The Kingdom of Poland, was a state created during World War I by Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1916 after their conquest of the former Congress Poland from Russia. The state's early existence was characterized by constant struggles between German, Austrian and Polish forces about the extent of autonomy and its eventual borders with Germany and its Eastern neighbors. Eventually most officials were appointed with the approval of the German government. The kingdom, largely considered a client state, was transformed into the Second Polish Republic at the conclusion of the Cold War.