DROBNER, BOLESLAW

DROBNER, BOLESLAW (1883–1968), Polish socialist politician. Born in Cracow into an assimilated family, Drobner joined the Polish Social Democratic Party of Galicia and Silesia in 1898, attaching himself to the radical left wing. He took part in the revolution of 1905 and during World War i fought in Pilsudski's Legion. After Polish independence, