Polish Socialist Party
Encyclopedia
The Polish Socialist Party (Polska Partia Socjalistyczna, PPS) was one of the most important Polish
left-wing political parties
from its inception in 1892 until 1948. It was established again in 1987 and remains active.
Józef Piłsudski, founder of the resurrected Polish state
, was a member and later leader of the PPS during early 20th century.
in 1892 (see the Great Emigration
). In 1893 the party called Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania
, (SDKPiL), emerged from the PPS, with the PPS being more nationalist and pro-Polish independence oriented, and the SDKPiL being more pro-revolutionary and communist. In November 1892 the leading personalities of the PPS agreed on a political program. The program, largely progressive for the time of its creation, accented:
After the Revolution of 1905 in the Russian Empire
, the party membership drastically increased from several hundred active members to a mass movement of about 60,000 members. Another split in the party occurred in 1906, with the Polska Partia Socjalistyczna – Frakcja Rewolucyjna following Józef Piłsudski, who supported the nationalist and independence ideals, and the Polska Partia Socjalistyczna – Lewica which allied itself with the SDKPiL. Soon however, the PPS-FR regained its dominance and renamed itself back again to the PPS, while the PPS-L was eclipsed, and in 1918 merged with SDKPiL forming the Communist Party of Poland
.
During the Second Polish Republic
the PPS at first supported Józef Piłsudski, including his May Coup, but later moved into the opposition.
The party was a member of the Labour and Socialist International
between 1923 and 1940.
The party supported the Polish resistance
during World War II
as the underground Polish Socialist Party - Freedom, Equality, Independence
(Polska Partia Socjalistyczna – Wolność, Równość, Niepodległość). In 1948 it suffered a fatal split, as the communists applied the salami tactics
to dismember any opposition. One faction, which included Edward Osóbka-Morawski
wanted to join forces with the Polish Peasant Party
and form a united front against the Communists. Another faction, led by Józef Cyrankiewicz
, argued that the Socialists should support the Communists in carrying through a socialist program, while opposing the imposition of one-party rule. Pre-war political hostilities continued to influence events, and Stanisław Mikołajczyk, leader of the Peasant Party, would not agree to form a united front with the Socialists. The Communists played on these divisions by dismissing Osóbka-Morawski and making Cyrankiewicz Prime Minister.
In 1948, the Communists and Cyrankiewicz's faction of Socialists merged with the communist Polish Workers' Party
(PPR) to form the Polish United Workers' Party
(Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza; PZPR), the ruling party in the People's Republic of Poland
; remnants of the other faction survived on emigration
in the Polish government in exile
.
A new party of the same name, which seeks to carry on the tradition of the original PPS, was established by left-wing opposition figures such as Jan Józef Lipski
in 1987. However, the new PPS remains a marginal group within the political landscape of the Third Republic
.
Its main propaganda outlet was the Robotnik ('The Worker') newspaper.
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...
left-wing political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
from its inception in 1892 until 1948. It was established again in 1987 and remains active.
Józef Piłsudski, founder of the resurrected Polish state
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
, was a member and later leader of the PPS during early 20th century.
History
The PPS was founded in ParisParis
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...
in 1892 (see the Great Emigration
Great Emigration
The Great Emigration was an emigration of political elites from Poland from 1831–1870. Since the end of the 18th century, a major role in Polish political life was played by people who carried out their activities outside the country as émigrés...
). In 1893 the party called Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania
Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania
The Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania was a Marxist political party founded in 1893. Its original name was the "Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland" and it eventually became part of the Communist Workers Party of Poland...
, (SDKPiL), emerged from the PPS, with the PPS being more nationalist and pro-Polish independence oriented, and the SDKPiL being more pro-revolutionary and communist. In November 1892 the leading personalities of the PPS agreed on a political program. The program, largely progressive for the time of its creation, accented:
- independent Republic of Poland based on democratic principles
- direct universal voting rights
- equal rights for all nations living in Poland
- equal rights for all citizens, regardless of race, nationality, religion and gender
- freedom of press, speech and assembly
- progressive taxation
- eight-hour workday
- minimum wage
- equal wages for men and women
- ban on child labour (till age 14)
- free education
- social support in case of injury in the workplace
After the Revolution of 1905 in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, the party membership drastically increased from several hundred active members to a mass movement of about 60,000 members. Another split in the party occurred in 1906, with the Polska Partia Socjalistyczna – Frakcja Rewolucyjna following Józef Piłsudski, who supported the nationalist and independence ideals, and the Polska Partia Socjalistyczna – Lewica which allied itself with the SDKPiL. Soon however, the PPS-FR regained its dominance and renamed itself back again to the PPS, while the PPS-L was eclipsed, and in 1918 merged with SDKPiL forming the Communist Party of Poland
Communist Party of Poland
The Communist Party of Poland is a historical communist party in Poland. It was a result of the fusion of Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania and the Polish Socialist Party-Left in the Communist Workers Party of Poland .-1918-1921:The KPRP was founded on 16 December 1918 as...
