Jump to content

Jerzy Ziętek: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
SporkBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
1,236,822 edits
m Replace template per TFD outcome; no change in content
Bizarre spacing, date
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit
 
(46 intermediate revisions by 26 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Polish politician and general (1901–1985)}}
<!--SCROLL DOWN IN ORDER TO EDIT THE ARTICLE-->
{{Infobox military person
⚫
[[File:Jerzy zietek portrait photo.jpg|thumb|Jerzy Ziętek.]]
|name= Jerzy Ziętek
⚫
'''Jerzy Ziętek''' (10 June 1901 in [[Gleiwitz]] – 20 November 1985 in [[Katowice]], [[Upper Silesia]]) was a [[Poland|Polish]] [[politician]] and [[general]]. A [[Silesian Uprisings|Silesian Insurrectionist]] in his youth, during the [[World War II|Second World War]] he joined the Polish armed forces in the U.S.S.R and later became an important politician representing Silesia in the People's Republic of Poland.
|image= Jerzy zietek military dress.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= Lieutenant colonel Jerzy Ziętek
|nickname= Jorg
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1901|6|10|df=y}}
|birth_place= [[Szobiszowice]], [[German Empire]]
|death_date= {{death date and age|1985|11|20|1901|6|10|df=y}}
|death_place= [[Zabrze]], [[Polish People's Republic]]
|placeofburial=
|allegiance= Poland
|branch= [[Polish People's Army]]
|serviceyears= 1943-1985
|rank= Generał brygady ([[Brigadier general]])
|unit=
|commands= Deputy commander of the 3rd Pomeranian Infantry Division
|awards= {{See below|[[#Awards and decorations|below]]}}
|laterwork= [[Voivode]] of [[Silesia]]<br>[[Voivode]] of [[Katowice]] Voivodeship<br>Member of the [[State Council of the Polish People's Republic|State Council]]
⚫
}}
⚫
'''Jerzy Jan Antoni Ziętek''' (10 June 1901 in [[Gliwice|Gleiwitz]] – 20 November 1985 in [[Katowice]], [[Upper Silesia]]) was a Polish [[politician]] and [[general]]. A [[Silesian Uprisings|Silesian Insurrectionist]] in his youth, during the [[World War II|Second World War]] he joined the Polish armed forces in the [[Soviet Union|USSR]] and later became an important politician representing Silesia in the [[People's Republic of Poland]].
⚫
[[File:Jerzy zietek portrait photo.jpg|thumb|Jerzy Ziętek.]]


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
[[File:Jerzy Zietek statue (50052).jpg|thumb|Statue of Ziętek in Katowice]]
Jerzy Ziętek was born in the city of [[Gleiwitz]], [[Prussia]] ([[Upper Silesia]]), in the [[German Empire]]. He was active in various Polish cultural movements, for which he was discharged from [[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasium]] in 1919 and passed his ''[[matura]]'' exams in front of the provisional Polish commission in [[Bytom]].
Jerzy Ziętek was born in the city of Gleiwitz, [[Prussia]] ([[Upper Silesia]]), in the [[German Empire]]. He was active in various Polish cultural movements, for which he was discharged from [[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasium]] in 1919 and passed his ''[[matura]]'' exams in front of the provisional Polish commission in [[Bytom]].


