Władysław Kowalski (politician)

Władysław Kowalski (26 August 1894 – 14 December 1958) was a Polish communist politician, writer and journalist who served as the Minister of Art and Culture and the Sejm Marshal during the first postwar parliament Sejm of the Polish People's Republic (1947–1952) and, ex officio, as the head of state (Acting President of the State National Council) for one day (4–5 February 1947). He was also a publisher and writer.

For the Polish actor, see Władysław Kowalski (actor).

Władysław Kowalski
1st Sejm Marshal of the Communist Poland
In office
4 February 1947 – 19 November 1952
PresidentBolesław Bierut
Preceded byState National Council
Succeeded byJan Dembowski
Acting President of the State National Council
In office
4 February 1947 – 5 February 1947
Prime MinisterEdward Osóbka-Morawski
Preceded byFranciszek Trąbalski (Acting)
Succeeded byBolesław Bierut (President of the Republic)
Personal details
Born26 August 1894
Paprotnia, then Russian Empire, now Poland
Died14 December 1958(1958-12-14) (aged 64)
Warsaw, People's Republic of Poland
Political partyPSL, People's Party, Communist Party of Poland, United People's Party, PPR
ProfessionWriter, Journalist, statesman

Kowalski was also known by the pseudonyms Sałas, Bartłomiej Zarychta and Stanisławski.

Life

Władysław Kowalski was born in a small village of Paprotnia near Rawa Mazowiecka (then Russian Empire, now east-central Poland) as a son of farm worker. Because of his family poverty, he graduated just three school grades and later became an autodidact.[1]

He was member of various peasants parties before he became a communist, including the Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie" (since 1918), the Peasant's Independent Party (1925–1927), United People's Left "Samopomoc" (1927–1931), and People's Party (1944–1949 – various factions). He was also an active member of the Communist Party of Poland (since 1928) and PPR (since 1942).

Kowalski was a longtime member of party leaderships:

  • 1926–1927: Member of the Central Committee of the PIP
  • 1944–1945: Vice President of the SL "Wola"
  • 1945–1949: Member of the Supreme Council of the SL
  • 1948–1949: SL Leader
  • Since 1949: Member of the United People's Party leadership and, from 1949 to 1956 Chairman of the Committee

During World War I he fought in the Imperial Russian Army and later in the Puławy Legion. From 1918 to 1939 in the Second Polish Republic he was an active writer and publisher. During World War II he was a member of the Polish underground resistance. He hid 50 Jews around Warsaw.[2]

After the War, he was a Minister of Culture (1945–1947) and member and Vice President of the State National Council.

Works

Kowalski was an author of novels, articles and poems.

Novels
  • The Peasants of Marchat (1930)
  • In Grzmiąca (1936)
  • The Mianowski family (1938)

Stories
  • Far and Close (1948)
  • Rebellion in Stary Łęk (1951)
  • The Beast (1951)
  • Wine (1966)

His selection of journalistic journals (1967) was also published .

References
  1. "Kowalski Family. (Polish)".
  2. Yad Vashem, "Władysław Kowalski – his activity to save Jews' lives during the Holocaust." Yad Vashem Righteous' website.
Political offices
Preceded by
Franciszek Trąbalski		 Acting President of the State National Council
1947		 Succeeded by
Bolesław Bierut
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