Maria Kaczynska
Encyclopedia
Maria Kaczyńska (ˈmarja kaˈt͡ʂɨɲska; born Mackiewicz; 21 August 1942 – 10 April 2010) was the First Lady of Poland
from 2005-10 as the wife of Lech Kaczyński
, late President
of Poland
.
, now Belarus
) to Lidia and Czesław Mackiewicz. Her father fought in the Vilnius
Armia Krajowa
(Home Army), while an uncle fought in the Polish II Corps
of Gen. Władysław Anders at the Battle of Monte Cassino
; another uncle was murdered by the NKVD
(Soviet secret police) at Katyń.
Maria Kaczyńska attended primary and secondary schools in Rabka Zdrój in southern Poland
. She studied transport economics and foreign trade in Sopot at what is now the University of Gdańsk. After graduating in 1966, she worked at the Maritime Institute in Gdańsk
, where she met Lech Kaczyński
in 1976. They married in 1978, and had a daughter. In addition to her native Polish, Maria Kaczyńska spoke English, French, and some Spanish and Russian.
(06:56 UTC), Maria Kaczyńska, and her husband, Polish President Lech Kaczyński
, died when the Polish Air Force Tupolev Tu-154M they were aboard crashed while attempting
to land at Smolensk-North Airport in the Russian city of Smolensk
. All 89 passengers on board and the 7 crew members were killed.
The Kaczyńskis were traveling with several senior government figures on a trip to mark the 70th anniversary of the World War II
Katyn Massacre
, where thousands of Polish military officers were executed by the NKVD
.
She was laid to rest alongside her husband on 18 April 2010 in the honorable royal crypt at the Wawel Cathedral
.
Her diary
was found by her daughter after her death, sparking an interest among many publishers who desired to buy it and release it. However, Marta Kaczyńska-Dubieniecka stated the diary was too precious for her to sell and also said that she was not likely to reveal its content.
First Lady of Poland
First Lady of the Republic of Poland is a title of the wife of the President of the Republic of Poland .The First Lady is currently Anna Komorowska....
from 2005-10 as the wife of Lech Kaczyński
Lech Kaczynski
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński was Polish lawyer and politician who served as the President of Poland from 2005 until 2010 and as Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 until 22 December 2005. Before he became a president, he was also a member of the party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość...
, late President
President of the Republic of Poland
The President of the Republic of Poland is the Polish head of state. His or her rights and obligations are determined in the Constitution of Poland....
of 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...
.
Early and personal life
Born as Maria Helena Mackiewicz in Machowo (near KobylnikNarach (village)
Narach is a village in Myadzel Raion, Minsk Voblast, Belarus, by the Lake Narach.It was earlier known as the village of Kobylnik or Kobylniki....
, now Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
) to Lidia and Czesław Mackiewicz. Her father fought in the Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
Armia Krajowa
Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa , or Home Army, was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland. It was formed in February 1942 from the Związek Walki Zbrojnej . Over the next two years, it absorbed most other Polish underground forces...
(Home Army), while an uncle fought in the Polish II Corps
Polish II Corps
Polish II Corps , 1943–1947, was a major tactical and operational unit of the Polish Armed Forces in the West during World War II. It was commanded by Lieutenant General Władysław Anders and by the end of 1945 it had grown to well over 100,000 soldiers....
of Gen. Władysław Anders at the Battle of Monte Cassino
Battle of Monte Cassino
The Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four battles during World War II, fought by the Allies against Germans and Italians with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome.In the beginning of 1944, the western half of the Winter Line was being anchored by Germans...
; another uncle was murdered by the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
(Soviet secret police) at Katyń.
Maria Kaczyńska attended primary and secondary schools in Rabka Zdrój 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...
. She studied transport economics and foreign trade in Sopot at what is now the University of Gdańsk. After graduating in 1966, she worked at the Maritime Institute in Gdańsk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
, where she met Lech Kaczyński
Lech Kaczynski
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński was Polish lawyer and politician who served as the President of Poland from 2005 until 2010 and as Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 until 22 December 2005. Before he became a president, he was also a member of the party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość...
in 1976. They married in 1978, and had a daughter. In addition to her native Polish, Maria Kaczyńska spoke English, French, and some Spanish and Russian.
Death
On 10 April 2010, 10:56 MSDMoscow Time
Moscow Time is the time zone for the city of Moscow, Russia and most of western Russia, including Saint Petersburg. It is the second westernmost of the nine time zones of Russia. Moscow Time has been UTC+4 year-round since 27 March 2011....
(06:56 UTC), Maria Kaczyńska, and her husband, Polish President Lech Kaczyński
Lech Kaczynski
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński was Polish lawyer and politician who served as the President of Poland from 2005 until 2010 and as Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 until 22 December 2005. Before he became a president, he was also a member of the party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość...
, died when the Polish Air Force Tupolev Tu-154M they were aboard crashed while attempting
2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash
The 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash occurred on 10 April 2010, when a Tupolev Tu-154M aircraft of the Polish Air Force crashed near the city of Smolensk, Russia, killing all 96 people on board...
to land at Smolensk-North Airport in the Russian city of Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
. All 89 passengers on board and the 7 crew members were killed.
The Kaczyńskis were traveling with several senior government figures on a trip to mark the 70th anniversary of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Katyn Massacre
Katyn massacre
The Katyn massacre, also known as the Katyn Forest massacre , was a mass execution of Polish nationals carried out by the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs , the Soviet secret police, in April and May 1940. The massacre was prompted by Lavrentiy Beria's proposal to execute all members of...
, where thousands of Polish military officers were executed by the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
.
She was laid to rest alongside her husband on 18 April 2010 in the honorable royal crypt at the Wawel Cathedral
Wawel Cathedral
The Wawel Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Stanisław and Vaclav, is a church located on Wawel Hill in Kraków–Poland's national sanctuary. It has a 1,000-year history and was the traditional coronation site of Polish monarchs. It is the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Kraków...
.
Her diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
was found by her daughter after her death, sparking an interest among many publishers who desired to buy it and release it. However, Marta Kaczyńska-Dubieniecka stated the diary was too precious for her to sell and also said that she was not likely to reveal its content.
Honours and awards
- Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (16 April 2010, posthumously)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the GreatOrder of Vytautas the GreatThe Order of Vytautas the Great is the Lithuanian Presidential Award. It may be conferred on the heads of Lithuania and foreign states, as well as their citizens, for distinguished services to the State of Lithuania.-History:...
(April 15, 2009, Lithuania) - Xirka Ġieħ ir-Repubblika (26 January 2009, Malta)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry (1 September 2008, Portugal)
- Dame Grand Cross of the Order pro merito MelitensiOrder pro merito MelitensiThe Order of Merit pro Merito Melitensi of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a knightly order of merit established in 1920. It is awarded to men and women who have brought honour and prestige to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta or actively promoted Christian values or works of charity...
(14 May 2007)