2nd Polish Corps in Russia

The Corps was formed at the initiative of the Chief Polish Military Committee (Naczelny Polski Komitet Wojskowy), a Polish faction in the revolutionary and split Russian Empire military.

It was formed on 21 December 1917 in Soroca (now in Moldova), then a Bessarabian region disputed by revolutionary Ukraine and Romania.

The corps was formed primarily from Poles serving in the former Imperial Russian Army.

The Corps avoided major engagements, and concentrated on protecting the Polish inhabitants of the region.

The Poles refused to lay down their arms and General Haller took control of the forces which were then challenged by the Austrians at the battle of Rarańcza (15-16 February 1918).