Stanislaw Grabski
Encyclopedia
Stanisław Grabski was a Polish economist and politician, member of the Sejm
, associated with the National Democracy political camp. Stanisław was the brother of another prominent Polish politician, economist and Prime Minister Władysław Grabski, and political activist Zofia Kirkor-Kiedroniowa
.
. In 1892 he co-founded the Polish Socialist Party
(PPS) but in 1901 he detached himself from that political movement to become a member of Roman Dmowski
's "nationalist" camp (later known as National Democracy).
A member of the National League
since 1905, a year later he become one of its leaders. From 1907 he was a member of Dmowski's party, the National-Democratic Party
. During World War I
Grabski, like Dmowski, supported the idea that Poles should ally with Russia, and later he joined Dmowski's Polish National Committee
(Komitet Narodowy Polski) in Paris
.
From 1919 to 1925, in newly-independent Poland (the Second Polish Republic), he was a deputy to the Sejm
(the Polish parliament) from the right-wing National Populist Association (Związek Ludowo-Narodowy).
During the Polish-Soviet War
(1919–1921) he strongly opposed the alliance between Poland and the Ukraine
(represented by Symon Petlura
). He resigned as chair of the parliamentary commission on foreign relations in protest of this alliance. During the negotiations of the Treaty of Riga (1921), where he was a Polish negotiator, he was to a great extent responsible for the disregarding of Ukrainian wishes, with resulting partitioning of Ukraine between Poland and the Soviet Union
. This was in contrast to the idea of creation of an independent Ukrainian state, as advocated by one of the architects of the Polish-Ukrainian alliance, Józef Piłsudski.
In 1923 and from 1925 to 1926 he was the Minister of Religious Beliefs and Public Education. In that time he further pursued nationalist policies, especially Polonization
. He was the architect of the 1924 Lex Grabski, which de facto sought to eliminate the Ukrainian language
from Polish schools. These policies resulted in a dramatic increase in Ukrainian private schools and served to alienate Ukrainian youths from Polish authority. In 1926 he was also one of the first Poles to speak on radio
, during the Polish Radio inauguration ceremony.
After Piłsudski's May Coup in 1926 he distanced himself from politics and concentrated on academic research into economics
. Before the Second World War, he was a professor
at the Lwów University, Dublany Agricultural Academy, and Jagiellonian University
.
In the aftermath of the Invasion of Poland
of 1939, when the Soviet Union
joined the German invasion and took control of Eastern Poland (Kresy
), Grabski, like many prominent Polish intellectuals, was arrested by the Soviets and imprisoned. In the aftermath of the Sikorski-Mayski Agreement
, he was released and moved to London
, where he joined the Polish government in exile
. He returned to Poland in 1945. Working closely together with Polish communist Wanda Wasilewska
, Grabski (who referred to Stalin as "the greatest realist of all") sought to use Stalin to create a compact and ethnically homogenous Poland and helped to design a program for implementing policies to insure an ethnically pure Polish state. He proposed Polish and Ukrainian resettlement plans to Josef Stalin, and traveled to Lviv in order to urge Poles to leave. He became one of the deputies to the president of the quasi-parliament State National Council
, until the new Sejm
was elected in the Polish legislative election, 1947
. Afterwards he returned to his teaching career, becoming a professor at the University of Warsaw
.
He died in Sulejówek
and was buried at Powązki Cemetery
in the family grave of the Grabski family.
. Zbigniew (1907–1943) was a scoutmaster, jailed until 1941 by Soviets, he died as a result of an accident during his military duties. After the death of his wife in 1915, Stanisław Grabski married Zofia Smolikówna in 1916. They had two daughters - Anna (born 1919) and Stanisława (1922–2008).
