How did Warsaw regain its role as Poland’s capital after World War I?

Following the conclusion of World War I on November 11, 1918, Warsaw regained its status as the national capital of the newly restored Polish republic.123

The transition occurred as the German-appointed Regency Council handed over its powers to Józef Piłsudski, who arrived in Warsaw on November 10, 1918, and was subsequently accepted as head of state and commander in chief. This restoration followed a long period of foreign occupation, during which Warsaw had been reduced to a provincial city within the Russian Empire following the suppression of the 1863 insurrection.143

The consolidation of the capital's role was further secured through political compromise. To avoid the danger of rival governments—specifically between Piłsudski’s administration and the Polish National Committee in Paris led by Roman Dmowski—a mediation led by Ignacy Paderewski resulted in a unified government in early 1919.14