Administrative Politics of Polish Minister of the Internal Affairs Bronisław Wilhelm Pieracki from 1931 to 1934

Abstract

Bronisław Wilhelm Pieracki was an active member of political group developed around Marshal Józef Piłsudski. He succeeded in the Polish Army and got promoted to the rank of colonel in 1924. He took part in the coup d’état in May 1926 and became one of the most important members of the colonels’ group that ruled Poland on behalf of Piłsudski since 1930. Bronisław W. Pieracki held an office of the deputy prime minister from 1930 to 1931. On 23 June 1931, he became a minister of the internal affairs of the Republic of Poland and held that post until his tragic death on 15 June 1934. Bronisław W. Pieracki’s administrative politics was focused on maintaining peace and internal security. His main aim was to extinguish strike actions and mass demonstrations inspired by political opposition and caused mainly by a very difficult economic situation of Poland (the Great Depression from 1929 to 1935). He performed very well, gaining a reputation as an effective politician. Stanisław “Cat” Mackiewicz stated that ‘Pieracki would handle even the most overwhelming revolution’. Minister Pieracki improved organization and functioning of the department of the interior by simplifying its structure and making staff reductions. Moreover, he carried out reforms of municipal associations introduced by the local government act from 1933. On 15 June 1934, Bronisław W. Pieracki was shot by a Ukrainian assassin Grzegorz Maciejko, a member of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. Severely wounded, minister Pieracki died the same day. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of brigadier general and his funeral became a great patriotic event. He was buried in the family grave in Nowy Sącz.