Edward Gierek
Encyclopedia
Edward Gierek (ˈɛdvart ˈɡʲɛrɛk; January 6, 1913 – July 29, 2001) was a Polish
communist politician.
He was born in Porąbka
, outside of Sosnowiec
. He lost his father to a mining accident in a pit at the age of four. His mother married again and emigrated to northern France, where he was raised. He joined the French Communist Party
in 1931 and was later deported to Poland for organizing a strike. After his military service in Stryj
, Galicia, Gierek went to Belgium in 1934, where he joined the Communist Party of Belgium
while working in the coal mines of Waterschei. During World War II, he remained activist of the Communist Party of Belgium. He returned to Poland in 1948 and rose through the party ranks to become by 1957 a member of the Polish parliament. As first secretary of the Katowice
voivodship party organization (1957–70), Gierek created a personal power base and became the recognized leader of the young technocrat faction of the party. When rioting over economic conditions broke out in late 1970, Gierek replaced Władysław Gomułka as party first secretary. Gierek promised economic reform and instituted a program to modernize industry and increase the availability of consumer goods, doing so mostly through foreign loans. His good relations with Western politicians, especially France's Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
and West Germany's Helmut Schmidt
, were a catalyst for his receiving western aid and loans.
The standard of living increased markedly in the Poland of the 1970s, and for a time he was hailed a miracle-worker. The economy, however, began to falter during the 1973 oil crisis
, and by 1976 price increases became necessary. New riots broke out in June 1976
, and although they were forcibly suppressed, the planned price increases were canceled. High foreign debts, food shortages, and an outmoded industrial base compelled a new round of economic reforms in 1980. Once again, price increases set off protests across the country, especially in the Gdańsk and Szczecin shipyards. Gierek was forced to grant legal status to Solidarity and to concede the right to strike. (Gdańsk Agreement
).
Shortly thereafter, in early September, 1980, he was replaced as party leader by Stanisław Kania and removed from power.
Gierek was jailed for a year in December 1981 by the next ruler of Poland, General Wojciech Jaruzelski
, who introduced martial law on December 13, 1981, in an effort to make him a scapegoat for the economic troubles Poland was experiencing.
Gierek married Stanisława, née Jędrusik, and they had two sons, one of whom is MEP
Adam Gierek
. Edward Gierek died of a lung illness in Cieszyn
, which is near the southern mountain resort of Ustroń
where he spent his last years.
In 1990 two books, each based on extended interviews of Gierek by Janusz Rolicki, were published in Poland and became bestsellers.
Polish society is divided in its assessment of Gierek. His regime is fondly remembered by some for the increase in the standard of living Poland experienced in the 1970s under Gierek's rule. Others emphasize that this increase was made possible by unsustainable foreign loans that were used unwisely, leading directly to the economic crisis the country experienced in the 1980s.
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...
communist politician.
He was born in Porąbka
Porabka, Silesian Voivodeship
Porąbka is a village in Bielsko County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Porąbka. It lies approximately east of Bielsko-Biała and south of the regional capital Katowice....
, outside of Sosnowiec
Sosnowiec
Sosnowiec is a city in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a combined population of over two million people located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Brynica river .It is situated in...
. He lost his father to a mining accident in a pit at the age of four. His mother married again and emigrated to northern France, where he was raised. He joined the French Communist Party
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
in 1931 and was later deported to Poland for organizing a strike. After his military service in Stryj
Stryi
Stryi is a city located on the left bank of the river Stryi in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine . Serving as the administrative center of the Stryi Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast. Thus, the city has two administrations - the city and the raion...
, Galicia, Gierek went to Belgium in 1934, where he joined the Communist Party of Belgium
Communist Party of Belgium
Communist Party of Belgium was a political party in Belgium. The youth wing of KPB/PCB was known as the Communist Youth of Belgium. The party published Le Drapeau Rouge in French and De Roode Vaan in Dutch.- History :It was formed at a congress in Anderlecht on September 3-4 1921...
while working in the coal mines of Waterschei. During World War II, he remained activist of the Communist Party of Belgium. He returned to Poland in 1948 and rose through the party ranks to become by 1957 a member of the Polish parliament. As first secretary of the Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
voivodship party organization (1957–70), Gierek created a personal power base and became the recognized leader of the young technocrat faction of the party. When rioting over economic conditions broke out in late 1970, Gierek replaced Władysław Gomułka as party first secretary. Gierek promised economic reform and instituted a program to modernize industry and increase the availability of consumer goods, doing so mostly through foreign loans. His good relations with Western politicians, especially France's Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard d'Estaing is a French centre-right politician who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981...
and West Germany's Helmut Schmidt
Helmut Schmidt
Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt is a German Social Democratic politician who served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. Prior to becoming chancellor, he had served as Minister of Defence and Minister of Finance. He had also served briefly as Minister of Economics and as acting...
, were a catalyst for his receiving western aid and loans.
The standard of living increased markedly in the Poland of the 1970s, and for a time he was hailed a miracle-worker. The economy, however, began to falter during the 1973 oil crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
, and by 1976 price increases became necessary. New riots broke out in June 1976
June 1976 protests
June 1976 is the name of a series of protests and demonstrations in People's Republic of Poland. The protests took place after Prime Minister Piotr Jaroszewicz revealed the plan for a sudden increase in the price of many basic commodities, particularly foodstuffs...
, and although they were forcibly suppressed, the planned price increases were canceled. High foreign debts, food shortages, and an outmoded industrial base compelled a new round of economic reforms in 1980. Once again, price increases set off protests across the country, especially in the Gdańsk and Szczecin shipyards. Gierek was forced to grant legal status to Solidarity and to concede the right to strike. (Gdańsk Agreement
Gdansk Agreement
The Gdańsk Agreement was an accord reached as a direct result of the strikes that took place in Gdańsk, Poland...
).
Shortly thereafter, in early September, 1980, he was replaced as party leader by Stanisław Kania and removed from power.
Gierek was jailed for a year in December 1981 by the next ruler of Poland, General Wojciech Jaruzelski
Wojciech Jaruzelski
Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski is a retired Polish military officer and Communist politician. He was the last Communist leader of Poland from 1981 to 1989, Prime Minister from 1981 to 1985 and the country's head of state from 1985 to 1990. He was also the last commander-in-chief of the Polish People's...
, who introduced martial law on December 13, 1981, in an effort to make him a scapegoat for the economic troubles Poland was experiencing.
Gierek married Stanisława, née Jędrusik, and they had two sons, one of whom is MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
Adam Gierek
Adam Gierek
Adam Gierek is a Polish politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Silesian Voivodship with the Democratic Left Alliance-Labor Union, part of the Socialist Group and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy...
. Edward Gierek died of a lung illness in Cieszyn
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
, which is near the southern mountain resort of Ustroń
Ustron
Ustroń is a health resort town in Cieszyn Silesia, southern Poland. It is situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , having previously been in Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship . It lies in the Silesian Beskids mountain range....
where he spent his last years.
In 1990 two books, each based on extended interviews of Gierek by Janusz Rolicki, were published in Poland and became bestsellers.
Polish society is divided in its assessment of Gierek. His regime is fondly remembered by some for the increase in the standard of living Poland experienced in the 1970s under Gierek's rule. Others emphasize that this increase was made possible by unsustainable foreign loans that were used unwisely, leading directly to the economic crisis the country experienced in the 1980s.
See also
- Edward Gierek, Polish Leader from Decade 1970–1980
- History of Poland (1945-1989)