▁of ▁eth nic ▁Germ ans ▁in ▁those ▁areas . ▁ ▁Pro clam ation ▁prom ising ▁creation ▁of ▁Poland ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁German ▁off ensive ▁failed ▁in ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Verd un ▁and ▁Austria ▁suffered ▁military ▁set back s ▁against ▁Italy , ▁Gener als ▁H inden burg ▁and ▁Lud endor ff , ▁now ▁supre me ▁command ers ▁of ▁the ▁German ▁military ▁and ▁increasing ly ▁the ▁dominant ▁force ▁over ▁the ▁politics ▁of ▁both ▁Germany ▁and ▁Austria , ▁changed ▁their ▁positions ▁on ▁Poland : ▁having ▁previously ▁considered ▁Poland ▁as ▁a ▁b arg aining ▁card ▁in ▁the ▁event ▁of ▁a ▁separate ▁peace ▁with ▁Russia , ▁they ▁now ▁post ulated ▁the ▁establishment ▁of ▁a ▁German ▁dependency , ▁hoping ▁that ▁the ▁creation ▁of ▁a ▁Polish ▁army ▁could ▁replace ▁the ▁Central ▁Pow ers ' ▁losses . ▁In ▁October ▁ 1 9 1 6 , ▁at ▁joint ▁deliber ations ▁at ▁P sz cz yna , ▁the ▁German ▁and ▁Aust rian ▁leadership ▁agreed ▁to ▁acceler ate ▁the ▁pro clam ation ▁prom ising ▁creation ▁of ▁a ▁Polish ▁state ▁in ▁the ▁future . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁meant ime , ▁General ▁von ▁Bes eler ▁had ▁managed ▁to ▁gain ▁support ▁among ▁pro - A ust rian ▁Pol es ▁and ▁the ▁follow ers ▁of ▁Jó zef ▁Pi ł s ud ski . ▁The ▁Narod owa ▁Dem ok rac ja ▁party ▁( cent red ▁in ▁Paris ), ▁however , ▁rejected ▁any ▁co operation ▁with ▁the ▁Central ▁Pow ers . ▁After ▁the ▁German ▁Emperor ▁and ▁Chan cell or ▁met ▁with ▁a ▁Polish ▁deleg ation ▁led ▁by ▁Jó zef ▁Br