Felicjan Sławoj Składkowski
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Felicjan Sławoj Składkowski (Polish pronunciation: [fɛˈlit͡sjan ˈswavɔj skwatˈkɔfskʲi]; 9 June 1885,[1] Gąbin – 31 August 1962[2] London) was a Polish physician, general, and politician who served as Minister of Internal Affairs and as the 28th Prime Minister of Poland before and at the Outbreak of World War II.[3][4]
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2020) |
Felicjan Sławoj Składkowski | |
---|---|
28th Prime Minister of Poland | |
In office 15 May 1936 – 30 September 1939 | |
President | Ignacy Mościcki |
Deputy | Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski |
Preceded by | Marian Zyndram-Kościałkowski |
Succeeded by | Władysław Sikorski (in exile) Edward Osóbka-Morawski (As Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Poland) |
Personal details | |
Born | 9 June 1885 Gąbin, Congress Poland, Russian Empire |
Died | 31 August 1962 (aged 77) London, United Kingdom |
Resting place | Powązki Cemetery, Warsaw |
Spouse(s) | Jadwiga Szoll Germaine Susanne Coillot Jadwiga Dołęga-Mostowicz |
Profession | Physician, military officer |
Awards | Virtuti Militari |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Poland |
Branch/service | Polish Legions Polish Army |
Years of service | 1914–1939 |
Rank | Major General |
Battles/wars | World War I Polish–Soviet War World War II |
Składkowski studied medicine at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, graduating in 1911. He then worked as a physician in Sosnowiec. He fought in the Polish Legions in World War I and later in the Polish–Soviet War. In 1924, as a brigadier general, he was appointed head of the Polish military health service by Józef Piłsudski. After the May Coup of 1926, Składkowski served as Minister of the Interior,[3] a post he held (with one short break)[5] until June 1931. After that, he was appointed Deputy Minister of War. On 13 May 1936 Składkowski became Prime Minister[6] and Minister of the Interior. He was Poland's longest serving prime minister in the inter-war years, his cabinet lasting for 3 years and 4 months,[7] until 30 September 1939.[6][8] He was also the first Polish Protestant (a convert from Roman Catholicism to Calvinism) to hold that position.[9]
While serving as prime minister, he was appalled by the lack of sanitation in many of Poland's villages, and issued a decree that every household in Poland must have a latrine in working order. This prompted many village-dwellers to erect wooden sheds in their backyards for this purpose, which have been subsequently dubbed "sławojki". After the German Invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939, he fled to Romania and was interned there.[10] In 1940 he went to Turkey and thence to Palestine. In 1947, he went to London, where he died in 1962. He was buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.