Polish United Workers' Party
Leader	first Bolesław Bierut last Mieczysław Rakowski
Headquarters	Nowy Świat 6/12, 00-497 Warsaw
International affiliation	no membership
European Parliament Group	no membership
Official color(s)	Red
Website	no

The Polish United Workers' Party (PUWP, in Polish Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza - PZPR) was a socialist party governing in the People's Republic of Poland from 1948 to 1989. It was based on the program of Marxism and Leninism. According to its principles, the PUWP belonged to the avant-garde of the ruling working class. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... BolesÅ‚aw Bierut (real name BolesÅ‚aw Rotenschwanz, April 18, 1892–March 12, 1956) was a Polish-born Communist leader, a Stalinist who became President of Poland after the Soviet occupation of the country in the aftermath of World War II. // Damaged monument to Bierut formerly standing in Lublin, 2007... MieczysÅ‚aw Rakowski (born December 1, 1926) is a comunist historian and journalist. ... For other uses, see Warsaw (disambiguation) and Warszawa (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Red (disambiguation). ... Capital Warsaw Language(s) Polish Government Socialist republic Leaders  - 1948–1956 BolesÅ‚aw Bierut (First)  - 1981-1989 Wojciech Jaruzelski (Last) Prime minister  - 1944-1947 E. Osóbka-Morawski  - 1947-1952 and 1954-1970 Józef Cyrankiewicz  - 1952-1954 BolesÅ‚aw Bierut  - 1970-1980 Piotr Jaroszewicz  - 1980 Edward Babiuch  - 1980-1981... Marxism is both the theory and the political practice (that is, the praxis) derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. ... Vladimir Lenin in 1920 Leninism refers to various related political and economic theories elaborated by Bolshevik revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin, and by other theorists who claim to be carrying on Lenins work. ...

The PUWP's programme and goals

Up to 1989 the PUWP had the character of a national party, and held an absolute power (the amendment to the constitution of 1976 mentioned "a leading national force"), and controlled the bureaucratized command and distribution economy.

The main goal was to create a communist society and propagate communism all over the world. The party was organised on the basis of democratic centralism, which assumed a democratic appointment of authorities, making decisions, and managing its activity. In fact, the key role was played by the Central Committee, its Politburo and Secretariat, which were subject to the strict control of the authorities of the Soviet Union. These authorities decided about the policy and composition of the main organs; although, according to the satute, it was a responsibility of the members of the congress, which was held every five or six years. Between sessions, party conferences of the regional, county, district and work committees were taking place. The smallest organizational unit of the PUWP was the Fundamental Party Organization (FPO), which functioned in work places, schools, cultural institutions, etc. This article is about the form of society and political movement. ... Democratic centralism is the name given to the principles of internal organization used by Leninist political parties, and the term is sometimes used as a synonym for any Leninist policy inside a political party. ... The Politburo (abbreviation for Political Bureau) of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers (Communist) Party (PUWP; Polish: Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza, PZPR) was the chief executive body of the ruling Polish Communist apparatus between 1948–1989. ...

The main part in the PUWP was played by professional politicians, or the so-called “party’s hard core”, formed by people who were recommended to manage the main state institutions, social organizations, and trade unions. In the crowning time of the PUWP’s development (the end of ‘70s) it consisted of over 3.5 million members. The Political Office of the Central Committee, Secretariat and regional committees appointed the key posts not only within the party, but also in all organizations having ‘state’ in its name – from central offices to even small state and cooperative companies. It was called the nomenclatura system of the state and economy management. In certain areas of the economy, e.g. in agriculture, the nomenclatura system was controlled with an approval of the PUWP and by its allied parties, the United People's Party (agriculture and food production), and the Democratic Party (trade community, small enterprise, some cooperatives). The United Peoples Party (Polish: , abbr. ... The Democratic Party () is a liberal party in Poland, founded in May 9, 2005 as an enlargement of the Freedom Union (Unia Wolności). ...

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Trybuna Ludu z 13 December 1981 reports Martial law in Poland Trybuna Ludu was one of the largest newspapers in communist Poland. ... is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Broadcast of Wojciech Jaruzelski declaring martial law (December 13, 1981) The period of martial law in Poland refers to the period of time from December 13, 1981 to July 22, 1983 when the government of the Peoples Republic of Poland drastically restricted normal life. ...

