born Feb. 6, 1905, Bia 0142; obrzegi, near Krosno, Pol., Austria-Hungary
died Sept. 1, 1982, Warsaw, Pol.
Leader of the Polish Communist Party (195670).
In 1926 he joined the underground Communist Party and became a union organizer. In World War II he was active in the communist underground in Warsaw. After the Soviet liberation of Poland, he ascended through the party ranks quickly. Though ruthless in eliminating opposition to communist rule, he publicly opposed some Soviet policies and was accused of "nationalist deviation" by Joseph Stalin in 1948 and arrested in 1951. He was rehabilitated in 1956 and elected party first secretary. At first universally supported, he adopted halfhearted reforms that were ultimately disappointing. In 1970 he was ousted along with other top leaders following workers' riots over food prices.