page_title: Jan Kwapiński
section_title: Timeline of political activities
hierarchical_section_title: Jan Kwapiński / Polish government-in-exile / Timeline of political activities
caption_attribution_description: copy of NYC landing paper for Polish diplomat Jan Kwapiński
context_page_description: Jan Kwapiński, born Piotr Chałupka was a Polish independence activist and politician. A member of Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist Party, he was imprisoned by Russian Empire authorities in Warsaw Citadel. After Poland regained independence following the First World War, he became a member of Polish parliament after being elected in 1922 Polish legislative election. He then went on to serve as mayor of Łódź. After being Soviet invasion of Poland arrested by the NKVD, then freed after the Sikorski-Mayski Agreement, he joined the London-based Polish government-in-exile as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Shipping, later Minister of Treasury.
context_section_description: 1902
  
  joins Polish Socialist Party, age 17.
  1905 active role in "June days" anti-Czarist uprising, flees to Warsaw.
  1906 
  
  returns to Russian Poland, takes part in underground revolutionary organization.
  1907
  
  arrested by Czarist police, sentenced to 15 years hard labor. Organizes prisoners' rebellion in Łomża Prison, escapes, captured, moved to Oryol Prison.
  1917
  
  freed by Russian Revolution, returns to Poland.
  1918
  
  formation of Second Polish Republic; elected to the Central Committee of Polish Socialist Party, later Vice-Chairman; President of Farm Workers Union and Polish Trade Union Congress.
  1939
  
  3 March-3 September mayor of Łódź until invaded by Germany;
  1 September German invasion of Poland;
  17 September Soviet invasion, deported to Siberia; end of Second Polish Republic.
  27 September fall of Warsaw.
  1941
  
  July freed (in advance of 17 August?), appointed in London to Polish Cabinet, chair of the Committee of the Polish Socialist Party;
  30 July Polish-Soviet pact;
  17 August signing of Sikorski-Mayski Agreement, freeing many Poles;
  4 December Stalin-Sikorski agreement.
  1942
  
  "Introduction" (12 pp.).  Kwapiński, Jan and A. Greenwood. Towards a New Poland: A Programme of the Polish Underground Movement.
  London: Liberty Publications, 1942. Transl. of Program Polski Ludowej (Towards a New Poland) 1941 samidzat.
  1943
  
  13 April German announcement of Katyn massacre;
  25 April Stalin suspends relations between USSR and Poland;
  4 July General Sikorski killed;
  14 July Vice-Premier in new Polish Mikolajczyk government-in-exile;
  9 November signs UNRRA document for Poland, in Washington.
  1944
  
  January, with Mikolajczyk and Anthony Eden, seeks to resolve crisis with Soviets;
  May Polish units distinguished in capture of Monte Cassino, breaking of Hitler Line, opening way to Rome; June Government-in-exile issues Monte Cassino Commemorative Cross;
  21 July "Lublin" Polish Committee of National Liberation (PKWN) formed by Soviets; Government-in-exile, together with UK and US protest;
  23 November resigns his posts in Government-in-exile;
  26 November Mikolajczyk resigns as Prime Minister;
  29 November appointed Treasury Minister in Arciszewski government.
  1945
  
  1 January Provisional Government of the Republic of Poland replaces PKWN, Mikolajczyk accepts Deputy Premiership;
  4–11 February Yalta Conference, Poland not invited;
  28 June resigns post of Treasury Minister;
  6 July UK and US withdraw recognition of Polish Government-in-exile, loss of embassy in London;
  17 July-7 August at Potsdam Conference Provisional Government accepted as official Polish government by Big Three, Polish borders redrawn.
  1947
  
  Publication:
  Kwapiński, Jan - 1939–1945. Kartki z pamietnika (Swiatowy Zwiazek Polakow z Zagranicy, London 1947)
caption: Copy of NYC landing paper for Kwapiński
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