The remainder of the Polish army of…
October 1831 CE
The remainder of the Polish army of over twenty thousand men crosses the Prussian frontier on October 5, 1831, and lays down arms at Brodnica in preference to submission to Russia.
Only one man, a colonel by the name of Stryjenski, gains the peculiar distinction of giving himself up to Russia.
Following the example of Dombrowski of a generation before, General Bem endeavors to reorganize the Polish soldiers in Prussia and Galicia into Legions and lead them to France, but the Prussian government frustrates his plans.
The immigrants leave Prussia in bands of between fifty and a hundred, and the population of the various German principalities through which they pass greets them with enthusiasm.
Even some of the German sovereigns, such as the King of Saxony, the Princess of Weimar, and the Duke of Gotha share in the general outburst of sympathy.
It is only upon the very insistent demands of Russia that the Polish committees all over Germany have to be closed.