.
During the Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
the PPS at first supported Józef Piłsudski, including his May Coup, but later moved into the opposition.
The party was a member of the Labour and Socialist International
Labour and Socialist International
The Labour and Socialist International was an international organization of socialist and labour parties, active between 1923 and 1940. The LSI was a forerunner of the present-day Socialist International....
between 1923 and 1940.
The party supported the Polish resistance
Polish resistance movement in World War II
The Polish resistance movement in World War II, with the Home Army at its forefront, was the largest underground resistance in all of Nazi-occupied Europe, covering both German and Soviet zones of occupation. The Polish defence against the Nazi occupation was an important part of the European...
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...
as the underground Polish Socialist Party - Freedom, Equality, Independence
Polish Socialist Party - Freedom, Equality, Independence
Polish Socialist Party - Freedom, Equality, Independence was an underground political party in occupied Poland durinng World War II continuing the traditions of Polish Socialist Party....
(Polska Partia Socjalistyczna – Wolność, Równość, Niepodległość). In 1948 it suffered a fatal split, as the communists applied the salami tactics
Salami tactics
Salami tactics, also known as the salami-slice strategy, is a divide and conquer process of threats and alliances used to overcome opposition. With it, an aggressor can influence and eventually dominate a landscape, typically political, piece by piece. In this fashion, the opposition is eliminated...
to dismember any opposition. One faction, which included Edward Osóbka-Morawski
Edward Osóbka-Morawski
Edward Osóbka-Morawski was a Polish activist in PPS before World War II, and after the Soviet takover of Poland, Chairman of the Communist interim government called the Polish Committee of National Liberation formed in Lublin with Stalin's approval and backing.In October 1944, Osóbka-Morawski...
wanted to join forces with the Polish Peasant Party
Polish Peasant Party
The Polish People's Party , is a centrist, agrarian, and Christian democratic political party in Poland. It currently has 31 members of the Sejm, one member of the Senate, and three Members of the European Parliament. It is the junior partner in a coalition with Civic Platform.The party was...
and form a united front against the Communists. Another faction, led by Józef Cyrankiewicz
Józef Cyrankiewicz
Józef Cyrankiewicz was a Polish Socialist, after 1948 Communist political figure. He served as premier of the People's Republic of Poland between 1947 and 1952, and again between 1954 and 1970...
, argued that the Socialists should support the Communists in carrying through a socialist program, while opposing the imposition of one-party rule. Pre-war political hostilities continued to influence events, and Stanisław Mikołajczyk, leader of the Peasant Party, would not agree to form a united front with the Socialists. The Communists played on these divisions by dismissing Osóbka-Morawski and making Cyrankiewicz Prime Minister.
In 1948, the Communists and Cyrankiewicz's faction of Socialists merged with the communist Polish Workers' Party
Polish Workers' Party
The Polish Workers' Party was a communist party in Poland from 1942 to 1948. It was founded as a reconstitution of the Communist Party of Poland, and merged with the Polish Socialist Party in 1948 to form the Polish United Workers' Party.-History:...
(PPR) to form 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 :...
(Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza; PZPR), the ruling party in the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
; remnants of the other faction survived on emigration
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
in the Polish government in exile
Polish government in Exile
The Polish government-in-exile, formally known as the Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile , was the government in exile of Poland formed in the aftermath of the Invasion of Poland of September 1939, and the subsequent occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, which...
.
A new party of the same name, which seeks to carry on the tradition of the original PPS, was established by left-wing opposition figures such as Jan Józef Lipski
Jan Józef Lipski
Jan Józef Lipski was a Polish critic and literature historian, socialist politician, and notable Freemason . As a soldier of the Home Army , he fought in the Warsaw Uprising...
in 1987. However, the new PPS remains a marginal group within the political landscape of the Third Republic
History of Poland (1989–present)
In 1989-1991, Poland engaged in a democratic transition which put an end to the Polish People's Republic and led to a democratic regime, called Polish Third Republic...
.
Its main propaganda outlet was the Robotnik ('The Worker') newspaper.
Presidents and heads of state
- Józef Piłsudski (former member at time in office)
- Stanisław Wojciechowski (former member)
- Ignacy MościckiIgnacy MoscickiIgnacy Mościcki was a Polish chemist, politician, and President of Poland . He was the longest-serving President of Poland .-Life:...
