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 become 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 a 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

• File:POL Polonia Restituta Wielki BAR.svg Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, earlier Commander's Cross
• File:POL Order Budowniczych Polski Ludowej (rozetka) BAR.svg Order of the Builders of People's Poland
• File:POL Order Sztandaru Pracy 1 klasy BAR.svg Order of the Banner of Labour (Poland), 1st class
• File:POL Polonia Restituta Oficerski BAR.svg Officer's Cross of Order of Polonia Restituta
• File:POL Złoty Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami (1942) BAR.svg Golden Cross of Merit with Swords
• File:POL Order Krzyża Grunwaldu 3 Klasy BAR.svg Order of the Cross of Grunwald, 3rd class
• File:POL Krzyż Czynu Bojowego PSZnZ BAR.svg Deed Combat Cross Polish Armed Forces in the West (1989)
• File:POL Medal 10-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR.svg Medal of the 10th Anniversary of People's Poland
• File:POL Medal 30-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR.svg Medal of the 30th Anniversary of People's Poland
• File:POL Medal 40-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR.svg Medal of the 40th Anniversary of People's Poland
• File:POL Odznaka tytułu honorowego Zasłużony Nauczyciel Polskiej Rzeczypospolitej Ludowej BAR.png Badge of the honorary title "Meritorious Teacher of the Polish People's Republic"
• File:POL Złoty Medal za Zasługi dla Obronności Kraju BAR.svg Golden Medal of Merit for National Defence
• File:POL Srebrny Medal za Zasługi dla Obronności Kraju BAR.svg Silver Medal of Merit for National Defence
• File:POL Brązowy Medal za Zasługi dla Obronności Kraju BAR.svg Bronze Medal od Merit for National Defence
• File:POL Medal KEN BAR.svg Medal of the National Education Commission
• File:POL Odznaka im. Ludwika Waryńskiego BAR.png Medal of Ludwik Waryński
• File:POL Odznaka 1000-lecia Państwa Polskiego BAR.png Badge of the 1000th Anniversary of the Polish State
• File:AUT Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - 1st Class BAR.svg Great Star of Honour of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Austria
• File:Grand Crest Ordre de Leopold.png Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (Belgium)
• File:Пластина на орден „Георги Димитров“.gif Order of Georgi Dimitrov (Bulgaria)
• File:100th anniversary of the birth of Georgi Dimitrov medal ribbon.svg 100th anniversary of the birth of Georgi Dimitrov Medal (Bulgaria)
• File:1300thAnniversaryOfBulgarianForeigners.jpg 1300th Anniversary Of Bulgarian Foreigners Medal (Bulgaria)
• File:CZE Rad Bileho Lva 3 tridy BAR.svg Order of the White Lion, First Class with Chain (CSSR)
• File:TCH Rad Bileho Lva 3 tridy (pre1990) BAR.svg Order of the White Lion Third Class (CSSR)
• File:HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (civil) 2class BAR.svg Hungarian Order of Merit (Hungary)
• File:HUN Order of the Flag of the HPR Diamonds BAR.svg Order of the Flag of the Republic of Hungary, 1st class (Hungary)
• File:Legion Honneur GC ribbon.svg Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (France)
• File:Croix du Combattant Volontaire 1939-1945 ribbon.svg Volunteer Combatant's Cross (France)
• File:Ord.2River-ribbon.gif Order of the Two Rivers, 1st Class (Iraq)
• File:Ribbon jose marti.png Order of José Marti (Cuba)
• File:MEX Orden del Aguila Azteca 2011 Collar BAR.svg Collars of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (Mexico)
• File:OrdenSuheBator.png Order of Sukhbaatar (Mongolia)
• File:PRT Order of Prince Henry - Grand Collar BAR.svg Great Chain of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator (Portugal)
• File:Order Of Ummayad (Syria) - ribbon bar.gif Great Banner of the Order of the Umayyads (Syria)
• File:Order october revolution rib.png Order of the October Revolution (USSR)
• File:Order friendship of peoples rib.png Order of Friendship of Peoples (USSR)
• File:SU Order of the Badge of Honour ribbon.svg Order of the Badge of Honour (USSR)
• File:SU Medal Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 ribbon.svg Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (USSR)
• File:30 years of victory rib.png Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (USSR)
• File:40 years of victory rib.png Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (USSR)
• File:60 years saf rib.png Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
• File:70 years saf rib.png Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
• State Award, Grade II – 1955
• State Prize – 1964
• Special National Award – 1979

External links

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