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The Politburo was the highest political organ of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party, which existed from 1948 to 1990. The Politburo typically had between 9 and 15 members at any one time. Usually, several alternates (or candidates) were also elected to the Politburo, but unlike members, alternates did not possess voting rights.
The predecessor of the PUWP was the Polish Workers' Party (Polska Partia Robotnicza). In 1948, it merged with the Polish Socialist Party to form the PUWP. A chronological list of Politburo membership is provided below.
Politburo of the Polish Workers' Party, 1944–1948
| Date | Member | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Committee
August 1944 – December 1945 |
Władysław Gomułka | August 1944 | |
| Bolesław Bierut | August 1944 | ||
| Jakub Berman | August 1944 | ||
| Hilary Minc | August 1944 | ||
| Aleksander Zawadzki | August 1944 | ||
| Marian Spychalski | May 1945 | ||
| Roman Zambrowski | August 1945 | ||
| 1st Party Congress
6–13 December 1945 |
Władysław Gomułka | 12 December 1945 | 3 September 1948 |
| Bolesław Bierut | 12 December 1945 | ||
| Jakub Berman | 12 December 1945 | ||
| Hilary Minc | 12 December 1945 | ||
| Aleksander Zawadzki | 12 December 1945 | ||
| Marian Spychalski | 12 December 1945 | ||
| Roman Zambrowski | 12 December 1945 | ||
| Stanisław Radkiewicz | 12 December 1945 | ||
| Franciszek Jóźwiak | 3 September 1948 | ||
| Hilary Chełchowski (A) | 3 September 1948 | ||
| Franciszek Mazur (A) | 3 September 1948 | ||
| Edward Ochab (A) | 3 September 1948 |
Politburo of the Polish United Workers Party, 1948-1990
| Date | Member | from | to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Party Congress
15–22 December 1948 |
Bolesław Bierut | 21 December 1948 | |
| Jakub Berman | 21 December 1948 | ||
| Hilary Minc | 21 December 1948 | ||
| Aleksander Zawadzki | 21 December 1948 | ||
| Marian Spychalski | 21 December 1948 | 13 November 1949 | |
| Roman Zambrowski | 21 December 1948 | ||
| Franciszek Jóźwiak | 21 December 1948 | ||
| Józef Cyrankiewicz | 21 December 1948 | ||
| Stanisław Radkiewicz | 21 December 1948 | ||
| Adam Rapacki | 21 December 1948 | 17 March 1954 | |
| Henryk Świątkowski | 21 December 1948 | 10 May 1950 | |
| Franciszek Mazur | 10 May 1950 | ||
| Konstantin Rokossovsky | 10 May 1950 | ||
| Hilary Chełchowski (A) | 21 December 1948 | ||
| Franciszek Mazur (A) | 21 December 1948 | 10 May 1950 | |
| Edward Ochab (A) | 21 December 1948 | 17 March 1954 | |
| Stefan Matuszewski (A) | 21 December 1948 | 17 March 1954 | |
| Zenon Nowak (A) | 10 May 1950 | 17 March 1954 | |
| Władysław Dworakowski (A) | 15 May 1952 | 17 March 1954 | |
| 2nd Party Congress
10–17 March 1954 |
Bolesław Bierut | 17 March 1954 | 12 March 1956 |
| Jakub Berman | 17 March 1954 | 4 May 1956 | |
| Hilary Minc | 17 March 1954 | 10 October 1956 | |
| Aleksander Zawadzki | 17 March 1954 | ||
| Roman Zambrowski | 17 March 1954 | ||
| Franciszek Jóźwiak | 17 March 1954 | 21 October 1956 | |
