Adam Ciołkosz

Adam Ciołkosz (January 5, 1902 - October 1, 1978) was a Polish scout, soldier, publicist and politician, who was one of the most important leaders of the Polish Socialist Party, both in the Second Polish Republic and in exile during and after World War II.

Early life and education

Ciołkosz was born in Kraków, but a year later his family moved to Tarnów. His father, Kasper, was an active progressive and independence agitator. His mother, Maria Idzikowska, was the daughter of a veteran of the January Uprising.

Ciołkosz graduated from a Gymnasium in Tarnów and later studied law at the Jagiellonian University. While a student, Ciołkosz became a member of the socialists movement.

Scouting and fighting for independence

In Gynasium, Ciołkosz joined 1st Scouts Squad, "Zawisza Czarny". Later, he was a founder and organizer of scouting in Zakopane. During World War I, he lived in Vienna and still was active.

In October 1918, he and National Emergency Squads of the Polish Scouts, which he had formed and led with POWs, forced Austrian forces to surrender in Tarnów. In November, he was one of the young scouts who participated in battle for Lwów. In 1919, Ciołkosz was promoted to a junior lieutenant. He was also an organizer of Polish scouting movement in Warmia and Mazury and fought during Silesian Uprising.

Political career

At age of 27 (1928), he was elected a Sejm Member from the Polish Socialist Party. He was re-elected in 1930, but this time Sanacja authorities didn't allowed him to take office as with many others of the opposition.

He was one of the most outspoken critics of the Sanacja regime and was tried and sentenced to three years in prison during Brest trials in 1931 for plotting anti-government coup. After the German invasion into Poland in 1939, Ciołkosz, his wife Lidia née Kahan of Jewish background (also a prominent socialist from UJ), and son Andrzej Ciołkosz fled first to Romania, and later France and England. His son died at the age of 23 in 1952, having translated Herling a year earlier.

Ciołkosz was an active politician in exile and soon was elected party leader. He led PPS in exile until his death in London. A strong anti-Stalinist, he opposed Soviet domination in the Eastern Europe after 1945. His wife died in 2002 at age of 99.