# Józef Cyrankiewicz

> Polish politician (1911–1989)

**Wikidata**: [Q434797](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q434797)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Józef_Cyrankiewicz)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jozef-cyrankiewicz

## Summary
Józef Cyrankiewicz was a Polish politician who lived from 1911 to 1989. He is best known for his significant political role in Poland during the mid-20th century, serving as a prominent government figure during the era of the Polish People's Republic.

## Biography
- **Born**: April 23, 1911
- **Died**: January 20, 1989
- **Nationality**: Poland
- **Education**: Jagiellonian University
- **Known for**: Serving as a prominent politician in the Polish People's Republic
- **Field(s)**: Politics
- **Affiliations**: Union of Armed Struggle; Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy

## Contributions
Józef Cyrankiewicz played a key role in the Polish political landscape during the communist era. His career included leadership within the government structure of the Polish People's Republic. He was affiliated with the Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy, an organization established in 1949, and was a member of the Union of Armed Struggle, an underground army formed in 1939 following the invasion of Poland.

## FAQs
**What awards did Józef Cyrankiewicz receive?**
He received numerous state decorations, including the Order of the Builders of People's Poland, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the Order of Georgi Dimitrov, and the Partisan Cross. He also received various jubilee medals, such as the Medal of the 10th, 30th, and 40th Anniversary of People's Poland, and the Jubilee Medal for the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.

**Where was Józef Cyrankiewicz educated?**
He was educated at the Jagiellonian University, a historic higher education institution located in Kraków, Poland, founded in 1364.

**What organizations was Józef Cyrankiewicz affiliated with?**
He was affiliated with the Union of Armed Struggle and the Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy. He was also a citizen of Poland.

## Why They Matter
Józef Cyrankiewicz matters as a central figure in the governance of post-World War II Poland. His long career spanned critical decades of the Polish People's Republic (1947–1989), during which he held high office. His receipt of high-level orders from both Poland and foreign states like France and Bulgaria underscores his diplomatic and domestic political significance during the Cold War era.

## Notable For
- **Long Political Career**: Active during the entirety of the Polish People's Republic era (1947–1989).
- **State Decorations**: Recipient of the Order of the Builders of People's Poland and the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
- **Military Affiliation**: Member of the Union of Armed Struggle, the underground army formed in 1939.
- **Veteran Organization**: Affiliated with the Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy.
- **Alma Mater**: Educated at Jagiellonian University, the oldest university in Poland.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Józef Adam Zygmunt Cyrankiewicz was born on April 23, 1911. He pursued higher education at the Jagiellonian University (Uniwersytet Jagielloński) in Kraków. This institution, founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, is the oldest university in Poland and one of the oldest in Europe.

### Political and Military Affiliations
Cyrankiewicz was a citizen of Poland. His career was deeply intertwined with the country's political evolution. He was a member of the **Union of Armed Struggle** (Związek Walki Zbrojnej), an underground army formed in 1939 following the German invasion that opened World War II. Later in his career, he was affiliated with the **Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy** (Związek Bojowników o Wolność i Demokrację), a Polish organization founded on September 2, 1949.

### Awards and Honors
Throughout his life, Cyrankiewicz received numerous prestigious awards and decorations, reflecting his status in the Eastern Bloc and internationally:

*   **Polish State Decorations**:
    *   Order of the Builders of People's Poland (established July 2, 1949).
    *   Partisan Cross (established October 26, 1945).
    *   Auschwitz Cross (established March 14, 1985).
    *   Medal of the 10th Anniversary of People's Poland (established May 12, 1954).
    *   Medal of the 30th Anniversary of People's Poland (established February 7, 1974).
    *   Medal of the 40th Anniversary of People's Poland (established April 26, 1984).
    *   Honorary badge "For Merits for Warsaw" (established January 12, 1960).

*   **International Decorations**:
    *   Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (French award).
    *   Order of Georgi Dimitrov (Bulgarian award established June 17, 1950).
    *   Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin" (Soviet award established November 5, 1969).

### Death and Legacy
Józef Cyrankiewicz died on January 20, 1989, at the age of 77. His death occurred shortly before the transition from the Polish People's Republic to the Third Polish Republic (established December 31, 1989). He is buried at the Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw, where his grave is marked by a specific memorial image (Józef Cyrankiewicz Krystyna Tempska-Cyrankiewicz grób.JPG).

### Identifiers and Records
Cyrankiewicz is recorded in multiple national and international databases, reflecting his historical significance. Key identifiers include VIAF (5742950), Library of Congress (nr91003535), and the Polish National Library (11731-1/11731-1). He is also listed in the Encyclopedia of Polish Biographies and various other biographical dictionaries.

## References

1. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
2. Auschwitz Prisoners Database
3. Integrated Authority File
4. [Source](https://bs.sejm.gov.pl/F?func=find-acc&acc_sequence=000010491&find_code=SYS&local_base=ARS10)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. filmportal.de
8. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
9. BnF authorities
10. Internetowy Polski Słownik Biograficzny
11. Proleksis Encyclopedia
12. Munzinger Personen
13. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. Virtual International Authority File
16. [Source](https://catalog.archives.gov/id/77450895)
17. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/beaconlist/pe)
18. Sejm-Wielki.pl