The history of the PUWP

The Polish United Worker’s Party was established at the unification congress of the Polish Workers' Party (PPR) and Polish Socialist Party (PPS) during meetings held from 15 to 21 December 1948. It was possible owing to the fact that the PPS activists who opposed unification (or rather absorption by communists) were dismissed from the party. Similarly, the members of the PPR who were accused of ‘rightist – nationalistic deviation’ were expelled. It is estimated that over 25% of socialists were removed from power or expelled from political life. The Polish Workers Party (Polska Partia Robotnicza, PPR) was a communist party in Poland from 1942 to 1948. ... The Polish Socialist Party (Polska Partia Socjalistyczna, PPS) was one of the two most important Polish political parties from its inception in 1892 until 1948, when it merged with the Stalinist Polish Workers Party (PPR) to form the Polish United Workers Party (PZPR), the ruling party in the Peoples...

The collapse of the PUWP

Starting from January 1990, the collapse of the PUWP became inevitable. In the whole country, public occupation of the party building started in order to prevent stealing the party's possessions and destroying or taking the archives. On 29 January 1990, XI Congress was held, which was supposed to recreate the party. Finally, the PUWP dissolved, and some of its members decided to establish two new social-democratic parties. They get over $1 million from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union known as the Moscow loan. The former activists of the PUWP established the Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland (in Polish: Socjaldemokracja Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej, SdRP), of which the main organizers were Leszek Miller and Mieczyslaw Rakowski. The SdRP was supposed (among other things) to take over all rights and duties of the PUWP, and help to divide out the property of the former PUWP. Up to the end of ‘80s, it had considerable incomes mainly from managed properties and from the RSW company ‘Press- Book-Traffic’, which in turn had special tax concessions. During this period, the incomes from membership fees constituted only 30% of the PUWP’s revenues. After the dissolution of the PUWP and the establishment of the SdRP, the rest of the activists formed the Social Democratic Union of the Republic of Poland (USdRP), which changed its name to the Polish Social Democratic Union, and The 8th July Movement. At the end of 1990, there was an intense debate in the Sejm on the takeover of the wealth that belonged to the former PUWP. Over 3000 of buildings and premises were included in the wealth and almost half of it was used without legal basis. Supporters of the acquisition argued that the wealth was built on the basis of plunder and the Treasury grant collected by the whole society. Opponents of SdRP (Social Democratic Party of the Republic of Poland) claimed that the wealth was created from membership fees; therefore, they demanded wealth inheritance for SdPR which at that time administered the wealth. Personal property and the accounts of the former PUWP were not subject to control of a parliamentary committee. On the 9 November 1990, the Sejm passed “The resolution about the acquisition of the wealth that belonged to the former PUWP”. This resolution was supposed to result in a final takeover of the PUWP real estate by the Treasury. As a result, only a part of the real estate was taken over mainly for a local government by 1992, whereas a legal dispute over the other party carried on till 2000. Personal property and finances of the former PUWP practically disappeared. According to the declaration of SdRP MP’s, 90-95% of the party’s wealth was allocated for gratuity or was donated for a social assistance. 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Russian: Коммунисти́ческая Па́ртия Сове́тского Сою́за, transliterated Kommunisticheskaya Partiya Sovetskogo Soyuza, acronym: КПСС (KPSS)) was the ruling political party in the Soviet Union. ... Socjaldemokracja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej was a social-democratic (post-Communist) political party in Poland created after the fall of Communism. ... Leszek Cezary Miller IPA: [] (born July 3, 1946 in Å»yrardów) is a Polish left-wing politician, a many-year leader of the Democratic Left Alliance, Prime Minister of the government of the Republic of Poland in 2001-2004. ... Mieczysław Rakowski (b. ... Socjaldemokracja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (SdRP) was a social democratic political party in Poland created after the fall of Communism. ...