Ziętek was the advocate of Silesian independence and in the aftermath of the [[First World War]] he participated actively in the [[Silesian Uprisings]] (1919-1921) against the [[Germany|Germans]]. In 1920 he was introduced to [[Polish Military Organization]]. In the third Silesian Uprising (1921), he battled in the 8th Company of the 3rd Gliwice battalion. At first, he was commander of a [[platoon]], and later of the entire [[company (military)|company]]. On more occasions he was involved in direct fighting, in [[Łabędy]], [[Stare Koźle]], [[Januszkowice]]{{dn|date=June 2013}} and [[Sławięcice]]. He was also involved in organizing the [[plebiscite]] in Silesia, under the guidance of the [[League of Nations]], which eventually determined to award most of Silesia to the [[Second Polish Republic]].
Ziętek was the advocate of Silesian independence and in the aftermath of the [[First World War]] he participated actively in the [[Silesian Uprisings]] (1919-1921) against the [[Germany|Germans]]. In 1920 he was introduced to [[Polish Military Organization]]. In the third Silesian Uprising (1921), he battled in the 8th Company of the 3rd Gliwice battalion. At first, he was commander of a [[platoon]], and later of the entire [[company (military)|company]]. On more occasions he was involved in direct fighting, in [[Gliwice|Łabędy]], [[Stare Koźle]], [[Januszkowice, Opole Voivodeship|Januszkowice]] and [[Kędzierzyn-Koźle|Sławięcice]]. He was also involved in organizing the [[plebiscite]] in Silesia, under the guidance of the [[League of Nations]], which eventually determined to award most of Silesia to the [[Second Polish Republic]].


Nonetheless Ziętek in his memoirs was disappointed with the results of the peace agreement that was pushed through by the [[United Kingdom|British]]: "Everywhere, our struggle for freedom was met with disdain, especially by British politicians. [[David Lloyd George|Lloyd George]] was the most infamous of them all, having said that you can not give a [[watch]] to a [[monkey]] because the animal will break it, implying that the watch was Silesia and the monkey Poland“
Nonetheless Ziętek in his memoirs was disappointed with the results of the peace agreement that was pushed through by the [[United Kingdom|British]]: "Everywhere, our struggle for freedom was met with disdain, especially by British politicians. [[David Lloyd George|Lloyd George]] was the most infamous of them all, having said that you can not give a [[watch]] to a [[monkey]] because the animal will break it, implying that the watch was Silesia and the monkey Poland"
<ref>Stanislas Ziętek, "Powstańczy Szlak – rozważania powstańcze", 1946, Nakł. Związku Weteranów Powstań Śląskich. Original text: „Wszędzie nasze postulaty wolnościowe spotykały się z nieżyczliwością, w czym celowali politycy angielscy, z krótych szczególną niesławą okrył się Lloyd George. Powiedział on, że nie może małpie dać zegarka, bo go popsuje. Małpą w jego mniemaniu miała być Polska, zegarkiem zaś Śląsk.“</ref>
<ref>Stanislas Ziętek, "Powstańczy Szlak – rozważania powstańcze", 1946, Nakł. Związku Weteranów Powstań Śląskich. Original text: "Wszędzie nasze postulaty wolnościowe spotykały się z nieżyczliwością, w czym celowali politycy angielscy, z krótych szczególną niesławą okrył się Lloyd George. Powiedział on, że nie może małpie dać zegarka, bo go popsuje. Małpą w jego mniemaniu miała być Polska, zegarkiem zaś Śląsk."</ref>


From 1922 until 1939 he was a [[mayor]] of [[Radzionków]] and took part in the autonomous government of Silesia and from 1930 to 1935 he was a [[Legislator|deputy]] for the Polish parliament ([[Sejm]]) from the [[Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government]] (BBWR) party.
From 1922 until 1939 he was a [[mayor]] of [[Radzionków]] and took part in the autonomous government of Silesia and from 1930 to 1935 he was a [[Legislator|deputy]] for the Polish parliament ([[Sejm]]) from the [[Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government]] (BBWR) party.


In 1939, after the [[Polish September Campaign|Germans invaded Poland]] he fled the [[Nazi]]s and found himself in the [[Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union]], (which joined the Germans in their invasion). In the [[Soviet Union]] he decided to cooperate with the Polish nationalists. In 1943 he enrolled in the Union of Polish Nationalists and joined the [[Polish Army]], where he had the rank of [[pułkownik]] (colonel) and was the vice-commander of the [[Polish 3rd Infantry Division]]{{dn|date=June 2013}}. In 1945 he became a member of the communist controlled [[Polish Workers Party]] (PPR), which later became the [[Polish United Workers' Party]] (PZPR).
In 1939, after the [[Polish September Campaign|Germans invaded Poland]] he fled the [[Nazi]]s and found himself in the [[Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union]], (which joined the Germans in their invasion). In the [[Soviet Union]] he decided to cooperate with the Polish nationalists. In 1943 he enrolled in the Union of Polish Nationalists and joined the [[Polish Army]], where he had the rank of [[pułkownik]] (colonel) and was the vice-commander of the [[Polish 3rd Infantry Division (Traugutt)|Polish 3rd Infantry Division]]. In 1945 he became a member of the communist controlled [[Polish Workers Party]] (PPR), which later became the [[Polish United Workers' Party]] (PZPR).


