Wincenty Witos

Born Jan. 22, 1874, in Wierzchoslawice, Kraków Województwo (province). Died Oct. 31, 1945, in Kraków. Polish political leader.

Witos was one of the founders and leaders of the Piast peasant party (1913-31). He was premier during the periods from July 1920 to September 1921, May to December 1923, and May 10 through 15, 1926. Witos played an active role in the Centrolew bloc of parties, which was in opposition to the “sanitation” regime, for which he was imprisoned (1930). From 1931 to 1935 he was chairman of the Central Council of the Stronnictwo Ludowe peasant party, and beginning in 1935 he was chairman of the party. In autumn 1939, Witos was arrested by the fascist German invaders; after a year of imprisonment he was placed under police surveillance until the defeat of the fascist invaders. In June 1945, Witos was coopted as vice-chairman to the Krajowa Rada Narodowa.