The PUWP’s Congresses

The fourth congress of the Polish United Workers' Party, held in june 1964

• I founding Congress of PZPR, in the days 15 December - 22 December 1948
• II PUWP Congress, in the days 10 March - 17 March 1954
• III PUWP Congress, in the days 10 March - 19 March 1959
• IV PUWP Congress, in the days 15 June - 20 June 1964
• V PUWP Congress, in the days 11 November - 16 November 1968
• VI PUWP Congress, in the days 6 November – 11 November 1971
• VII PUWP Congress, in the days 8 December – 12 December 1975
• VIII PUWP Congress, in the days 11 February - 15 February 1980
• IX Extraordinary PUWP Congress, in the days 14 July - 20 July 1981
• X PUWP Congress, in the days 29 June - 3 July 1986
• XI PUWP Congress, in the days 27 January - 30 January 1990 (the last one; concluded with self-dissolution)

Consequently, in second circulation a banknote with a printed inscription appeared: The last P.Z.P.R Congress closed the proceedings – “Workers of the World, forgive me”. Near the inscriptions there is also an image of Lenin praying with rosary. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 1619 KB)Fourth congress of the Polish United Workers Party, held in 1963. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 1619 KB)Fourth congress of the Polish United Workers Party, held in 1963. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Vladimir Ilyich Lenin ( Russian: Влади́мир Ильи́ч Ле́нин  listen?), original surname Ulyanov (Улья́нов) ( April 22 (April 10 ( O.S.)), 1870 – January 21, 1924), was a...

The PUWP’s Leaders

By 1954 the head of the party was the Chair of Central Committee

• General-Secretary Bolesław Bierut (22 december 1948 – 12 March 1956)
• first secretary Edward Ochab (20 March 1956 – 20 October 1956)
• first secretary Władysław Gomułka (20 October 1956 - 20 December 1970)
• first secretary Edward Gierek (20 December 1970 – 6 September 1980)
• first secretary Stanisław Kania (6 September 1980 – 18 October 1981)
• first secretary Wojciech Jaruzelski (18 October 1981 – 29 July 1989)
• first secretary Mieczysław Rakowski (29 July 1989 – 29 January 1990)

Bolesław Bierut (real name Bolesław Rotenschwanz, April 18, 1892–March 12, 1956) was a Polish-born Communist leader, a Stalinist who became President of Poland after the Soviet occupation of the country in the aftermath of World War II. // Damaged monument to Bierut formerly standing in Lublin, 2007... Edward Ochab (1906-1989) was a Polish Communist politician who was First Secretary of the Communist party between March and October 1956 and served as head of state in the years 1964-1968. ... Władysław Gomułka (February 6, 1905, Krosno – September 1, 1982) was a Polish Communist leader. ... Edward Gierek Edward Gierek (January 6, 1913 - July 29, 2001) was a Polish Communist leader. ... Stanisław Kania Stanisław Kania (born March 8, 1927) was a Polish communist political leader. ... Wojciech Jaruzelski in 2006 Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski (pronounced: ) (born July 6, 1923) was a communist Polish political and military leader, Prime Minister from 1981 to 1985, head of the Polish Council of State from 1985 to 1989 and President from 1989 to 1990. ... Mieczysław Rakowski (born December 1, 1926) is a comunist historian and journalist. ...

Secretaries of the Central Committee of the PUWP

Secretary General Bolesław Bierut (1948-1956) Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... BolesÅ‚aw Bierut (real name BolesÅ‚aw Rotenschwanz, April 18, 1892–March 12, 1956) was a Polish-born Communist leader, a Stalinist who became President of Poland after the Soviet occupation of the country in the aftermath of World War II. // Damaged monument to Bierut formerly standing in Lublin, 2007... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...	First Secretary Edward Ochab (1956-1956) Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Edward Ochab (1906-1989) was a Polish Communist politician who was First Secretary of the Communist party between March and October 1956 and served as head of state in the years 1964-1968. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...	First Secretary Władysław Gomułka (1956-1970) Image File history File links Photo of Polish leader Gomulka. ... WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw GomuÅ‚ka (February 6, 1905, Krosno – September 1, 1982) was a Polish Communist leader. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...	First Secretary Edward Gierek (1970-1980) Edward Gierek (from pl. ... Edward Gierek Edward Gierek (January 6, 1913 - July 29, 2001) was a Polish Communist leader. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...
First Secretary Wojciech Jaruzelski (1981-1989) Image File history File links Download high resolution version (480x640, 37 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Wojciech Jaruzelski ... Wojciech Jaruzelski in 2006 Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski (pronounced: ) (born July 6, 1923) was a communist Polish political and military leader, Prime Minister from 1981 to 1985, head of the Polish Council of State from 1985 to 1989 and President from 1989 to 1990. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...	First Secretary Mieczysław Rakowski (1989-1990) Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... MieczysÅ‚aw Rakowski (born December 1, 1926) is a comunist historian and journalist. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