In his political career, which lasted from 1945 until 1985, he occupied a number of different positions. First as the vice-[[Voivode|voivod]] of the [[Katowice Voivodeship|Silesian-Dąbrowa Voivodeship]], from 1950 its first representative and from 1964 the leader of the [[voivodeship sejmik]]. In 1973 he became the voivod himself until 1975. He was also a representative in the Polish [[Sejm]] from 1947 until 1952 and from 1957 until 1985. From 1961 to 1969 he was the chairman of the Sejm Commission of Building and Communal Economy. From 1963 to 1980 he was a member of the [[Polish Council of State]] and from 1980 to 1985 one of its four deputy chairmen.
In his political career, which lasted from 1945 until 1985, he occupied a number of different positions. First as the vice-[[Voivode|voivod]] of the [[Katowice Voivodeship|Silesian-Dąbrowa Voivodeship]], from 1950 its first representative and from 1964 the leader of the [[voivodeship sejmik]]. In 1973 he became the voivod himself until 1975. He was also a representative in the Polish [[Sejm]] from 1947 until 1952 and from 1957 until 1985. From 1961 to 1969 he was the chairman of the Sejm Commission of Building and Communal Economy. From 1963 to 1980 he was a member of the [[Polish Council of State]] and from 1980 to 1985 one of its four deputy chairmen.


From 1949 until the end of his life he was the vice-president of Society of Fighters for Freedom. In 1959 the People's Republic of Poland awarded him the [[Order of the Builders of People's Poland]]. In 1971, at the 30th anniversary of the Third Silesian Uprising, he was also promoted to the rank of [[generał brygady]]. In 1977 he received honorary [[PhD]] diploma from [[Silesian University]] [http://www.us.edu.pl/uniwersytet/usdoktoraty/index.php?dhcid=3]
From 1949 until the end of his life he was the vice-president of Society of Fighters for Freedom. In 1959 the People's Republic of Poland awarded him the [[Order of the Builders of People's Poland]]. In 1971, at the 30th anniversary of the Third Silesian Uprising, he was also promoted to the rank of [[generał brygady]]. In 1977 he received honorary [[PhD]] diploma from [[University of Silesia in Katowice|Silesian University]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20060519143201/http://www.us.edu.pl/uniwersytet/usdoktoraty/index.php?dhcid=3]


In 1946 he wrote his [[memoir]]s about the times of Silesian Uprisings: ''"Powstańczy Szlak – rozważania powstańcze"'' (Insurgence trail - thoughts on uprising). His life was also the basis of the 1979 movie by [[Antoni Halor]]: ''Man with the cane'' (Człowiek z laską).
In 1946 he wrote his [[memoir]]s about the times of Silesian Uprisings: ''"Powstańczy Szlak – rozważania powstańcze"'' (Insurgence trail - thoughts on uprising). His life was also the basis of the 1979 movie by [[Antoni Halor]]: ''Man with the cane'' (Człowiek z laską).


He was responsible for creation of the [[Silesian culture and refreshment park]], [[Silesia Stadium]], [[Katowice Rondo]] and many other buildings important for the region. There are monuments to him in the Park as well as on the Katowice Rondo (which is named after him). He is also the patron of [[Silesian School of Management in Katowice]]. The ''[[Gazeta Wyborcza]]'' named him as the second-most important [[Silesia]]n person in the 20th century, coming second to [[Wojciech Korfanty]] and before director [[Kazimierz Kutz]].
He was responsible for creation of the [[Silesian Park]], [[Stadion Śląski|Silesian Stadium]], [[Katowice Rondo]] and many other buildings important for the region. There are monuments to him in the Park as well as on the Katowice Rondo (which is named after him). He is also the patron of [[Silesian School of Management in Katowice]]. The ''[[Gazeta Wyborcza]]'' named him as the second-most important [[Silesia]]n person in the 20th century, coming second to [[Wojciech Korfanty]] and before director [[Kazimierz Kutz]].
He died on November 20, 1985 in Katowice.
He died on November 20, 1985, in Katowice.

