Stanislaw Ostrowski
Encyclopedia
Stanisław Ostrowski was a Polish
politician, best known for serving as the last President of Lwów and third President of Poland in exile
.
Ostrowski was born in Lviv to Michał Ostrowski, who fought in a January uprising
. Ostrowski studied medicine in Lviv University
. He fought, as a doctor, in the Polish-Ukrainian War
(battle of Lwów (1918)
) and the Polish-Bolshevik War (1919–1920). Then he was President of Lwów (before that Vice President). He was also three-term Sejm
member from BBWR. As a legislator he focused on health affairs as well as developed a reputation of defender of minorities rights.
After the Soviet invasion of Poland (1939)
, he was arrested and imprisoned in Moscow (until 1941). Among his cellmates was Anandyn Amar
, former Prime Minister and President of Mongolia
. He left the Soviet Union as an officer of the Polish Army in the East (commander-in-chief general Władysław Anders) in 1942.
He fought against Germans in Italy (1944–1945). When World War II ended, he moved to England and became involved in the politics of the Polish community there, which included the Polish government in exile
.
Ostrowski was the third President of Poland in exile (1972–1979). He took office after death of President August Zaleski
. In start he had to deal with a deep crisis in the emigre circles. Zaleski, despite earlier promises, declined to step down after seven years in office (1954), which caused formation of the Council of Three
an opposition body recognized by a part of emigrees as a collective head of state. Ostrowski's selection was recognized by the Council, which then dissolved itself. Because of that Ostrowski is credited for uniting Polish emigree circles. He also strongly refused to acknowledge annexation of the eastern areas of the Second Polish Republic
by the USSR after World War II.
As promised, President Ostrowski stepped down after a seven-years term in favor of Edward Bernard Raczyński.
Ostrowski died in London and is buried in a Polish military cemetery in Newark
, along with past Presidents in exile.
In 1987 a table dedicated to Ostrowski was unveiled in Saint Stanisław Kostka church in Warsaw
(Żoliborz
).
Ostrowski died without children.
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
politician, best known for serving as the last President of Lwów and third President of Poland 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...
.
Ostrowski was born in Lviv to Michał Ostrowski, who fought in a January uprising
January Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
. Ostrowski studied medicine in Lviv University
Lviv University
The Lviv University or officially the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv is the oldest continuously operating university in Ukraine...
. He fought, as a doctor, in the Polish-Ukrainian War
Polish-Ukrainian War
The Polish–Ukrainian War of 1918 and 1919 was a conflict between the forces of the Second Polish Republic and West Ukrainian People's Republic for the control over Eastern Galicia after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary.-Background:...
(battle of Lwów (1918)
Battle of Lwów (1918)
Battle of Lviv begun on 1 November 1918 and lasted till May 1919 and was a six months long conflict between the forces of the West Ukrainian People's Republic and local Polish civilian population assisted later by regular Polish Army forces for the control...
) and the Polish-Bolshevik War (1919–1920). Then he was President of Lwów (before that Vice President). He was also three-term Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
member from BBWR. As a legislator he focused on health affairs as well as developed a reputation of defender of minorities rights.
After the Soviet invasion of Poland (1939)
Soviet invasion of Poland (1939)
The 1939 Soviet invasion of Poland was a Soviet military operation that started without a formal declaration of war on 17 September 1939, during the early stages of World War II. Sixteen days after Nazi Germany invaded Poland from the west, the Soviet Union did so from the east...
, he was arrested and imprisoned in Moscow (until 1941). Among his cellmates was Anandyn Amar
Anandyn Amar
Anandyn Amar , was the head of state of the Mongolian People’s Republic from 1932 to 1936 as well as prime minister from 1928–1930 and again from 1936-1939.-Early life and career:...
, former Prime Minister and President of Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. He left the Soviet Union as an officer of the Polish Army in the East (commander-in-chief general Władysław Anders) in 1942.
He fought against Germans in Italy (1944–1945). When World War II ended, he moved to England and became involved in the politics of the Polish community there, which included 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...
.
Ostrowski was the third President of Poland in exile (1972–1979). He took office after death of President August Zaleski
August Zaleski
August Zaleski was a Polish economist, politician, and diplomat. Twice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, he served as the President of Poland within the Polish Government in Exile.- Biography :...
. In start he had to deal with a deep crisis in the emigre circles. Zaleski, despite earlier promises, declined to step down after seven years in office (1954), which caused formation of the Council of Three
Rada Trzech
The Council of Three was a collegial body created by the Polish Government in Exile in 1954 with prerogatives of the President of Poland. It consisted of three members of the government chosen by the Rada Jedności Narodowej , a rump parliament in exile.It was created in 1954, after president...
an opposition body recognized by a part of emigrees as a collective head of state. Ostrowski's selection was recognized by the Council, which then dissolved itself. Because of that Ostrowski is credited for uniting Polish emigree circles. He also strongly refused to acknowledge annexation of the eastern areas of 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...
by the USSR after World War II.
As promised, President Ostrowski stepped down after a seven-years term in favor of Edward Bernard Raczyński.
Ostrowski died in London and is buried in a Polish military cemetery in Newark
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...
, along with past Presidents in exile.
In 1987 a table dedicated to Ostrowski was unveiled in Saint Stanisław Kostka church in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
(Żoliborz
Zoliborz
Żoliborz is one of the northern districts of the city of Warsaw. It is located directly to the north of the City Centre, on the left bank of the Vistula river. It has approximately 50,000 inhabitants and is one of the smallest boroughs of Warsaw....
).
Ostrowski died without children.