| Józef Cyrankiewicz | 17 March 1954 | ||
| Stanisław Radkiewicz | 17 March 1954 | 19 April 1956 | |
| Edward Ochab | 17 March 1954 | ||
| Konstantin Rokossovsky | 17 March 1954 | 21 October 1956 | |
| Zenon Nowak | 17 March 1954 | 21 October 1956 | |
| Franciszek Mazur | 17 March 1954 | 21 October 1956 | |
| Władysław Dworakowski | 17 March 1954 | 21 October 1956 | |
| Adam Rapacki | 28 July 1956 | ||
| Edward Gierek | 28 July 1956 | 21 October 1956 | |
| Roman Nowak | 28 July 1956 | 21 October 1956 | |
| Adam Rapacki (A) | 17 March 1954 | 28 July 1956 | |
| Hilary Chełchowski (A) | 17 March 1954 | 21 October 1956 | |
| Composition
from 21 October 1956 |
Władysław Gomułka | 21 October 1956 | |
| Aleksander Zawadzki | 21 October 1956 | ||
| Roman Zambrowski | 21 October 1956 | ||
| Józef Cyrankiewicz | 21 October 1956 | ||
| Edward Ochab | 21 October 1956 | ||
| Adam Rapacki | 21 October 1956 | ||
| Stefan Jędrychowski | 21 October 1956 | ||
| Ignacy Loga-Sowiński | 21 October 1956 | ||
| Jerzy Morawski | 21 October 1956 | ||
| 3rd Party Congress
10–19 March 1959 |
Władysław Gomułka | 19 March 1959 | |
| Aleksander Zawadzki | 19 March 1959 | ||
| Roman Zambrowski | 19 March 1959 | July 1963 | |
| Józef Cyrankiewicz | 19 March 1959 | ||
| Edward Ochab | 19 March 1959 | ||
| Adam Rapacki | 19 March 1959 | ||
| Stefan Jędrychowski | 19 March 1959 | ||
| Ignacy Loga-Sowiński | 19 March 1959 | ||
| Jerzy Morawski | 19 March 1959 | October 1959 | |
| Edward Gierek | 19 March 1959 | ||
| Marian Spychalski | 19 March 1959 | ||
| Zenon Kliszko | 19 March 1959 | ||
| 4th Party Congress
15–20 June 1964 |
Władysław Gomułka | 20 June 1964 | |
| Aleksander Zawadzki | 20 June 1964 | 7 August 1964 | |
| Józef Cyrankiewicz | 20 June 1964 | ||
| Edward Ochab | 20 June 1964 | 9 July 1968 | |
| Adam Rapacki | 20 June 1964 | 16 November 1968 | |
| Stefan Jędrychowski | 20 June 1964 | ||
| Ignacy Loga-Sowiński | 20 June 1964 | ||
| Edward Gierek | 20 June 1964 | ||
| Marian Spychalski | 20 June 1964 | ||
| Zenon Kliszko | 20 June 1964 | ||
| Eugeniusz Szyr | 20 June 1964 | 16 November 1968 | |
| Franciszek Waniołka | 20 June 1964 | 16 November 1968 | |
| Ryszard Strzelecki | 21 November 1964 | ||
| Bolesław Jaszczuk | 9 July 1968 | ||
| Ryszard Strzelecki (A) | 20 June 1964 | 21 November 1964 | |
| Piotr Jaroszewicz (A) | 20 June 1964 | ||
| Mieczysław Jagielski (A) | 20 June 1964 | ||
| Bolesław Jaszczuk (A) | 1964? | 9 July 1968 | |
| 5th Party Congress
11–16 November 1968 |
Władysław Gomułka | 16 November 1968 | 20 December 1970 |
| Józef Cyrankiewicz | 16 November 1968 | ||
| Stefan Jędrychowski | 16 November 1968 | ||
| Ignacy Loga-Sowiński | 16 November 1968 | ||
| Edward Gierek | 16 November 1968 | ||
| Marian Spychalski | 16 November 1968 | 20 December 1970 | |
| Zenon Kliszko | 16 November 1968 | 20 December 1970 | |
| Ryszard Strzelecki | 16 November 1968 | 20 December 1970 | |
| Bolesław Jaszczuk | 16 November 1968 | 20 December 1970 | |
| Stanisław Kociołek | 16 November 1968 | ||
| Wladysław Kruczek | 16 November 1968 | ||
