Henryk Jabłoński Explained

Henryk Jabłoński
Nationality:Polish
Order:5th Chairman of the Council of State of the People's Republic of Poland
Term Start:28 March 1972
Term End:6 November 1985
Predecessor:Józef Cyrankiewicz
Successor:Wojciech Jaruzelski
Birth Date:27 December 1909
Birth Place:Stary Waliszew, Congress Poland, Russian Empire
Death Date:27 January 2003 (aged 93)
Death Place:Warsaw, Poland
Party:Polish Socialist Party
Polish United Workers' Party
Profession:Historian

Henryk Jan Jabłoński (pronounced as /pl/; 27 December 1909 – 27 January 2003) was a Polish historian and politician. After 1948, he became a politician of the ruling Polish United Workers' Party, as well as a historian and professor at Warsaw University. He served as head of state of the People's Republic of Poland between 1972 and 1985.

Life and career

Jabłoński was born in Stary Waliszew in the Warsaw Governorate of Congress Poland. From 1931, he was a member of the Polish Socialist Party (PPS). During World War II he fought in the battle of Narvik (Norway) and then joined the French Resistance. In 1945 Jabłoński become a member of the State National Council (KRN), and during the years 1946 and 1948 he had high functions in the PPS (chairman of Central State Committee and its vice-leader). He approved joining the PPS with the Polish Workers' Party (PPR, Polska Partia Robotnicza).

From 1947 to 1972, he was a deputy to the Sejm. In 1948 he was appointed professor at Warsaw University (from 1952 member of Polish Academy of Sciences – PAN). Between 1948 and 1981, Henryk Jabłoński was in the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party (KC PZPR).

In 1972, on the initiative of Edward Gierek, Jablonski was chosen the de iure leader (chairman of the Council of State) of the People's Republic of Poland. From 1976 to 1983 he was a chief of the Front of National Unity (FJN, Front Jedności Narodu). From 1983 to 1990 he was chief of ZBoWiD, the Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy, an organisation of war veterans. In 1985 he was replaced as head of state by General Wojciech Jaruzelski. His wife Jadwiga Jabłońska died in 1999.

Honours and awards