Piotr Jaroszewicz

Born Oct. 8, 1909, in Nesvizh, Minsk Oblast. Polish state and political figure.

After graduating from a pedagogical school in 1929, Jaroszewicz became a teacher; he was subsequently appointed director of a school. In September 1939 he moved to the USSR. In 1943 he enlisted in the Polish army formed on the territory of the USSR. By the time the war ended, Jaroszewicz had been appointed deputy commander for political education of the Polish First Army. He joined the Polish Workers’ Party in 1944. In 1945, Jaroszewicz became chief of the Main Political Directorate of the Polish Army.

Jaroszewicz served as deputy minister of national defense from 1945 to 1950 and as deputy chairman of the State Commission for Economic Planning from 1950 to 1952. He was deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1952 to 1970; from 1954 to 1956 he simultaneously held the post of minister of the mining industry. In December 1970 he was named chairman of the Council of Ministers.

Jaroszewicz was appointed a member of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers’ Party (PUWP) in 1948. From 1964 to 1970 he was a candidate member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the PUWP; he was named a member in December 1970. Jaroszewicz was first elected a deputy to the Sejm of the Polish People’s Republic in 1947.

Jaroszewicz was awarded the Order of the October Revolution in 1974; he has also been awarded various other Soviet orders.