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
, associated with the National Democracy political camp. Stanisław was the brother of another prominent Polish politician, economist and Prime Minister Władysław Grabski, and political activist Zofia Kirkor-Kiedroniowa
Zofia Kirkor-Kiedroniowa
Zofia Kirkor-Kiedroniowa, née Grabska was a Polish national activist.Zofia Grabska was born to Feliks and Stanisława Grabski at the family possession in the village of Borów. Her brothers were Stanisław Grabski, politician and economist; and Władysław Grabski, Prime Minister of Poland...
.
Biography
Stanisław Grabski became a political activist early in his life. In 1890 he was the editor of the Workers Gazette in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 1892 he co-founded the Polish Socialist Party
Polish Socialist Party
The Polish Socialist Party was one of the most important Polish left-wing political parties from its inception in 1892 until 1948...
(PPS) but in 1901 he detached himself from that political movement to become a member of Roman Dmowski
Roman Dmowski
Roman Stanisław Dmowski was a Polish politician, statesman, and chief ideologue and co-founder of the National Democracy political movement, which was one of the strongest political camps of interwar Poland.Though a controversial personality throughout his life, Dmowski was instrumental in...
's "nationalist" camp (later known as National Democracy).
A member of the National League
National League (Poland)
National League was a conspirational Polish organization active in all three partitions. It was founded in April 1893 from the transformed Polish League. National League was the first organization of the nascent National Democracy movement...
since 1905, a year later he become one of its leaders. From 1907 he was a member of Dmowski's party, the National-Democratic Party
National-Democratic Party (Poland)
Stronnictwo Narodowo-Demokratyczne was a Polish political party founded in 1897 by Roman Dmowski to represent the National Democracy movement at elections. It was a political opponent of the Polish Socialist Party. In 1919, when Poland regained independence, the National-Democratic Party was...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Grabski, like Dmowski, supported the idea that Poles should ally with Russia, and later he joined Dmowski's Polish National Committee
Polish National Committee (1917-1919)
Polish National Committee was formed in Lausanne on 15 August 1917 by Polish National Democracy politician Roman Dmowski. Its goal was to support Entente by creating the Polish Army fighting alongside of it in exchange of receiving support for independent Poland...
(Komitet Narodowy Polski) in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
From 1919 to 1925, in newly-independent Poland (the Second Polish Republic), he was a deputy to the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
(the Polish parliament) from the right-wing National Populist Association (Związek Ludowo-Narodowy).
During the Polish-Soviet War
Polish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
(1919–1921) he strongly opposed the alliance between Poland and the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
(represented by Symon Petlura
Symon Petlura
Symon Vasylyovych Petliura was a publicist, writer, journalist, Ukrainian politician, statesman, and national leader who led Ukraine's struggle for independence following the Russian Revolution of 1917....
). He resigned as chair of the parliamentary commission on foreign relations in protest of this alliance. During the negotiations of the Treaty of Riga (1921), where he was a Polish negotiator, he was to a great extent responsible for the disregarding of Ukrainian wishes, with resulting partitioning of Ukraine between Poland and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. This was in contrast to the idea of creation of an independent Ukrainian state, as advocated by one of the architects of the Polish-Ukrainian alliance, Józef Piłsudski.
In 1923 and from 1925 to 1926 he was the Minister of Religious Beliefs and Public Education. In that time he further pursued nationalist policies, especially Polonization
Polonization
Polonization was the acquisition or imposition of elements of Polish culture, in particular, Polish language, as experienced in some historic periods by non-Polish populations of territories controlled or substantially influenced by Poland...
. He was the architect of the 1924 Lex Grabski, which de facto sought to eliminate the Ukrainian language
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
from Polish schools. These policies resulted in a dramatic increase in Ukrainian private schools and served to alienate Ukrainian youths from Polish authority. In 1926 he was also one of the first Poles to speak on radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, during the Polish Radio inauguration ceremony.
After Piłsudski's May Coup in 1926 he distanced himself from politics and concentrated on academic research into economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. Before the Second World War, he was a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the Lwów University, Dublany Agricultural Academy, and Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
.
