Henryk Jabłoński

Henryk Jan Jabłoński (27 December 1909 – 27 January 2003) was a Polish historian and politician. After 1948, he became a politician of the ruling Polish United Workers' Party, as well as a historian and professor at Warsaw University. He served as head of state of the People's Republic of Poland between 1972 and 1985.

Life and career Jabłoński was born in Stary Waliszew in the Warsaw Governorate of Congress Poland. From 1931, he was a member of the Polish Socialist Party (PPS). During World War II, he fought in the Battle of Narvik (Norway) and then joined the French Resistance. In 1945 Jabłoński became a member of the State National Council (KRN), and during the years 1946 and 1948 he had high functions in the PPS (chairman of Central State Committee and its vice-leader). He approved joining the PPS with the Polish Workers' Party (PPR, Polska Partia Robotnicza).

From 1947 to 1972, he was a deputy to the Sejm. In 1948, he was appointed professor at Warsaw University (from 1952 member of Polish Academy of Sciences – PAN). Between 1948 and 1981, Henryk Jabłoński was in the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party (KC PZPR).

In 1972, on the initiative of Edward Gierek, Jablonski was chosen the de iure leader (chairman of the Council of State) of the People's Republic of Poland. From 1976 to 1983, he was the chief of the Front of National Unity (FJN, Front Jedności Narodu). From 1983 to 1990, he was chief of ZBoWiD, the Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy, an organisation of war veterans. In 1985, he was replaced as head of state by General Wojciech Jaruzelski. His wife Jadwiga Jabłońska died in 1999.

Honours and awards

60px Badge of the honorary title "Meritorious Teacher of the Polish People's Republic"

60px Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" 60px Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" State Award, Grade II – 1955 State Prize – 1964 Special National Award – 1979