Prominent Poles
Stefan Bronisław Starzyński, politician, economist, epitome of Warsaw
“I wanted Warsaw to be great. Both me and my colleagues were making plans of a great Warsaw of the future. And Warsaw is great. It happened sooner than we thought. And although where we wanted parks are barricades, although our libraries are burning, although the hospitals are burning the city of Warsaw, defending the honor of Poland, is today at the highest point of its greatness.” – the last radio broadcast, September 27, 1939
Born: January 19, 1893, Warsaw, Russian partition of Poland (presently Poland)
Died: Unknown
Early life. Stefan Starzyński was born to an impoverished noble family. His father, Alfons Karol, worked initially as a clerk. Then he moved with his family to Łowicz, where he started a woodworking and metal working business. Starzyński’s mother, Stefania Jadwiga nee Lipska, was a teacher. Starzyński went to high school in Łowicz and later in Warsaw. During this time, he was arrested three times by the Russians, who were occupying this part of Poland at this time, for his underground activities. He belonged, among others, to an organization of socialist youth (Związek Młodzieży Postępowo-Niepodległościowej= Progressive-Independent Youth Association), an offshoot of PPS (Polska Partia Socjalistyczna= Polish Socialist Party).
Soldier. Having already been involved with many patriotic organizations, such as Związek Strzelecki (Riflemen’s Association), Starzyński joined Piłsudski’s Polish Legions in August 1914, shortly after the outbreak of World War I, taking part in all of 1st Brigade’s battles. In November 1918, he became the chief of staff of the Polish Army’s 9th Polish Infantry Division. He was transferred to the intelligence-gathering 2nd Department of the General Staff during the Polish-Bolshevik War.
Politician and economist. Following his time as a soldier, Starzyński served in various political and economic positions. Some include: supervising one of the departments in the Ministry of Treasury, deputy minister of treasury during the years 1929-30 and 1931-32, member of Sejm (Congress/Parliament) for three years beginning in 1930 and deputy president of one of Poland’s largest banks at the time, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego. There are also numerous papers on economy authored by Starzyński.
President of Warsaw. Due to a serious lack of funds for the city’s development and Starzyński’s experience in economics, he was chosen on August 1, 1934 by the Sanacja (Sanitation - political movement in Poland) to become the president of Warsaw with special powers. He soon gained considerable popularity, even from former enemies, after quickly reforming the financial system. Some of his most notable achievements that were due directly to the money saved from his reforms and clever investments were the reducing of unemployment, bringing electricity to the suburbs, paving all major roads leaving Warsaw and connecting the city with the new area of Żoliborz. These achievements brought Starzyński the nickname, “the president of the suburbs.”
Starzyński was also popular among the city center residents for his beautification programs. A large park in Wola was created under his orders as well as the planting of many trees, flowers and other green areas throughout the city. He also enlarged the city towards the south. Mokotów borough’s former airfield, Pole Mokotowskie, was split by aleja Niepodległosci (Independence Ave.), which is presently one of Warsaw’s main streets. A number of facilities and other projects were initiated by Starzyński. For example, the National Museum, a new city library building, a new building for Warsaw School of Economics (his alma mater), the Powszechny Theater, beginning of the construction of the city’s metro and the reconstruction of the Vistula riverside boulevards and Old Town’s barbican.
Starzyński was elected to a second four year term on December 18, 1938, which he held until World War II.
Leader by example. Starzyński was a man who led from the front. A true leader by example. He joined the army as a major in the infantry instead of fleeing Warsaw in September 1939 after the invasion by Germany. He was appointed civilian commissar of Warsaw by General Czuma, who was commander of the Command of the Defense of Warsaw. Starzyński immediately began organizing the Civil Guard to replace the evacuated police forces and ordered the city’s administration to retake their posts. The importance of his daily radio releases, which urged the construction of barricades and anti-tank barriers, to keeping morale high among both civilians and soldiers during the Siege of Warsaw cannot be overestimated. Starzyński commanded both fire-fighting brigades and the distribution of food, water and supplies while organizing shelters for many civilian refugees from throughout Poland. By the end of the Siege, he was well-known as the symbol of the defense of Warsaw.
Starzyński had many opportunities to leave Warsaw after the German occupation but refused each time. He was allowed to continue his duties as president of Warsaw, where he headed many reconstruction projects. Among some of his most important contributions is his active participation in the organization of occupied-Poland’s first underground resistance, Służba Zwyciętwu Polski (Polish Victory Service), and providing many members of the resistance effort with false identities and clean documents. Służba Zwyciętwu Polski was later redesignated as Zwiazek Walki Zbrojnej (Union of Armed Struggle) which eventually became the famous Armia Krajowa (Home Army) in 1942.
Death. Starzyński was taken hostage with other prominent Warsaw inhabitants on October 5, 1939 in order to ensure the safety of Hitler during a victory parade held in the city. He was released following the parade but was again arrested later in the month on October 27 and taken to Gestapo headquarters at aleja Szucha 25 (Szucha Ave.). Following his arrest, in Pawiak prison in December 1939, he was once again given the opportunity to escape but refused as he felt it would cause too costly consequences for those involved in the escape plot. Starzynski’s death is a mystery to this day although the most probable account is that he was shot while in Dachau concentration camp on October 17, 1943. A symbolic grave was erected in Warsaw’s Powązki Cemetery in 1957 in his memory.
Legend. Starzyński is still seen as the embodiment of Warsaw. For both his pre-war accomplishments as well as his resistance and rebuilding efforts. There is a street and several monuments and schools in Warsaw honoring him today. His September radio broadcasts are considered to be part of Polish pop culture with his unmistakable voice being easily recognizable by many Varsovians. His story was told on the big screen by Andrzej Trzos-Rastawiecki in the 1978 movie, Gdiekolwiek jesteś, pania prezydencie (Wherever you are, Mr. President). And in 2003, Starzyński was voted by an overwhelming majority of viewers of the Warsaw branch of public television and Gazeta Wyborcza readers as the “Varsovian of the Century.”
Compiled from the following sources:
Wikipedia
Norman Davies “Rising ’44: The Battle for Warsaw”, Pan Macmillan Ltd, London 2004
Marek Drozdowski “Stefan Starzyński prezydent Warszawy”, Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warszawa 1976
TIME Magazine, "Such Is War" - September 18, 1939
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