In the aftermath of the Invasion of Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
of 1939, when the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
joined the German invasion and took control of Eastern Poland (Kresy
Kresy
The Polish term Kresy refers to a land considered by Poles as historical eastern provinces of their country. Today, it makes western Ukraine, western Belarus, as well as eastern Lithuania, with such major cities, as Lviv, Vilnius, and Hrodna. This territory belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian...
), Grabski, like many prominent Polish intellectuals, was arrested by the Soviets and imprisoned. In the aftermath of the Sikorski-Mayski Agreement
Sikorski-Mayski Agreement
The Sikorski–Mayski Agreement was a treaty between the Soviet Union and Poland signed in London on 30 July 1941. Its name was coined after the two most notable signatories: Polish Prime Minister Władysław Sikorski and Soviet Ambassador to the United Kingdom Ivan Mayski.- Details :After signing...
, he was released and moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he joined the Polish government in exile
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...
. He returned to Poland in 1945. Working closely together with Polish communist Wanda Wasilewska
Wanda Wasilewska
Wanda Wasilewska was a Polish and Soviet novelist and communist political activist who played an important role in the creation of a Polish division of the Soviet Red Army during World War II and the formation of the Polish People's Republic....
, Grabski (who referred to Stalin as "the greatest realist of all") sought to use Stalin to create a compact and ethnically homogenous Poland and helped to design a program for implementing policies to insure an ethnically pure Polish state. He proposed Polish and Ukrainian resettlement plans to Josef Stalin, and traveled to Lviv in order to urge Poles to leave. He became one of the deputies to the president of the quasi-parliament State National Council
State National Council
Krajowa Rada Narodowa in Polish was a parliament-like political body formed in the late stages of the Second World War in the Soviet Union, as part of the formation of a new Communist Polish government...
, until the new Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
was elected in the Polish legislative election, 1947
Polish legislative election, 1947
The Polish legislative election of 1947 was held on January 19, 1947 in the People's Republic of Poland. The anti-communist opposition candidates and activists were persecuted and the eventual results were falsified...
. Afterwards he returned to his teaching career, becoming a professor at the University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
.
He died in Sulejówek
Sulejówek
Sulejówek is a town in Poland, about 18 km east of Warsaw city centre and part of its metropolitan area. It is located in Masovian Voivodeship, in Mińsk County...
and was buried at Powązki Cemetery
Powazki Cemetery
Powązki Cemetery , also known as the Stare Powązki is a historic cemetery located in the Wola district, western part of Warsaw, Poland. It is the most famous cemetery in the city, and one of the oldest...
in the family grave of the Grabski family.
Family
In 1895, Grabski married Ludmiła Rożen. The couple had five children – three daughters (Feliksa, Ludmiła, Janina) and two sons (Stanisław and Zbigniew). Stanisław died in 1920 during the Polish-Soviet WarPolish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
. Zbigniew (1907–1943) was a scoutmaster, jailed until 1941 by Soviets, he died as a result of an accident during his military duties. After the death of his wife in 1915, Stanisław Grabski married Zofia Smolikówna in 1916. They had two daughters - Anna (born 1919) and Stanisława (1922–2008).
Quotes
- "We want to base our relationships on love, but there is one kind of love for countrymen and another for aliens. Their percentage among us is definitely too high (...) The foreign element will have to see if it will not be better off elsewhere. Polish land for the Poles!" (1919)
- "The transformation of the state territory of the Republic into a Polish national territory is a necessary condition of maintaining our frontiers."
Works
- Zarys rozwoju idei społeczno-gospodarczych w Polsce (A sketch of the Development of Socioeconomic Ideas in Poland) (1903)
- Ekonomia społeczna (Social Economy) (1927–1929)
- Państwo narodowe (A Nation State) (1929)
- Ku lepszej Polsce (Toward a Better Poland) (1937)
- Na nowej drodze dziejowej (On a New Path of History) (1946)
- Pamiętniki (Memoirs), prepared for print and edited by W. Stankiewicz (1989)