Very popular WI question in Polish AH community that was never asked here:
What if Joseph Pilsudski dies in 1914 before WWI. Leaving leadership of Polish independence movement to other political forces, most notably his rival and Dmowski and National Democrats.
1. Assuming no significant butterflies in WWI, just who might take charge of the very first practical steps towards independence in 1918?
2. Assuming ND takes power what would be the consequences taking into account the fact pro-Russian stance of conservative ND and their focus on Western expansion rather then attempts to recreate Commonwealth in the East, combined with anti-German attitude of their party?
3. What about Russian civil war? Would alliance with White Russians be more likely?
What would be consequences of no Polish support for Petlura in Ukraine? What are the prospects of success of incorporation policy and Dmowski line?
4. Would National Democrats play their neoslavism card and influence their attitude to Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia?
5. How does the new Polish constitution look like if it is not tailored against Piłsudski?