initially the polish legions were composed of two legions: the eastern and the western legion, both formed on august 27. after a russian victory in the battle of galicia (august–september 1914) the eastern polish legion refused to fight on behalf of the austro-hungarian side against russia and was disbanded on september 21. on december 19, the western legion was transformed into three brigades: the i brigade of the polish legions under józef piłsudski, formed in mid-december; the ii brigade of the polish legions under józef haller de hallenburg, formed between mid-december and march (sources vary); and the iii brigade of the polish legions under zygmunt zieliński (later bolesław roja), formed on may 8, 1915. all brigades had the following: