Walery Slawek
Encyclopedia
Walery Jan Sławek was a Polish
politician, military officer and activist, who in the early 1930s served three times as Prime Minister of Poland. He was one of the closest aides of Polish leader, Józef Piłsudski.
and in 1908 Sławek had taken part in the Bezdany raid
organized and led by Józef Piłsudski — a train robbery
that had financed Piłsudski's organization.
He was active in the Komisja Tymczasowa Skonfederowanych Stronnictw Niepodległościowych from 1912-1914. After the oath crisis
in 1917 he was detained by the Germans. He was released on 12 November 1918.
During the Polish-Soviet War
he was the chief of military intelligence. In 1928 he created the Non-partisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government. On 30 March 1930 he became the Prime Minister of Poland. He resigned on 23 August the same year, but he returned to office on 4 December. He resigned once again on 26 May 1931. He commenced his third term as prime minister on the 28 March 1935 and served until 12 October of that year.
Józef Piłsudski, selected Sławek as his choice for President of Poland in early 1935, but soon after Piłsudski's death (May 1935), Sławek was outmanoeuvred by his political rivals and lost most of his political influence. He was briefly Marshal of the Sejm (parliamentary Speaker) from 22 June to 27 November 1938. However, he failed to retain his parliamentary seat at the general elections of 1938.
On 2 April 1939 at 8:45 pm (the exact hour of Piłsudski's death), Sławek shot himself in his apartment. He died the next day in hospital.
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...
politician, military officer and activist, who in the early 1930s served three times as Prime Minister of Poland. He was one of the closest aides of Polish leader, Józef Piłsudski.
Life
He was a member of the Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist PartyCombat Organization of the Polish Socialist Party
The Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist Party , also translated as Fighting Organization of the Polish Socialist Party; also known as bojówki ; Organizacja Spiskowo-Bojowa PPS ; Koła Bojowe Samoobrony Robotniczej and Koła Techniczno-Bojowe The Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist...
and in 1908 Sławek had taken part in the Bezdany raid
Bezdany raid
Bezdany raid was a train robbery carried out on the night of 26/27 September 1908 in the vicinity of Bezdany near Vilna on a Russian Empire passenger and mail train by a group of Polish revolutionaries, led by future Polish national hero and dictator, Józef Piłsudski.- Background :Piłsudski...
organized and led by Józef Piłsudski — a train robbery
Train robbery
Train robbery is a type of robbery, in which the goal is to steal money or other valuables being carried aboard trains.-History:Train robberies were more common in the past than today, and often occurred in the American Old West. Trains carrying payroll shipments were a major target...
that had financed Piłsudski's organization.
He was active in the Komisja Tymczasowa Skonfederowanych Stronnictw Niepodległościowych from 1912-1914. After the oath crisis
Oath crisis
The Oath crisis was a World War I political conflict between the Imperial German Army command and the Józef Piłsudski-led Polish Legions.Initially supporting the Central Powers against Imperial Russia, Piłsudski wanted to defeat one of the partitioning powers with the hands of the two remaining...
in 1917 he was detained by the Germans. He was released on 12 November 1918.
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...
he was the chief of military intelligence. In 1928 he created the Non-partisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government. On 30 March 1930 he became the Prime Minister of Poland. He resigned on 23 August the same year, but he returned to office on 4 December. He resigned once again on 26 May 1931. He commenced his third term as prime minister on the 28 March 1935 and served until 12 October of that year.
Józef Piłsudski, selected Sławek as his choice for President of Poland in early 1935, but soon after Piłsudski's death (May 1935), Sławek was outmanoeuvred by his political rivals and lost most of his political influence. He was briefly Marshal of the Sejm (parliamentary Speaker) from 22 June to 27 November 1938. However, he failed to retain his parliamentary seat at the general elections of 1938.
On 2 April 1939 at 8:45 pm (the exact hour of Piłsudski's death), Sławek shot himself in his apartment. He died the next day in hospital.
Honours and awards
- Order of the White Eagle
- Silver Cross of the Virtuti MilitariVirtuti MilitariThe Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
- Independence Cross with SwordsCross of IndependenceCross of Independence was one of the highest Polish military decorations between World Wars I and II. It was awarded to individuals who had "fought heroically for the independence of Poland," and was released in three versions.- History :...
- Cross of Valour - four times
- Order of the Cross of the EagleOrder of the Cross of the EagleThe Order of the Cross of the Eagle was instituted in 1928 by the Estonian Defence League to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Estonian independence. It was adopted as a state order in 1936.The Order of the Cross of the Eagle is bestowed to give recognition for military services and services...
, 1st Class (Estonia, 1934)