1 9 1 8 ▁in ▁the ▁Aust ro - H ung arian ▁army ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Regiment ▁of ▁U hl ans ▁of ▁National ▁Def ense , ▁fighting ▁on ▁the ▁French , ▁Roman ian , ▁Russian , ▁Ser bian ▁and ▁Italian ▁front s , ▁ending ▁his ▁service ▁as ▁a ▁lieutenant ▁in ▁the ▁caval ry . ▁ ▁Polish - U k rain ian ▁War ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I , ▁he ▁joined ▁the ▁Polish ▁Military ▁Cad res ▁in ▁L viv . ▁From ▁ 1 ▁November ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁in ▁the ▁reform ed ▁Polish ▁Army ▁in ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁lieutenant , ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁Gó ra ▁Str ud enia ▁sector ▁in ▁L viv . ▁ ▁He ▁created ▁his ▁own ▁unit , ▁later ▁called ▁" St race ń c ami ". ▁The ▁unit ▁fought ▁successfully ▁in ▁various ▁def enses ▁of ▁L viv , ▁in ▁defense ▁of ▁Pers enk ów ka , ▁and ▁in ▁Ś ród m ie ście . ▁ ▁The ▁unit ▁raised ▁the ▁Polish ▁b anner ▁at ▁the ▁L viv ▁City ▁Hall ▁at ▁dawn ▁on ▁ 2 2 ▁November , ▁and ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁November ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁a ▁captain . ▁However , ▁his ▁troops ▁were ▁accused ▁of ▁numerous ▁rob ber ies . ▁An ▁account , ▁for ▁instance , ▁c ited ▁that ▁the ▁Gal ician ▁unit ▁he ▁commanded ▁could ▁pl under ▁from ▁pe as ants ▁living ▁in ▁captured ▁Ukrain ian ▁villages , ▁ha uling ▁all ▁that ▁could ▁be ▁transport ed