==Awards and decorations==
* [[File:POL Order Budowniczych Polski Ludowej BAR.svg|60px]] [[Order of the Builders of People's Poland]] (1959)<ref>{{cite book |author= Aleksander Kochańśki |date= 2002 |title= Polska 1944–1991. Informator historyczny. Struktury i ludzie, część 2.|location= Zielona Góra |publisher= Drukarnia Wydawnicza im. W.L. Anczyca S.A. |page= 1118-1121|language= Polish}}</ref>
* [[File:POL Order Sztandaru Pracy 1 klasy BAR.svg|60px]] [[Order of the Banner of Labour]], 1st Class
* [[File:POL Polonia Restituta Komandorski ZG BAR.svg|60px]] Commander's Cross with Star of the [[Order of Polonia Restituta]]
* [[File:POL Order Krzyża Grunwaldu 3 Klasy BAR.svg|60px]] [[Order of the Cross of Grunwald]], 3rd Class (24 April 1946)<ref>{{in lang|pl}}{{Monitor Polski|1947|1|1}} („za zasługi, położone przez powstańców śląskich, którzy jako uczestnicy walki z Niemcami na terenie całego Śląska przyczynili się w szczególnej mierze do przyłączenia ziem Śląskich do Polski”).</ref>
* [[File:POL Polonia Restituta Oficerski BAR.svg|60px]] Officer's Cross of the [[Order of Polonia Restituta]] (22 July 1953)<ref>{{in lang|pl}}{{Monitor Polski|1953|93|1281}} („za zasługi w pracy zawodowej i społecznej”).</ref>
* [[File:POL Polonia Restituta Kawalerski BAR.svg|60px]] Knight's Cross of the [[Order of Polonia Restituta]]
* [[File:POL Virtuti Militari Srebrny BAR.svg|60px]] Silver Cross of [[Virtuti Militari]]
* [[File:POL Złoty Krzyż Zasługi BAR.svg|60px]] Golden [[Cross of Merit (Poland)|Cross of Merit]] (18 January 1946)<ref>{{Monitor Polski|1946|30|58}}</ref>
* [[File:POL Śląski Krzyż Powstańczy BAR.svg|60px]] [[Silesian Uprising Cross]] (1947)
* [[File:POL Srebrny Krzyż Zasługi BAR.svg|60px]] Silver [[Cross of Merit (Poland)|Cross of Merit]]
* [[File:POL Krzyż Zasługi (1923) BAR.svg|60px]] Bronze [[Cross of Merit (Poland)|Cross of Merit]] (19 January 1928)<ref>{{in lang|pl}}[https://monitorpolski.gov.pl/M1928016002201.pdf Dz. U. z 1928 r. nr 16, poz. 22] („za zasługi dla sprawy przyłączenia Górnego Śląska do Państwa Polskiego”).</ref>
* [[File:POL Krzyż na Śląskiej Wstędze Waleczności i Zasługi 1kl BAR.svg|60px]] Cross on the Silesian Ribbon of Valor and Merit, 1st Class
* [[File:POL Medal 30-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR.svg|60px]] [[Medal of the 30th Anniversary of People's Poland]] (1974)
* [[File:POL Medal 40-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR.svg|60px]] [[Medal of the 40th Anniversary of People's Poland]]<ref>{{in lang|pl}}''Uroczyste posiedzenie Prezydium Rady Naczelnej ZBoWiD'', „[[Dziennik Bałtycki]]”, nr 177, 26 July 1984, page 2.</ref>
* [[File:POL Medal Rodła BAR.svg|60px]] Rodło Medal (posthumously, 1985)<ref>{{Cite magazine |title = Uroczystość nadania medali „Rodła” |url = http://www.pbc.rzeszow.pl/publication/9014|magazine = Nowiny |page = 1 |date = 30 November 1985}}</ref>
* [[File:POL Medal 10-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR.svg|60px]] [[Medal of the 10th Anniversary of People's Poland]] (1954)
* [[File:POL Złoty Medal za Zasługi dla Obronności Kraju BAR.svg|60px]] Golden [[Medal of Merit for National Defence]]
* [[File:POL Srebrny Medal za Zasługi dla Obronności Kraju BAR.svg|60px]] Silver [[Medal of Merit for National Defence]]
* [[File:POL Brązowy Medal za Zasługi dla Obronności Kraju BAR.svg|60px]] Bronze [[Medal of Merit for National Defence]]
* [[File:POL Medal KEN BAR.svg|60px]] Medal of the National Education Commission (1973)<ref>„Kronika Beskidzka”, nr 37, Bielsko-Biała, 15–21 September 1973, page 1.</ref>
* [[File:POL Złota Odznaka im. Janka Krasickiego BAR.png|60px]] Golden Janek Krasicki Decoration
* [[File:POL Odznaka 1000-lecia Państwa Polskiego BAR.png|60px]] Badge of the 1000th Anniversary of the Polish State (1966)<ref>{{in lang|pl}}''Extraordinary session of the Sejm'', „Trybuna Robotnicza”, nr 172, 22 July 1966, page 1.</ref>
* [[File:Ordre national du Merite Chevalier ribbon.svg|60px]] Chevalier of [[Ordre national du Mérite]] (France, 1967)<ref>{{In lang|pl}}''Visit of the President of France to Poland'', „Trybuna Robotnicza”, nr 213, 7 September 1967, pages. 1–2.</ref>
* [[File:TCH Rad rude zastavy BAR.svg|60px]] Order of the Red Banner (Czechoslovakia)
* [[File:SU Order of the Red Banner of Labour ribbon.svg|60px]] [[Order of the Red Banner of Labour]] (USSR, 1968)


