Czeslaw Kiszczak
Encyclopedia
Czesław Kiszczak AUD was a Polish
communist-era soldier and Communist politician. A member of the PPR
and later the PZPR
, during the years of the Polish People's Republic he served as a high ranking officer of the Polish Army, a chief of secret services and Minister of Internal Affairs (MSW) between 1981 and 1990, during the years of the Martial Law in Poland
. Associate of Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski
, he was also the last but one Prime Minister of People's Poland, who served briefly in 1989.
) near Bielsko-Biała
in southern Poland
in 1925. From November 1945 soldier in Main Directorate of Information of the Polish Army, then Military Counter-intelligence agency. Also from 1945 member of Polish Workers' Party
(PPR) and later Polish United Workers' Party
or PZPR. In 1951 he was Chief of Department of Information in 18 infantry division in the city of Ełk, and in 1952 was transfer to Warsaw
where he took over position of chief of Department of Information in Directorate of Information of Military District number 1. Later Kiszczak was moved to headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense
(Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej), and become chief of General Section in Department of Finances, and year later (1954) was a student in Academy of General Staff of the Polish Army. In 1957 he was moved to newly formed Counter-intelligence agency the Military Internal Service (WSW – Wojskowa Służba Wewnętrzna). From 1957 to 1965, he was the head of Counter-intelligence for the Navy, and in 1967 become deputy head of WSW
.
From the end of the 1960s Kiszczak had occupied top positions in Polish military, and secret services. In 1972 he become the head of 2nd Directorate of General Staff of the Polish Army (Zarząd II Sztabu Generalnego Wojska Polskiego), that was Military Intelligence, he occupied this positions till 1979, and in 1978 he become deputy head of General Staff of the Polish Army. June 1979 Kiszczak had returned to military Counter-intelligence, and till 1981 was the head of Military Internal Service or WSW.
July 1981 he become the Minister of Internal Affairs
(Minister Spraw Wewnętrznych) which, beside Ministry of National Defense (MON), was one of biggest and most powerful administrations in Poland
, responsible for – Intelligence
, Counter-espionage
, anti-state activity in country (SB
), government protection, confidential communications, supervision of the local governments, militsiya
, correctional facilities and fire service
. On this position he participated in preparation and realization of martial law declared in Poland on 13 December 1981. He was a member of WRON
(short for Military Council of National Salvation
, Wojskowa Rada Ocalenia Narodowego), a Military dictatorship quasi-government administering Poland during the martial law (1981–1983). He issued orders for the pacification of the striking miners at the Wujek coalmine
. Subsequently in 2004, after the fall of communism, he was judged responsible for the massacre that occurred and sentenced to four years in prison. As part of an amnesty, the sentence was commuted to 2 years suspended prison term. By 6 July 1990, he had been taken off from position as head of MSW. Kiszczak was also the last polish communist party
Prime Minister of Poland, a position he served briefly in 1989.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
communist-era soldier and Communist politician. A member of the PPR
Polish Workers' Party
The Polish Workers' Party was a communist party in Poland from 1942 to 1948. It was founded as a reconstitution of the Communist Party of Poland, and merged with the Polish Socialist Party in 1948 to form the Polish United Workers' Party.-History:...
and later the PZPR
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 :...
, during the years of the Polish People's Republic he served as a high ranking officer of the Polish Army, a chief of secret services and Minister of Internal Affairs (MSW) between 1981 and 1990, during the years of the Martial Law in Poland
Martial law in Poland
Martial law in Poland refers to the period of time from December 13, 1981 to July 22, 1983, when the authoritarian government of the People's Republic of Poland drastically restricted normal life by introducing martial law in an attempt to crush political opposition to it. Thousands of opposition...
. Associate of Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski
Wojciech Jaruzelski
Wojciech 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...
, he was also the last but one Prime Minister of People's Poland, who served briefly in 1989.
Biography
Born in Roczyny (a part of Gmina AndrychówGmina Andrychów
Gmina Andrychów is an urban-rural gmina in Wadowice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the town of Andrychów, which lies approximately west of Wadowice and south-west of the regional capital Kraków....
