Administrative division of the Second Polish Republic became an issue immediately after Poland regained independence in the aftermath of the First World War, 1918. Poland had been partitioned in the late 18th century, and various parts of new Polish territory had belonged to different administrative structures of Austrian Empire, Imperial Germany and Russian Empire. On April 1, 1938, borders of several western Voivodeships changed considerably. For more information, see Territorial changes of Polish Voivodeships on April 1, 1938.