Piłsudski's popularity, described as a
cult of personality, was tied to his role in regaining Polish independence after the
First World War and his leadership in the subsequent
Polish–Soviet War. Piłsudski seized power in Poland again in 1926 after his
May Coup that year. Piłsudski was not primarily interested in cultivating the cult himself, which was done by others, particularly after his death. His funeral in 1935 became a major state ceremony, and it became a sign of things to come, as Piłsudski's followers, known as
Piłsudskiites, Piłsudski's cult is tied to
Polish Independence Day, as the date of November 11 was also the date of Piłsudski's seizing power for the first time in the newly-independent Poland. Initially, the celebration of Poland's regaining statehood was also a celebration of Piłsudski and the
Polish Army, but that relation has lost some of its strength with the progression of time. Despite those efforts, his cult began to wane shortly after his death, according to some, as early as 1937. The cult was particularly strong in the Polish Army. During the
Second World War, the
Polish Armed Forces in the West continued that tradition, with Piłsudski's memory being highly celebrated, but many leaders of the
Polish government in exile, such as
Władysław Sikorski, were opposed to it. Piłsudski became even in his lifetime to a namesake of the
Polish Navy's gunboat ORP "
Komendant Piłsudski" and of the motor transatlantic liner "
Piłsudski". The latter, built in
Italy, was the first Polish modern transatlantic liner, was launched in December 1934 and entered service in September 1935. ==Later years==