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
* {{pl icon}} [http://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/83689_1.html Entry in] [[Internetowa encyklopedia PWN|PWN Encyklopedia]]
* {{in lang|pl}} [http://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/83689_1.html Entry in]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} [[Internetowa encyklopedia PWN|PWN Encyklopedia]]
* {{pl icon}} [http://encyklopedia.interia.pl/haslo?hid=114523 Entry in] [[WIEM Encyklopedia]]
* {{in lang|pl}} [http://encyklopedia.interia.pl/haslo?hid=114523 Entry in] [[WIEM Encyklopedia]]
* {{pl icon}} [http://zientas.katowice.pl/staticpages/index.php?page=20060208230250424&mode=print Biography]
* {{in lang|pl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20070312073702/http://zientas.katowice.pl/staticpages/index.php?page=20060208230250424&mode=print Biography]
* {{pl icon}} [http://www.swsz.katowice.pl/naszauczelnia_patron.php Biography]
* {{in lang|pl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20060831130515/http://www.swsz.katowice.pl/naszauczelnia_patron.php Biography]
*{{iw-ref|pl|Jerzy Ziętek|12 August 2006}}
*{{iw-ref|de|Jerzy Ziętek|12 August 2006}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*Jan Walczak, ''Generał Stanislas Ziętek. Wojewoda katowicki. Biografia Ślązaka 1901-1985.'', Śląsk Spółka z o.o., 2002, ISBN 83-7164-000-5
*Jan Walczak, ''Generał Stanislas Ziętek. Wojewoda katowicki. Biografia Ślązaka 1901-1985.'', Śląsk Spółka z o.o., 2002, {{ISBN|83-7164-000-5}}

