Kazimierz Sabbat
Encyclopedia
Kazimierz Aleksander Sabbat (27 February 1913 – 19 July 1989), was President of Poland in Exile from 8 April 1986 until his death, 19 July 1989, after serving (from 1976) as Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile
.
, at the foot of the Lysa Gora
mountain. Sabbat completed secondary school in Mielec
, and studied Law at the Warsaw University shortly before the World War II. He was a Scout
, and remained dedicated to the concept of Scouting
, even in his later life while in exile.
Sabbat was directed to the Motorized Brigade of Stanisław Maczek. Wounded during the Polish retreat, he managed to reach Great Britain where he was directed to the British General Staff
as officer responsible for youth.
As an executive of the National Union he managed the Treasury Division, and in 1976 became the Prime Minister of the Polish government-in-exile. He attempted to unite the various émigré circles and created ever stronger links with the opposition movement in Poland, which benefited from the Government in exile's moral and material help through different Funds.
He became President of the Republic of Poland (in Exile) in 1986 succeeding Edward Raczyński
. He died in London, aged 76, in 1989. Coincidentally, on the same day Wojciech Jaruzelski
was elected by a still unfree Parliament as the first President of the country since the 1950s. Ryszard Kaczorowski
, Minister of Domestic Affairs and designated successor, took office in exile and on 22 December 1990, after the first free and fair elections in Poland since the war, handed his powers and the insignia of the Polish Second Republic to President-elect Lech Wałęsa
.
Sabbat is buried on Gunnersbury Cemetery in London. His widow and their children all still live in areas near to London. He has eight grandchildren.
Polish government in Exile
The Polish government-in-exile, formally known as the Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile , was the government in exile of Poland formed in the aftermath of the Invasion of Poland of September 1939, and the subsequent occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, which...
.
Early life
Sabbat was born on 27 February 1913 in Bieliny KapitulneBieliny, Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship
Bieliny is a village in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Bieliny. It lies approximately east of the regional capital Kielce....
, at the foot of the Lysa Gora
Lysa Góra
Łysa Góra is a well-known mountain in Świętokrzyskie Mountains, Poland. With a height of 595 meters , it is the second highest mountain in that range...
mountain. Sabbat completed secondary school in Mielec
Mielec
Mielec is a city in south-eastern Poland with a population of 60,979 inhabitants, as of June 2009. It is located in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship ; previously it was in Rzeszów Voivodeship...
, and studied Law at the Warsaw University shortly before the World War II. He was a Scout
Zwiazek Harcerstwa Polskiego
Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego is the coeducational Polish Scouting organization recognized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. It was founded in 1918 and currently is the largest Scouting organization in Poland...
, and remained dedicated to the concept of Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
, even in his later life while in exile.
Wartime
After a short service in the NavyPolish Navy
The Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej - MW RP Polish Navy, is the branch of Republic of Poland Armed Forces responsible for naval operations...
Sabbat was directed to the Motorized Brigade of Stanisław Maczek. Wounded during the Polish retreat, he managed to reach Great Britain where he was directed to the British General Staff
British General Staff
Chief of the General Staff has been the title of the professional head of the British Army since 1964. The CGS is a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Army Board...
as officer responsible for youth.
Post war
After being discharged from the army in 1948, he started up his own successful business in England. He later worked for the Scouting Organization and the Association of Polish Veterans on a gratuitous basis.As an executive of the National Union he managed the Treasury Division, and in 1976 became the Prime Minister of the Polish government-in-exile. He attempted to unite the various émigré circles and created ever stronger links with the opposition movement in Poland, which benefited from the Government in exile's moral and material help through different Funds.
He became President of the Republic of Poland (in Exile) in 1986 succeeding Edward Raczyński
Edward Raczynski
Edward Raczyński was the name of three members of a Polish aristocratic family:* Edward Raczyński Polish conservative politician, protector of arts, founder of the Raczynski Library in Poznań...
. He died in London, aged 76, in 1989. Coincidentally, on the same day 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...
was elected by a still unfree Parliament as the first President of the country since the 1950s. Ryszard Kaczorowski
Ryszard Kaczorowski
Ryszard Kaczorowski was a Polish statesman. Between 1989 and 1990 he served as the last President of Poland in exile. He succeeded Kazimierz Sabbat and resigned his post following Poland's regaining independence from the Soviet sphere of influence and election of Lech Wałęsa as the first ...
, Minister of Domestic Affairs and designated successor, took office in exile and on 22 December 1990, after the first free and fair elections in Poland since the war, handed his powers and the insignia of the Polish Second Republic to President-elect Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa is a Polish politician, trade-union organizer, and human-rights activist. A charismatic leader, he co-founded Solidarity , the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland between 1990 and 95.Wałęsa was an electrician...
.
Sabbat is buried on Gunnersbury Cemetery in London. His widow and their children all still live in areas near to London. He has eight grandchildren.
External links
- Kazimierz Sabbat webpage at the President of the Republic of Poland website
- About Sabbat scouting activity