Stanislaw Staszewski
Encyclopedia
Stanisław Staszewski was a Polish
architect and poet. He is notable as a father to Kazimierz Staszewski and author of many songs and ballads, sung both by his son and by Jacek Kaczmarski
.
to an impoverished szlachta
family of a gymnasium headmaster. During World War II
young Stanisław was a member of the Armia Krajowa
. In its ranks he took part in the failed episode of the Warsaw Uprising
in the borough of Praga
. Taken prisoner by the Germans he faced the risk of being executed and instead managed to convince the German soldiers of his German ancestry and willingness to join the Wehrmacht
. Along with several of his colleagues he was allowed to join the German army - and defected the following day. However, he was again caught by the Germans and sent to Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
. There, in March 1945, he narrowly escaped death when he became a Muselmann and was placed on a pile of corpses bound for cremation. However, he was discovered by the inmates running the camp and managed to survive until liberation.
After the war Staszewski returned to Warsaw, where he graduated from the faculty of architecture of the Warsaw University of Technology
. He also became an active member of various student cultural societies. About that time he also wrote some of his first songs and poems. In 1961 he moved to Płock, where he became the city's chief architect. Although initially a communist and a member of the Polish United Workers' Party
, Staszewski's poems were found dangerous by the party's authorities and he was expelled from it. In 1967, through Hungary
, Staszewski with his wife emigrated to Paris
and then to Boulogne-sur-Mer
, where he wrote the majority of his poems. He also recorded some of them as bootleg songs on a tape recorder. He died January 22, 1973 in Paris
and was buried at Warsaw's Bródno Cemetery
.
Virtually unknown during his lifetime, Staszewski's songs became popular in late 1970s and 1980s thanks to Jacek Kaczmarski
, who performed a number of them during his concerts. In 1990s Staszewski's son, Kazik with his rock band Kult
published two records (Tata Kazika
and Tata 2
) with his father's songs in new arrangements.
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...
architect and poet. He is notable as a father to Kazimierz Staszewski and author of many songs and ballads, sung both by his son and by Jacek Kaczmarski
Jacek Kaczmarski
Jacek Kaczmarski was a Polish singer, songwriter, poet and author.Kaczmarski was a voice of the Solidarity trade union movement in 1980s Poland, for his commitment to a free Poland, independent of Soviet rule. His songs criticized the ruling communist regime and appealed to the tradition of...
.
Biography
Stanisław Staszewski was born December 18, 1925 in PabianicePabianice
Pabianice is a town in central Poland with 69 648 inhabitants . Situated in the Łódź Voivodeship, it is the capital of Pabianice County...
to an impoverished szlachta
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
family of a gymnasium headmaster. During 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...
young Stanisław was a member of the 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...
. In its ranks he took part in the failed episode of the Warsaw Uprising
Warsaw Uprising
The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army , to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany. The rebellion was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union's Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces...
in the borough of Praga
Praga
Praga is a historical borough of Warsaw, the capital of Poland. It is located on the east bank of the river Vistula. First mentioned in 1432, until 1791 it formed a separate town with its own city charter.- History :...
. Taken prisoner by the Germans he faced the risk of being executed and instead managed to convince the German soldiers of his German ancestry and willingness to join the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
. Along with several of his colleagues he was allowed to join the German army - and defected the following day. However, he was again caught by the Germans and sent to Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
Mauthausen Concentration Camp grew to become a large group of Nazi concentration camps that was built around the villages of Mauthausen and Gusen in Upper Austria, roughly east of the city of Linz.Initially a single camp at Mauthausen, it expanded over time and by the summer of 1940, the...
. There, in March 1945, he narrowly escaped death when he became a Muselmann and was placed on a pile of corpses bound for cremation. However, he was discovered by the inmates running the camp and managed to survive until liberation.
After the war Staszewski returned to Warsaw, where he graduated from the faculty of architecture of the Warsaw University of Technology
Warsaw University of Technology
The Warsaw University of Technology is one of the leading institutes of technology in Poland, and one of the largest in Central Europe. It employs 2,453 teaching faculty, with 357 professors . The student body numbers 36,156 , mostly full-time. There are 17 faculties covering almost all fields of...
. He also became an active member of various student cultural societies. About that time he also wrote some of his first songs and poems. In 1961 he moved to Płock, where he became the city's chief architect. Although initially a communist and a member of the 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 :...
, Staszewski's poems were found dangerous by the party's authorities and he was expelled from it. In 1967, through Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Staszewski with his wife emigrated to 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...
and then to Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
, where he wrote the majority of his poems. He also recorded some of them as bootleg songs on a tape recorder. He died January 22, 1973 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...
and was buried at Warsaw's Bródno Cemetery
Bródno Cemetery
Bródno Cemetery is an old cemetery in the Targówek district, in the eastern part of Warsaw, Poland. Occupying an area of , it is the largest cemetery in Warsaw...
.
Virtually unknown during his lifetime, Staszewski's songs became popular in late 1970s and 1980s thanks to Jacek Kaczmarski
Jacek Kaczmarski
Jacek Kaczmarski was a Polish singer, songwriter, poet and author.Kaczmarski was a voice of the Solidarity trade union movement in 1980s Poland, for his commitment to a free Poland, independent of Soviet rule. His songs criticized the ruling communist regime and appealed to the tradition of...
, who performed a number of them during his concerts. In 1990s Staszewski's son, Kazik with his rock band Kult
Kult (band)
-History:Kult was formed in 1982 from Kazik Staszewski’s previous band, Novelty Poland.In July 1982 the band performed at its first concert at the Remont Club in Warsaw....
published two records (Tata Kazika
Tata Kazika
Tata Kazika is an album by Kult, released in April 1993. It contains the songs written by Kazik's father, Stanisław Staszewski.-Track listing:*all tracks by Stanisław Staszewski except where noted.# "Celina" – 6:46...
and Tata 2
Tata 2
Tata 2 is an album by Kult, released in March 1996. It is the second album of songs written by singer Kazik's father Stanisław Staszewski.-Track listing:# "Jeśli chcesz odejść – odejdź" – 3:48...
) with his father's songs in new arrangements.