⚫
{{Authority control}}


⚫
{{Authority control|VIAF=10645121}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Zietek, Jerzy
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Polish general and politician
| DATE OF BIRTH = 10 June 1901
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 20 November 1985
| PLACE OF DEATH =
⚫
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zietek, Jerzy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zietek, Jerzy}}
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Gliwice]]
[[Category:People from Gliwice]]
[[Category:Politicians from the Province of Silesia]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the Province of Silesia]]
[[Category:Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government politicians]]
[[Category:Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government politicians]]
[[Category:Polish Workers' Party politicians]]
[[Category:Polish Workers' Party politicians]]
[[Category:Polish United Workers' Party members]]
[[Category:Polish United Workers' Party members]]
[[Category:Members of the Polish Sejm 1965–1969]]
⚫
[[Category:Members of the Polish Sejm 1972–1976]]
⚫
[[Category:Members of the Polish Sejm 1980–1985]]
[[Category:Polish generals]]
[[Category:Polish generals]]
[[Category:People from the Province of Silesia]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Medal of the 10th Anniversary of the People's Republic of Poland]]
[[Category:Members of the Sejm of the People's Republic of Poland (1965–1969)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Medal of the 40th Anniversary of the People's Republic of Poland]]
⚫
[[Category:Members of the Sejm of the People's Republic of Poland (1972–1976)]]
⚫
[[Category:Members of the Sejm of the People's Republic of Poland (1980–1985)]]

Latest revision as of 14:33, 25 November 2024

Jerzy Ziętek
Lieutenant colonel Jerzy Ziętek
Nickname(s)Jorg
Born(1901-06-10)10 June 1901
Szobiszowice, German Empire
Died20 November 1985(1985-11-20) (aged 84)
Zabrze, Polish People's Republic
AllegiancePoland
Service / branchPolish People's Army
Years of service1943-1985
RankGenerał brygady (Brigadier general)
CommandsDeputy commander of the 3rd Pomeranian Infantry Division
Awards(see below)
Other workVoivode of Silesia
Voivode of Katowice Voivodeship
Member of the State Council

Jerzy Jan Antoni Ziętek (10 June 1901 in Gleiwitz – 20 November 1985 in Katowice, Upper Silesia) was a Polish politician and general. A Silesian Insurrectionist in his youth, during the Second World War he joined the Polish armed forces in the USSR and later became an important politician representing Silesia in the People's Republic of Poland.

Jerzy Ziętek.

Biography

[edit]
Statue of Ziętek in Katowice

Jerzy Ziętek was born in the city of Gleiwitz, Prussia (Upper Silesia), in the German Empire. He was active in various Polish cultural movements, for which he was discharged from gymnasium in 1919 and passed his matura exams in front of the provisional Polish commission in Bytom.

Ziętek was the advocate of Silesian independence and in the aftermath of the First World War he participated actively in the Silesian Uprisings (1919-1921) against the Germans. In 1920 he was introduced to Polish Military Organization. In the third Silesian Uprising (1921), he battled in the 8th Company of the 3rd Gliwice battalion. At first, he was commander of a platoon, and later of the entire company. On more occasions he was involved in direct fighting, in Łabędy, Stare Koźle, Januszkowice and Sławięcice. He was also involved in organizing the plebiscite in Silesia, under the guidance of the League of Nations, which eventually determined to award most of Silesia to the Second Polish Republic.

Nonetheless Ziętek in his memoirs was disappointed with the results of the peace agreement that was pushed through by the British: "Everywhere, our struggle for freedom was met with disdain, especially by British politicians. Lloyd George was the most infamous of them all, having said that you can not give a watch to a monkey because the animal will break it, implying that the watch was Silesia and the monkey Poland" [1]

From 1922 until 1939 he was a mayor of Radzionków and took part in the autonomous government of Silesia and from 1930 to 1935 he was a deputy for the Polish parliament (Sejm) from the Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government (BBWR) party.

In 1939, after the Germans invaded Poland he fled the Nazis and found himself in the Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union, (which joined the Germans in their invasion). In the Soviet Union he decided to cooperate with the Polish nationalists. In 1943 he enrolled in the Union of Polish Nationalists and joined the Polish Army, where he had the rank of pułkownik (colonel) and was the vice-commander of the Polish 3rd Infantry Division. In 1945 he became a member of the communist controlled Polish Workers Party (PPR), which later became the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR).