| Józef Tejchma | 16 November 1968 | ||
| Piotr Jaroszewicz (A) | 16 November 1968 | 20 December 1970 | |
| Mieczysław Jagielski (A) | 16 November 1968 | ||
| Mieczysław Moczar (A) | 16 November 1968 | 20 December 1970 | |
| Jan Szydlak (A) | 16 November 1968 | 20 December 1970 | |
| Composition
from 20 December 1970 |
Edward Gierek | 20 December 1970 | |
| Józef Cyrankiewicz | 20 December 1970 | 11 December 1971 | |
| Stefan Jędrychowski | 20 December 1970 | 11 December 1971 | |
| Ignacy Loga-Sowiński | 20 December 1970 | 7 February 1971 | |
| Stanisław Kociołek | 20 December 1970 | 7 February 1971 | |
| Władysław Kruczek | 20 December 1970 | ||
| Józef Tejchma | 20 December 1970 | ||
| Piotr Jaroszewicz | 20 December 1970 | ||
| Mieczysław Moczar | 20 December 1970 | 11 December 1971 | |
| Jan Szydlak | 20 December 1970 | ||
| Edward Babiuch | 20 December 1970 | ||
| Stefan Olszowski | 20 December 1970 | ||
| Mieczysław Jagielski (A) | 20 December 1970 | 11 December 1971 | |
| Wojciech Jaruzelski (A) | 20 December 1970 | 11 December 1971 | |
| Henryk Jabłoński (A) | 20 December 1970 | 11 December 1971 | |
| Józef Kępa (A) | 20 December 1970 | ||
| 6th Party Congress
6–11 December 1971 |
Edward Gierek | 11 December 1971 | |
| Władysław Kruczek | 11 December 1971 | ||
| Józef Tejchma | 11 December 1971 | ||
| Piotr Jaroszewicz | 11 December 1971 | ||
| Jan Szydlak | 11 December 1971 | ||
| Edward Babiuch | 11 December 1971 | ||
| Stefan Olszowski | 11 December 1971 | ||
| Mieczysław Jagielski | 11 December 1971 | ||
| Wojciech Jaruzelski | 11 December 1971 | ||
| Henryk Jabłoński | 11 December 1971 | ||
| Franciszek Szlachcic | 11 December 1971 | 12 December 1975 | |
| Józef Kępa (A) | 11 December 1971 | 12 December 1975 | |
| Stanisław Kania (A) | 11 December 1971 | 12 December 1975 | |
| Zdzisław Grudzień (A) | 11 December 1971 | 12 December 1975 | |
| Kazimierz Barcikowski (A) | 11 December 1971 | ||
| Stanisław Kowalczyk (A) | April 1973 | 12 December 1975 | |
| 7th Party Congress
8–12 December 1975 |
Edward Gierek | 12 December 1975 | |
| Wladysław Kruczek | 12 December 1975 | ||
| Józef Tejchma | 12 December 1975 | 15 February 1980 | |
| Piotr Jaroszewicz | 12 December 1975 | 15 February 1980 | |
| Jan Szydlak | 12 December 1975 | ||
| Edward Babiuch | 12 December 1975 | ||
| Stefan Olszowski | 12 December 1975 | 15 February 1980 | |
| Mieczysław Jagielski | 12 December 1975 | ||
| Wojciech Jaruzelski | 12 December 1975 | ||
| Henryk Jabłoński | 12 December 1975 | ||
| Józef Kępa | 12 December 1975 | 15 February 1980 | |
| Stanisław Kania | 12 December 1975 | ||
| Zdzisław Grudzień | 12 December 1975 | ||
| Stanisław Kowalczyk | 12 December 1975 | ||
| Kazimierz Barcikowski (A) | 12 December 1975 | ||
| Tadeusz Wrzaszczyk (A) | 12 December 1975 | ||
| Jerzy Łukaszewicz (A) | 12 December 1975 | ||
| 8th Party Congress
11–15 February 1980 |
Edward Gierek | 15 February 1980 | 6 September 1980 |
| Władysław Kruczek | 15 February 1980 | 2 December 1980 | |
