Władysław Pobóg-Malinowski
Encyclopedia
Władysław Pobóg-Malinowski (1899 — 1962) was a Polish
soldier, historian and journalist. An officer of the Polish Army, he is best known as a historian and author of numerous books on modern history of Poland
. His most notable work is the Modern political history of Poland published in 1956 in London. Although blacklisted by the censorship
in Communist-controlled Poland, the book was clandestinely published and re-edited in Poland several times.
Władysław Pobóg-Malinowski was born November 23, 1899 in Arkhangelsk
in Imperial Russia, to a family of szlachta
descent (Pobóg being the name of his family's coat of arms
, traditionally attached to one's surname in Poland). During the Great War
he reached Poland and joined the Polish Army soon after it had been formed in 1918, following Poland's restoration of independence. He took part in the Polish-Bolshevist War of 1920. After the war he remained in the army and served in the 21st Field Artillery Regiment (Kraków
, 1923), the headquarters of the Kraków-based 5th Corps District Command
(1924) and the 12th Field Artillery Regiment (1928, Złoczów). During his military service he also graduated from the Jagiellonian University
(faculties of Polish studies
and political science).
In 1929 he was attached to the Warsaw-based Military Historical Bureau. Among the best-known works he co-authored and edited was a 10-volume edition of selected works of Józef Piłsudski, Poland's chief of state and military leader. Pobóg-Malinowski retired from the army in 1931 (officially discharged with honours on October 1, 1932) and started working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following the outbreak of World War II
he settled in London
. In 1944 he once again became a Polish diplomat and was posted to Paris. During his stay there he briefly headed the Polish-language section of the Radiodiffusion française
.
After the war he remained in exile. He continued his work on books on modern history of Poland, from the partitions of Poland
to the post-war period. Apart from the highly popular Political history of Poland, he also authored a monograph on Polish National Democrats
in the period between 1887 and 1918, a monograph on the Bezdany raid
, as well as started a monumental 6-volume biography of Józef Piłsudski (only two volumes were published). He died November 21, 1962 in Geneva
. After 1989 a yearly prize for "best historical debut work" was set up in his honour by the Polish Academy of Sciences
and the Institute of National Remembrance
.
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...
soldier, historian and journalist. An officer of the Polish Army, he is best known as a historian and author of numerous books on modern history of Poland
History of Poland
The History of Poland is rooted in the arrival of the Slavs, who gave rise to permanent settlement and historic development on Polish lands. During the Piast dynasty Christianity was adopted in 966 and medieval monarchy established...
. His most notable work is the Modern political history of Poland published in 1956 in London. Although blacklisted by the censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
in Communist-controlled Poland, the book was clandestinely published and re-edited in Poland several times.
Władysław Pobóg-Malinowski was born November 23, 1899 in Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...
in Imperial Russia, to a family of szlachta
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
descent (Pobóg being the name of his family's coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
, traditionally attached to one's surname in Poland). During the Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he reached Poland and joined the Polish Army soon after it had been formed in 1918, following Poland's restoration of independence. He took part in the Polish-Bolshevist War of 1920. After the war he remained in the army and served in the 21st Field Artillery Regiment (Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, 1923), the headquarters of the Kraków-based 5th Corps District Command
Dowodztwo Okregu Korpusu
Dowództwo Okręgu Korpusu was a military district of the Ministry of Military Affairs of the Second Polish Republic. It served as an organizational, mobilisational, and administrative body of the Polish Army and all local military units of the country were subject to the Corps commands...
(1924) and the 12th Field Artillery Regiment (1928, Złoczów). During his military service he also graduated from the Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
(faculties of Polish studies
Polish studies
Polish studies is the field of humanities that researches, documents and disseminates Polish language and literature in both its historic and present-day forms...
and political science).
In 1929 he was attached to the Warsaw-based Military Historical Bureau. Among the best-known works he co-authored and edited was a 10-volume edition of selected works of Józef Piłsudski, Poland's chief of state and military leader. Pobóg-Malinowski retired from the army in 1931 (officially discharged with honours on October 1, 1932) and started working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following the outbreak of 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...
he settled in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1944 he once again became a Polish diplomat and was posted to Paris. During his stay there he briefly headed the Polish-language section of the Radiodiffusion française
Radio France
Radio France is a French public service radio broadcaster.-Mission:Radio France's two principal missions are:* To create and expand the programming on all of their stations; and...
.
After the war he remained in exile. He continued his work on books on modern history of Poland, from the partitions of Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
to the post-war period. Apart from the highly popular Political history of Poland, he also authored a monograph on Polish National Democrats
National Democrats
There are a number of political parties operating in various countries with the name National Democrats.* National Democrats * National Democrats * National Democrats * National Democrats...
in the period between 1887 and 1918, a monograph on the Bezdany raid
Bezdany raid
Bezdany raid was a train robbery carried out on the night of 26/27 September 1908 in the vicinity of Bezdany near Vilna on a Russian Empire passenger and mail train by a group of Polish revolutionaries, led by future Polish national hero and dictator, Józef Piłsudski.- Background :Piłsudski...
, as well as started a monumental 6-volume biography of Józef Piłsudski (only two volumes were published). He died November 21, 1962 in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. After 1989 a yearly prize for "best historical debut work" was set up in his honour by the Polish Academy of Sciences
Polish Academy of Sciences
The Polish Academy of Sciences, headquartered in Warsaw, is one of two Polish institutions having the nature of an academy of sciences.-History:...
and the Institute of National Remembrance
Institute of National Remembrance
Institute of National Remembrance — Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation is a Polish government-affiliated research institute with lustration prerogatives and prosecution powers founded by specific legislation. It specialises in the legal and historical sciences and...
.