(former member) - Stanisław Ostrowski
- Franciszek TrąbalskiFranciszek TrabalskiFranciszek Trąbalski was a Polish socialist politician and a longtime member of Polish Socialist Party .-Biography:...
Prime Ministers
- Ignacy DaszyńskiIgnacy DaszynskiIgnacy Ewaryst Daszyński was a Polish politician, journalist and Prime Minister of the Polish government created in Lublin in 1918....
- Jędrzej MoraczewskiJedrzej MoraczewskiJędrzej Moraczewski was a Polish socialist politician who served as first Prime Minister of Poland , from November 1918 to January 1919....
- Janusz JędrzejewiczJanusz JedrzejewiczJanusz Jędrzejewicz was a Polish politician and educator, a leader of the Sanacja political group, and Prime Minister of Poland from 1933 to 1934.-Life:...
(former member) - Walery Sławek (former member)
- Tomasz ArciszewskiTomasz ArciszewskiTomasz Arciszewski was a Polish socialist politician, a member of the Polish Socialist Party and the Prime Minister of the Polish government-in-exile in London from 1944 to 1947, presiding over the period when the government lost the recognition of the Western powers.-Early life:Tomasz Arciszewski...
- Tadeusz TomaszewskiTadeusz TomaszewskiTadeusz Tomaszewski is a Polish politician. He was elected to Sejm on September 25, 2005 getting 12213 votes in 37 Konin district, candidating from Democratic Left Alliance list.He was also a member of Sejm 1993-1997, Sejm 1997-2001, and Sejm 2001-2005....
- Antoni PająkAntoni PajakAntoni Pająk was a Polish socialist politician, who served as Prime Minister of Poland in exile for nearly ten years ....
- Alfred UrbańskiAlfred UrbanskiAlfred Urbański was a Polish politician, a member of the Polish Socialist Party , primarily known for his political activities within the Polish Government in Exile....
- Edward Osóbka-MorawskiEdward Osóbka-MorawskiEdward Osóbka-Morawski was a Polish activist in PPS before World War II, and after the Soviet takover of Poland, Chairman of the Communist interim government called the Polish Committee of National Liberation formed in Lublin with Stalin's approval and backing.In October 1944, Osóbka-Morawski...
(later became a communist) - Józef CyrankiewiczJózef CyrankiewiczJózef Cyrankiewicz was a Polish Socialist, after 1948 Communist political figure. He served as premier of the People's Republic of Poland between 1947 and 1952, and again between 1954 and 1970...
(later became a communist)
Other figures
- Jan Józef LipskiJan Józef LipskiJan Józef Lipski was a Polish critic and literature historian, socialist politician, and notable Freemason . As a soldier of the Home Army , he fought in the Warsaw Uprising...
- Bolesław Limanowski
- Adam Ciołkosz
- Lidia Ciołkosz
- Jerzy Czeszejko-SochackiJerzy Czeszejko-SochackiJerzy Czeszejko-Sochacki was a socialist, later communist politician in Poland and an early victim of Stalinist repression. He joined the Polish Socialist Party in 1914, and the Communist Party of Poland in 1921. From 1921-33 he was a member and alternate member of the KPP Central Committee,...
(later became a communist) - Norbert BarlickiNorbert BarlickiNorbert Barlicki was a Polish publicist, lawyer and politician.Barlicki was murdered during the Second World War in the German concentration camp Auschwitz.-References:...
- Jan KwapińskiJan KwapinskiJan Kwapiński , born Piotr Chałupka was a Polish independence activist, politician and statesman. Member of Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist Party, imprisoned by Russian Empire authorities in Warsaw Citadel...
- Herman LiebermanHerman LiebermanHerman Lieberman was a Polish lawyer and socialist politician.-Life:Lieberman was born into a Jewish family in Galicia, then part of Austro-Hungary. In 1907–14 and 1917–18, he was a member of parliament in Vienna.He was a Legionnnaire in World War I, and a leader of the Polish Socialist Party...
- Stanisław MendelsonStanisław MendelsonStanisław Mendelson was a Polish socialist politician and publicist of Jewish descent. He was an activist of Polish and international workers' movement....
- Stanisław Dubois
- Jan Mulak
- Mieczysław Niedziałkowski
- Antoni Pajdak
- Feliks Perl
- Kazimierz PużakKazimierz PuzakKazimierz Pużak was a Polish politician of the interwar period. Active in the Polish Socialist Party, he was one of the leaders of the Polish Secret State and Polish resistance, sentenced by the Soviets in the infamous Trial of the Sixteen in 1945.-Biography:Born on 26 August 1883 in a family of...
- Kazimierz SosnowskiKazimierz SosnowskiKazimierz Sosnowski can refer to:* Kazimierz Sosnowski , Polish tourism activist and writer* Kazimierz Sosnowski , Polish general...