| Jan Szydlak | 15 February 1980 | 24 August 1980 | |
| Edward Babiuch | 15 February 1980 | 24 August 1980 | |
| Mieczysław Jagielski | 15 February 1980 | 19 July 1981 | |
| Wojciech Jaruzelski | 15 February 1980 | ||
| Henryk Jabłoński | 15 February 1980 | 19 July 1981 | |
| Stanisław Kania | 15 February 1980 | ||
| Zdzisław Grudzień | 15 February 1980 | 6 October 1980 | |
| Stanisław Kowalczyk | 15 February 1980 | 2 December 1980 | |
| Tadeusz Wrzaszczyk | 15 February 1980 | 24 August 1980 | |
| Jerzy Łukaszewicz | 15 February 1980 | 24 August 1980 | |
| Aloizy Karkoszka | 15 February 1980 | 19 November 1980 | |
| Andrzej Werblan | 15 February 1980 | 2 December 1980 | |
| Stefan Olszowski | 24 August 1980 | ||
| Józef Pińkowski | 24 August 1980 | 30, April 1981 | |
| Kazimierz Barcikowski | 6 September 1980 | ||
| Andrzej Żabiński | 6 September 1980 | 19 July 1981 | |
| Mieczysław Moczar | 2 December 1980 | 19 July 1981 | |
| Tadeusz Grabski | 2 December 1980 | 19 July 1981 | |
| Gerard Gabryś | 30 April 1981 | 19 July 1981 | |
| Zygmunt Wroński | 30 April 1981 | 19 July 1981 | |
| Kazimierz Barcikowski (A) | 15 February 1980 | 6 September 1980 | |
| Józef Pińkowski (A) | 15 February 1980 | 24 August 1980 | |
| Zdzislaw Żandarowski (A) | 15 February 1980 | 24 August 1980 | |
| Tadeusz Pyka (A) | 15 February 1980 | 24 August 1980 | |
| Emil Wojtaszek (A) | 15 February 1980 | 30, April 1981 | |
| Andrzej Żabiński (A) | 24 August 1980 | 6 September 1980 | |
| Jerzy Waszczuk (A) | 24 August 1980 | 19 July 1981 | |
| Władysław Kruk (A) | 6 October 1980 | 19 July 1981 | |
| Roman Ney (A) | 6 October 1980 | 19 July 1981 | |
| Tadeusz Fiszbach (A) | 2 December 1980 | 19 July 1981 | |
| Józef Masny (A) | 30 April 1981 | 19 July 1981 | |
| 9th Party Congress
14–20 July 1981 |
Stanisław Kania | 19 July 1981 | Oct 1981 |
| Wojciech Jaruzelski | 19 July 1981 | ||
| Stefan Olszowski | 19 July 1981 | 11 November 1985 | |
| Kazimierz Barcikowski | 19 July 1981 | ||
| Zbigniew Messner | 19 July 1981 | ||
| Tadeusz Czechowicz | 19 July 1981 | 3 July 1986 | |
| Józef Czyrek | 19 July 1981 | ||
| Zofia Grzyb | 19 July 1981 | 3 July 1986 | |
| Hieromin Kubiak | 19 July 1981 | 3 July 1986 | |
| Jan Labecki | 19 July 1981 | 16 July 1982 | |
| Mirosław Milewski | 19 July 1981 | 14 May 1985 | |
| Stanisław Opałko | 19 July 1981 | 3 July 1986 | |
| Tadeusz Porębski | 19 July 1981 | ||
| Jerzy Romanik | 19 July 1981 | 3 July 1986 | |
| Albin Siwak | 19 July 1981 | 3 July 1986 | |
| Marian Woźniak | 16 July 1982 | ||
| Stanisław Kalkus | 16 July 1982 | 3 July 1986 | |
| Jan Głowczyk (A) | 19 July 1981 | 3 July 1986 | |
| Włodzimierz Mokrzyszczak (A) | 19 July 1981 | 3 July 1986 | |
| Florian Siwicki (A) | 28 October 1981 | 3 July 1986 | |
| Marian Woźniak (A) | 25 February 1982 | 16 July 1982 | |
| Czesław Kiszczak (A) | 25 February 1982 | 3 July 1986 | |
| Stanisław Bejger (A) | 16 July 1982 | ||
| Marian Orzechowski (A) | 15 October 1983 | 3 July 1986 | |
| 10th Party Congress
29 – 3 July 1986 |
Wojciech Jaruzelski | 3 July 1986 | 29 July 1989 |
