Central Committee of the Polish United Workers Party
Encyclopedia
Polish United Workers' Party
The Polish United Workers' Party was the Communist party which governed the People's Republic of Poland from 1948 to 1989. Ideologically it was based on the theories of Marxism-Leninism.- The Party's Program and Goals :...
, the dominant political party in the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
(1948-1990).
Functions
Members of the Committee convened about every four months. The Committee elected representatives to various bodies, among which the most important was the Politburo of the Polish United Workers' PartyPolitburo of the Polish United Workers' Party
The Politburo of the Polish United Workers Party was the chief executive body of the ruling Polish Communist apparatus between 1948–1989. Nearly all key figures of the regime had membership in the Politburo. The Politburo of the PUWP typically had between 9-15 full members at any one time...
, which took actions between the conventions.
Leaders
By the year 1954 the head of the party was the Chair of the Central Committee. They de facto replaced the abolished position of the President of Poland:- Secretary General Bolesław Bierut (December 22, 1948 – March 12, 1956)
- First Secretary Edward OchabEdward OchabEdward Ochab was a Polish Communist politician promoted to the position of the First Secretary of the Communist party in the People's Republic of Poland between 20 March and 21 October 1956, just prior to the Gomułka thaw...
(March 20, 1956 – October 21, 1956) - First Secretary Władysław Gomułka (October 21, 1956 - December 20, 1970)
- First Secretary Edward GierekEdward GierekEdward Gierek was a Polish communist politician.He was born in Porąbka, outside of Sosnowiec. He lost his father to a mining accident in a pit at the age of four. His mother married again and emigrated to northern France, where he was raised. He joined the French Communist Party in 1931 and was...
(December 20, 1970 – September 6, 1980) - First Secretary Stanisław Kania (September 6, 1980 – October 18, 1981)
- First Secretary Wojciech JaruzelskiWojciech JaruzelskiWojciech Witold Jaruzelski is a retired Polish military officer and Communist politician. He was the last Communist leader of Poland from 1981 to 1989, Prime Minister from 1981 to 1985 and the country's head of state from 1985 to 1990. He was also the last commander-in-chief of the Polish People's...
(October 18, 1981 – July 29, 1989) - First Secretary Mieczysław Rakowski (July 29, 1989 – January 29, 1990)
Seat
By 1990 the decision-making center was situated in a building erected by obligatory subscription in the years 1948-1952. The shares were distributed among the entire society. The building was officially called the Party's House, and was also known as the White House or the House of Sheep. Since 1991 the Bank-Financial Center "New World" is located in this building. In 1991-2000 the Warsaw Stock ExchangeWarsaw Stock Exchange
The Warsaw Stock Exchange , , is a stock exchange located in Warsaw, Poland. It has a capitalization of € 220 bln .The WSE is a member of the World Federation of Exchanges and the Federation of European Securities Exchanges.-History:...
had also its seat in this building.
From 1918 to 1931 a building with the seat of communication department was located in that place. Earlier – from the November Uprising
November Uprising
The November Uprising , Polish–Russian War 1830–31 also known as the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in Warsaw when the young Polish officers from the local Army of the Congress...
to 1918 – there was also the seat of the Clearing-House.