Leading figures of the PUWP

• Jerzy Albrecht
• Edward Babiuch
• Kazimierz Barcikowski
• Jakub Berman
• Józef Cyrankiewicz
• Zdzisław Grudzień
• Mieczysław Jagielski
• Piotr Jaroszewicz
• Bolesław Jaszczuk
• Stefan Jędrychowski
• Aleksander Kwaśniewski
• Zenon Kliszko
• Stanisław Kociołek
• Jerzy Łukaszewicz
• Franciszek Mazur
• Zbigniew Messner
• Hilary Minc
• Mieczysław Moczar
• Kazimierz Morawski
• Zenon Nowak
• Józef Oleksy
• Stefan Olszowski
• Józef Pińkowski
• Stanisław Radkiewicz
• Ignacy Loga-Sowiński
• Ryszard Strzelecki
• Józef Tejchma
• Roman Zambrowski
• Aleksander Zawadzki

Edward Babiuch (born 1927) was a Polish Communist political figure. ... Kazimierz Barcikowski (1927-) was a Polish politician. ... Jakub Berman (born December 26, 1901, in Warsaw, Poland - died April 10, 1984), was a Polish communist politician of Jewish origin. ... Józef Cyrankiewicz (April 23, 1911 - January 20, 1989) was a Polish communist political figure. ... Jagielski and Lech Wałęsa in 1980. ... Gen. ... Aleksander Kwaśniewski ( ; born November 15, 1954) is a Polish politician who served as the President of Poland from 1995 to 2005. ... Zbigniew Messner (b. ... Hilary Minc (1905 - 1974) was an economist and member of Communist Party of Poland. ... Mieczysław Moczar (original name Mikołaj Demko, pseudonym Mietek, born December 25, 1913 in Łódź - died November 1, 1986) was a Polish communist who played a prominent role in the history of the Polish Peoples Republic. ... Józef Oleksy Józef Oleksy (born 22 June 1946 in Nowy Sącz) is a Polish politician, chairman of Democratic Left Alliance (Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej). ... Józef Pińkowski (1929-2000) was a Polish Communist politician who served as Prime Minister from 1980 to 1981. ... Zambrowski Roman Zambrowski (July 15, 1909 in Warsaw – August 19, 1977 in Warsaw), born Rubin Nusbaum (or Nussbaum), was a Polish communist activist of Jewish ancestry. ... Aleksander Zawadzki Aleksander Zawadzki (December 16, 1899 _ August 7, 1964) was a Polish Communist political figure and head of state of Poland from 1952 to 1964. ...

The seat of the Central Committee

By 1990 the decision-making center was situated in a building erected by obligatory subscription in the years 1948-1952. The shares were distributed among the entire society. The building was officially called the Party’s House, and was also known as the White House or the House of Sheep. Since 1991 the Bank-Financial Center “New World” is located in this building. In 1991-2000 the Warsaw Stock Exchange had also its seat in this building. From 1918 to 1931 a building with the seat of communication department was located in that place. Earlier – from the Polish November Insurrection to 1918 – there was also the seat of the Clearing-House. For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... Exchange Center, home of the WSE since 2000 Exchange Center entrance on Książęca Street Center of Banking and Finance, home of the WSE from 1991 to 2000. ...

See also

• Politburo of the Polish United Workers' Party

The Politburo (abbreviation for Political Bureau) of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers (Communist) Party (PUWP; Polish: Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza, PZPR) was the chief executive body of the ruling Polish Communist apparatus between 1948–1989. ...

External links

• (Polish) MSWiA - Sprawozdanie z likwidacji majątku byłej PZPR