SｘWEK WALERY (1879 - 1939)
Marshal of the RP Sejm of IV term (4 October 1935 - 21 July 1938)
Born on 2 November 1879 at Strutynka in Podolia in an intelligentsia family. Graduated from
L. Kronenberg's Higher Trade School in Warsaw in 1899 and started to work in banking.
Linked with the revolutionary pro-independence movement, he joined the Polish Socialist
Party (PPS), was a member of the Central Workers' Committee 1902 - 1905. Co-organised
and headed together with Aleksander Prystor a clandestine PPS combat section - Organizacja
Spiskowo-Bojowa. During the revolution in the Russian zone, he supported an independent
stream in the conflict within the party and joined the PPS - Revolutionary Faction 1906 -
1914. He participated in formation of the Active Combat Union in Galicia, its military
training organisation - the Rifle Union and the Polish Military Treasure within the Provisional
Committee of Confederated Pro-independence Parties 1908 - 1914. During World War I, he
fought in the ranks of the First Brigade of Polish Legions 1914 - 1915 as staff officer and
head of the Intelligence Bureau. Delegated in 1915 to Warsaw, he coordinated political and
independent activities, held up enlistment to the legions, coorganised the Polish Military
Organisation (POW) and the Central National Committee grouping activists' circles.
Imprisoned several times by the Russian (1903 and 1905 - 1906), Austrian (1910) and
German authorities (interned in Szczypiorno and Modlin 1917 - 1918). After the restoration
of independence, he was officer for special errands of Marshal Pi連udski 1918 - 1922. From
conspiracy times, he was among J霩ef Pi連udski's friends and closest collaborators. Graduated
from the Military College with a qualified lieutenant-colonel's degree in 1924, in the reserve
since Marshal Pi連udski left the army. Chairman of Board in the Union of Legionists 1924 -
1936. After the May 1926 coup d'彋at, he came back to active service for short, and then
started his broad political activity. From autumn 1927, he organised the Non-Party Bloc for
the Cooperation with the Government (BBWR), became its chairman 1928 - 1935, and
representing that group, he was elected Sejm deputy in the 1928 elections, holding the office
of deputy club chairman. He got a Sejm seat again in 1930, still headed the club and its jobs,
was a co-founder and advocate of the new Constitution of 23 April 1935 and new electoral
law which limited the right of political parties to nominate candidates to parliament. He held
Prime Minister's post three times: 29 March - 23 August 1930, 4 December 1930 - 26 May
1931, 28 March - 12 October 1935. After J霩ef Pi連udski's death, due to divergence in
opinions within the ruling camp, he was gradually losing influence on the state affairs,
dissolved the BBWR and committed to work in the J霩ef Pi連udski Institute in Warsaw,
whose president he was from 1936. Elected Sejm deputy of the 1935 - 1938 term, after the
death of Sejm Marshal Stanis豉w Car, he took his office in Parliament on 22 June 1938. In the
1938 November elections, owing to a violent campaign of the National Unity Camp against
his candidacy, he got no Sejm mandate. Died in Warsaw on 3 April 1939, committing suicide.
Awarded the Order of the White Eagle, the Virtuti Militari V Class, the Independence Cross
with the Swords, the Cross of Valour.
Portrait of Walery S豉wek , 1934
- Painted by Stefan Norblin
- Oil, canvas, 175x120cm
- National Museum in Warsaw, cat. No MPW. 3305