| Kazimierz Barcikowski | 3 July 1986 | 29 July 1989 | |
| Zbigniew Messner | 3 July 1986 | 21 December 1988 | |
| Józef Czyrek | 3 July 1986 | 29 July 1989 | |
| Tadeusz Porebski | 3 July 1986 | 21 December 1988 | |
| Marian Woźniak | 3 July 1986 | 14 July 1988 | |
| Jan Głowczyk | 3 July 1986 | 21 December 1988 | |
| Włodzimierz Mokrzyszczak | 3 July 1986 | 14 July 1988 | |
| Florian Siwicki | 3 July 1986 | ||
| Czesław Kiszczak | 3 July 1986 | ||
| Marian Orzechowski | 3 July 1986 | ||
| Józef Baryła | 3 July 1986 | 21 December 1988 | |
| Zofia Stepień | 3 July 1986 | 21 December 1988 | |
| Zygmunt Murański | 3 July 1986 | 21 December 1988 | |
| Alfred Miodowicz | 3 July 1986 | 29 July 1989 | |
| Mieczysław Rakowski | 15 December 1987 | ||
| Władysław Baka | 14 July 1988 | ||
| Kazimierz Cypryniak | 21 December 1988 | ||
| Iwona Lubowska | 21 December 1988 | ||
| Wiktor Pyrkosz | 21 December 1988 | ||
| Janusz Reykowski | 21 December 1988 | ||
| Zdzisław Świątek | 21 December 1988 | ||
| Stanisław Ciosek | 21 December 1988 | 29 July 1989 | |
| Zbigniew Michalek | 21 December 1988 | ||
| Gabriela Rembisz | 21 December 1988 | ||
| Stanisław Bejger (A) | 3 July 1986 | 14 July 1988 | |
| Bogumił Ferensztajn (A) | 3 July 1986 | 15 December 1987 | |
| Zbigniew Michałek (A) | 3 July 1986 | 21 December 1988 | |
| Gabriela Rembisz (A) | 3 July 1986 | 21 December 1988 | |
| Janusz Kubasiewicz (A) | 3 July 1986 | 29 July 1989 | |
| Manfred Gorywoda (A) | 15 December 1987 | 29 July 1989 | |
| Stanisław Ciosek (A) | 14 July 1988 | 21 December 1988 | |
| Zdzisław Balicki (A) | 21 December 1988 | ||
| Marek Holdakowski (A) | 21 December 1988 | ||
| Zbigniew Sobotka (A) | 21 December 1988 | ||
| Composition
from 29 July 1989 |
Mieczysław Rakowski | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 |
| Florian Siwicki | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Czesław Kiszczak | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Marian Orzechowski | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Władyslaw Baka | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Kazimierz Cypryniak | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Iwona Lubowska | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Wiktor Pyrkosz | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Janusz Reykowski | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Zdzislaw Świątek | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Zbigniew Michałek | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Gabriela Rembisz | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Janusz Kubasiewicz | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Manfred Gorywoda | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Leszek Miller | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Zdzisław Balicki (A) | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Marek Hołdakowski (A) | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 | |
| Zbigniew Sobotka (A) | 29 July 1989 | 29 January 1990 |
(A) = Alternate (Candidate) Member