Władysław Kowalski (politician)


Władysław Kowalski was a Polish communist politician, who served as Sejm Marshal during the first postwar parliament Sejm of the Communist Poland and, ex officio, as the head of state for one day. He was also a publisher and writer.
Kowalski was also known by the pseudonyms Sałas, Bartłomiej Zarychta and Stanisławski.

Life

Władysław Kowalski was born in a small village of Paprotnia near Rawa Mazowiecka as a son of farm worker. Because of his family poverty, he graduated just three school grades and later became an autodidact.
He was member of various peasants parties before he became a communist, including the Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie", the Peasant's Independent Party, United People's Left "Samopomoc", and People's Party. He was also an active member of the Communist Party of Poland and PPR.
Kowalski was a longtime member of party leaderships:
During World War I he fought in the Imperial Russian Army and later in the Puławy Legion. From 1918 to 1939 in the Second Polish Republic he was an active writer and publisher. During World War II he was a member of the Polish underground resistance. He hid 50 Jews around Warsaw.
After the War, he was a Minister of Culture and member and Vice President of the State National Council.
He was an author of novels, articles and poems. He published the novels: Chłopi z Marchat, W Grzmiącej, Rodzina Mianowskich, as well as short stories Dalekie i bliskie, Bunt w Starym Łęku, Bestia, and Wino.