) near Bielsko-Biała
Bielsko-Biała
-Economy and Industry:Nowadays Bielsko-Biała is one of the best-developed parts of Poland. It was ranked 2nd best city for business in that country by Forbes. About 5% of people are unemployed . Bielsko-Biała is famous for its textile, machine-building, and especially automotive industry...
in southern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 1925. From November 1945 soldier in Main Directorate of Information of the Polish Army, then Military Counter-intelligence agency. Also from 1945 member of Polish Workers' Party
Polish Workers' Party
The Polish Workers' Party was a communist party in Poland from 1942 to 1948. It was founded as a reconstitution of the Communist Party of Poland, and merged with the Polish Socialist Party in 1948 to form the Polish United Workers' Party.-History:...
(PPR) and later Polish United Workers' Party
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 :...
or PZPR. In 1951 he was Chief of Department of Information in 18 infantry division in the city of Ełk, and in 1952 was transfer to Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
where he took over position of chief of Department of Information in Directorate of Information of Military District number 1. Later Kiszczak was moved to headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense
Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Poland
Ministry of National Defence is the office of government in Poland under the Minister of Defence. During the Second Polish Republic and World War II it was called the Ministry of Military Affairs...
(Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej), and become chief of General Section in Department of Finances, and year later (1954) was a student in Academy of General Staff of the Polish Army. In 1957 he was moved to newly formed Counter-intelligence agency the Military Internal Service (WSW – Wojskowa Służba Wewnętrzna). From 1957 to 1965, he was the head of Counter-intelligence for the Navy, and in 1967 become deputy head of WSW
WSW
WSW may refer to:*WSW, the SAME code for a Winter Storm Warning*Wall Street Week, a business show on the US Public Broadcasting Service *War§ow, a video game*West-Southwest, a compass point for "Boxing the compass"...
.
From the end of the 1960s Kiszczak had occupied top positions in Polish military, and secret services. In 1972 he become the head of 2nd Directorate of General Staff of the Polish Army (Zarząd II Sztabu Generalnego Wojska Polskiego), that was Military Intelligence, he occupied this positions till 1979, and in 1978 he become deputy head of General Staff of the Polish Army. June 1979 Kiszczak had returned to military Counter-intelligence, and till 1981 was the head of Military Internal Service or WSW.
July 1981 he become the Minister of Internal Affairs
Ministry of Interior and Administration of the Republic of Poland
Ministry of the Interior and Administration is an administration structure controlling main administration and security branches of the Polish government. Current Minister is Jerzy Miller.-History and function:...
(Minister Spraw Wewnętrznych) which, beside Ministry of National Defense (MON), was one of biggest and most powerful administrations in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, responsible for – Intelligence
Intelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
, Counter-espionage
Counter-Espionage
-Cast:* Warren William as Michael Lanyard* Eric Blore as Jamison* Hillary Brooke as Pamela Hart* Thurston Hall as Insp. Crane* Fred Kelsey as Detective Wesley Dickens* Forrest Tucker as Anton Schugg* Matthew Boulton as Inspector J...
, anti-state activity in country (SB
SB
SB or Sb may refer to:* Spina bifida* S.B., Scientiæ Baccalaureus or Bachelor of Science, an academic degree* Senate Bill, especially when quoting a bill's code SB or Sb may refer to:* Spina bifida* S.B., Scientiæ Baccalaureus or Bachelor of Science, an academic degree* Senate Bill, especially when...
), government protection, confidential communications, supervision of the local governments, militsiya
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
, correctional facilities and fire service
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
. On this position he participated in preparation and realization of martial law declared in Poland on 13 December 1981. He was a member of WRON
Military Council of National Salvation
The Military Council of National Salvation was a military dictatorship administering the People's Republic of Poland during the period of the martial law in Poland ....
(short for Military Council of National Salvation
Military Council of National Salvation
The Military Council of National Salvation was a military dictatorship administering the People's Republic of Poland during the period of the martial law in Poland ....
, Wojskowa Rada Ocalenia Narodowego), a Military dictatorship quasi-government administering Poland during the martial law (1981–1983). He issued orders for the pacification of the striking miners at the Wujek coalmine
Pacification of Wujek
The Pacification of Wujek was a strike-breaking action by the Polish police and army at the Wujek Coal Mine in Katowice, Poland, culminating in the massacre of nine striking miners on December 16, 1981....
. Subsequently in 2004, after the fall of communism, he was judged responsible for the massacre that occurred and sentenced to four years in prison. As part of an amnesty, the sentence was commuted to 2 years suspended prison term. By 6 July 1990, he had been taken off from position as head of MSW. Kiszczak was also the last polish communist party
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 :...
Prime Minister of Poland, a position he served briefly in 1989.