[1] One of the better known associations the "Strzelec" ('Rifleman'), was a Polish paramilitary cultural and educational organization created in 1910 in Lwów as a legal front of the Związek Walki Czynnej (ZWC - Union of Active Struggle).

Prominent members and leaders of the Riflemen’s Association included Józef Piłsudski, Henryk Dobrzański, Kazimierz Sosnkowski, Edward Rydz-Śmigły, Władysław Sikorski, Marian Kukiel, Walery Sławek, Julian Stachiewicz, Aleksander Prystor and Włodzimierz Tetmajer.

In 1912, both organizations were merged, under the Headquarters of the Riflemen’s Association, located in Lwow, and commanded by Józef Piłsudski and Kazimierz Sosnkowski.

Meanwhile, the government in Vienna supported the associations, knowing that they were training for the future World War I with the Russian Empire.

The conspirational Organization of the White Eagle (Organizacja Orła Białego) was created in late September 1939 in German-occupied Kraków.