WYCECH CZESŁAW (1899 - 1977)
Marshal of the PRL Sejm of II term (20 February 1957- 20 February 1961)
- - III term (15 May 1961 - 16 April 1965)
- - IV term (24 June 1965 - 30 May 1969)
- - V term (27 June 1969 - 13 February 1971)
Born on 20 July 1899 in Wilczogeby (district Węgrów) in a peasant's family. Died on 26
May 1977 in Warsaw. Graduated from the Teachers' College at Ursynów, a Higher Teachers'
Course in Warsaw 1924, the Natural Science Faculty of the State Teachers' Institute 1926. A
teacher in state schools 1919 - 1937. He started political activity in the Polish Peasants' Party
(PSL) 'Wyzwolenie' 1918. Secretary of its District Board at Węgrów.
A member of the Peasants' Party 1931 - 1939. A member of the State School Teachers'
Association from 1919. A co-author of merging all teachers' organisations into the Polish
Teachers' Association (ZNP), chairman of the ZNP Organisational Department 1938. During
World War II, from October 1939, he worked in the Clandestine Teachers' Organisation. He
headed the Education and Culture Department at the Home Delegate's Office of the
Government-in-exile 1940 - 1945. Minister of education in the Provisional Government of
National Unity 1945 - 1947. Propagator of the educational reform and fighting illiteracy. He
sat in the Chief Council and the Chief Executive Committee of the Polish Peasants' Party
(PSL) 1946 - 1947. Divergence of opinion between Stanisław Mikołajczyk and Czesław
Wycech led to severe conflicts within the party and, finally, to his exclusion from PSL.
Together with Jozef Niecko, and with a support of both the Polish Workers' Party (PPR) and
the security forces he formed anti-Mikołajczyk's PSL- Left.
Soon after leaving the country by Stanisław Mikołajczyk, he participated in removing the
PSL legal authorities (21 October 1947) and accepted the post of the Chief Council chairman
and deputy chairman of the Chief Executive Committee of PSL - Left. He worked in favour
of the peasants' movement unity. The result was signing a declaration of co-operation and
unity between the PSL and SL on 10 May 1948. Deputy chairman of the Chief Executive
Committee of the United Peasants' Union (ZSL) 1949 - 1956, next a presidium member and
again deputy chairman 1956 - 1962, president of the ZSL Chief Committee 1962 - 1971.
Except for his party work, he performed numerous administrative and social duties: vice-
president of the Central Co-operative Union 1950 - 1954, general director of the State
Publishing House for Agriculture and Forestry until 1956, president of the Society for Polish
- Soviet Friendship 1957 - 1971, a member of the All-Poland Committee of the National
Unity Front 1958 - 1971. For many years, the chairman of the Social Fund for the Building of
Day and Boarding-Schools, chairman of the ZSL Committee of Peasants' Movement's
History 1956 - 1959. Editor-in-chief of 'Historical and Educational Review' and from 1959 -
of 'The Annals of Peasants' Movement', chairman of the Editorial Board till 1966. Initiated
formation of a scientific institution called the Institute of Peasants' Movement History in
January 1960. He started his parliamentary career on 29 December 1945, when, with
Bolesław Bierut's approval, he was appointed deputy to the National People's Council. He
had a seat in the consecutive Sejms 1947 - 1972. He was elected for the Legislative Sejm
1947 - 1952 from N 5 constituency at Minsk Mazowiecki and presided the Deputy Club of
PSL-Left from November 1947. On including Mikolajczyk's PSL Club into the PSL-Left
Club, he was nominated chairman of the PSL Deputy Club from 16 November 1947,
chairman of the Education and Science Committee from 25 October 1949. Elected to the PRL
Sejm of I term from N 37 constituency in Gdynia. Deputy chairman of the Education,
Culture and Science Committee, a member of the Gdansk Province Deputy Club. Deputy
chairman of the Council of State 1956 - 1957. In the PRL Sejm of II term from N 1
constituency in Warsaw-Centre and elected sejm marshal. He held the marshal's office
another three times: in III term 1961 - 1965 from N 1 constituency in Warsaw-Centre, in IV
term 1965 - 1969 from N 73 constituency in Siedlce and in V term 1969 - 1972 from
Siedlce again. Despite his four times' marshalling, he played no decisive role in Sejm. It was
the party and its PZPR deputy marshal Zenon Kliszko who decided about everything.
Recalled from the marshal's post by the Sejm Presidium on 13 February 1971 due to the
changes in the PZPR authorities. The author of numerous papers on social, agricultural and
political issues. Awarded, among others, the Order of the Builders of Polish People's
Republic.
Portrait of Czesław Wycech, 1989.
- Painted by Wiesław Garboliński
- oil, canvas, 100x81 cm
- Sejm Library, Museum Department, cat. No MSP.1231.