation of Poland on international scale.

In May 1926 new right wing government was formed which was seen as a threat by the left. Piłsudski decided to take the action into his own hands and entered Warsaw with couple thousends of his loyal troops demending the resignation of the government and call for new elections from President . To a suprise of everyone, including the government, president refused and a fighting started in Warsaw between rebels and loyalist. The fighting lasted couple of days which ended with the resignation of President and the government to prevent countrywide civil war.

New government was formed under liberal professor loyal to Piłsudski (Kazimierz Bartel) and Piłsudski became the Minister of Defense. Piłsudski refused the position of president again and Ignacy Mościcki (former member of PPS) became the puppet President.

The period between 1926-1935 is known in Polish history as the "Sanacja Regime" (Sanatio in latin means healing). Piłsudski promoted the idea of moral healing of Polish public life under authoritarian regime. New elections were called in 1928 and Piłsudski's party gained most of votes but did not get needed majority to change the constitutuion. In 1930 Piłsudski decided to start an open war with democratic opposition and jailed most of their leaders (but still didnt get the absolute majority in parliament).

The regime turned very authoritarian between 1930-1935. In the meantime the government started drafting new constitution which goal was to transform Polish parliamentary democracy into authoritarian presidental republic. New constitution was signed in April 1935 and Piłsudski was supposed to take the position of President soon after. Unfortunetly for him and his followers he died a month later due to cancer.

Soon after his dead the regime implemented new electoral code which turned Poland into authoritarian one-party state. The rulling elite turned out to be unable to rule without their leader and soon started fighting eacho others. In the end two sides came to a compromise: Left wing supporters of President Mościcki and right wing supporters of new Marshal of Poland Rydź Śmigły.

The upcoming war eased the tension within the rulling camp which decided to wait until 1940 Presidental Elections for the final result of their factional fight.

That's why Stephen Kotkin called Poland "a dictatorship, albeit one without a dictator". Some Polish historians called Poland "a kingdom without a king". Piłsudski left huge power vacuum in Poland, making his followers to fight for the position of new "Father of the Nation". A fight which was cut short by the nazi invasion.