In his political career, which lasted from 1945 until 1985, he occupied a number of different positions. First as the vice-voivod of the Silesian-Dąbrowa Voivodeship, from 1950 its first representative and from 1964 the leader of the voivodeship sejmik. In 1973 he became the voivod himself until 1975. He was also a representative in the Polish Sejm from 1947 until 1952 and from 1957 until 1985. From 1961 to 1969 he was the chairman of the Sejm Commission of Building and Communal Economy. From 1963 to 1980 he was a member of the Polish Council of State and from 1980 to 1985 one of its four deputy chairmen.

From 1949 until the end of his life he was the vice-president of Society of Fighters for Freedom. In 1959 the People's Republic of Poland awarded him the Order of the Builders of People's Poland. In 1971, at the 30th anniversary of the Third Silesian Uprising, he was also promoted to the rank of generał brygady. In 1977 he received honorary PhD diploma from Silesian University [1]

In 1946 he wrote his memoirs about the times of Silesian Uprisings: "Powstańczy Szlak – rozważania powstańcze" (Insurgence trail - thoughts on uprising). His life was also the basis of the 1979 movie by Antoni Halor: Man with the cane (Człowiek z laską).

He was responsible for creation of the Silesian Park, Silesian Stadium, Katowice Rondo and many other buildings important for the region. There are monuments to him in the Park as well as on the Katowice Rondo (which is named after him). He is also the patron of Silesian School of Management in Katowice. The Gazeta Wyborcza named him as the second-most important Silesian person in the 20th century, coming second to Wojciech Korfanty and before director Kazimierz Kutz. He died on November 20, 1985, in Katowice.

Awards and decorations

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Stanislas Ziętek, "Powstańczy Szlak – rozważania powstańcze", 1946, Nakł. Związku Weteranów Powstań Śląskich. Original text: "Wszędzie nasze postulaty wolnościowe spotykały się z nieżyczliwością, w czym celowali politycy angielscy, z krótych szczególną niesławą okrył się Lloyd George. Powiedział on, że nie może małpie dać zegarka, bo go popsuje. Małpą w jego mniemaniu miała być Polska, zegarkiem zaś Śląsk."
  2. ^ Aleksander Kochańśki (2002). Polska 1944–1991. Informator historyczny. Struktury i ludzie, część 2 (in Polish). Zielona Góra: Drukarnia Wydawnicza im. W.L. Anczyca S.A. p. 1118-1121.
  3. ^ (in Polish)M.P. z 1947 r. Nr 1, poz. 1 („za zasługi, położone przez powstańców śląskich, którzy jako uczestnicy walki z Niemcami na terenie całego Śląska przyczynili się w szczególnej mierze do przyłączenia ziem Śląskich do Polski”).
  4. ^ (in Polish)M.P. z 1953 r. Nr 93, poz. 1281 („za zasługi w pracy zawodowej i społecznej”).
  5. ^ M.P. z 1946 r. Nr 30, poz. 58
  6. ^ (in Polish)Dz. U. z 1928 r. nr 16, poz. 22 („za zasługi dla sprawy przyłączenia Górnego Śląska do Państwa Polskiego”).
  7. ^ (in Polish)Uroczyste posiedzenie Prezydium Rady Naczelnej ZBoWiD, „Dziennik Bałtycki”, nr 177, 26 July 1984, page 2.
  8. ^ "Uroczystość nadania medali „Rodła"". Nowiny. 30 November 1985. p. 1.
  9. ^ „Kronika Beskidzka”, nr 37, Bielsko-Biała, 15–21 September 1973, page 1.
  10. ^ (in Polish)Extraordinary session of the Sejm, „Trybuna Robotnicza”, nr 172, 22 July 1966, page 1.
  11. ^ (in Polish)Visit of the President of France to Poland, „Trybuna Robotnicza”, nr 213, 7 September 1967, pages. 1–2.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Jan Walczak, Generał Stanislas Ziętek. Wojewoda katowicki. Biografia Ślązaka 1901-1985., Śląsk Spółka z o.o., 2002, ISBN 83-7164-000-5
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Jerzy_Ziętek&oldid=1259498154"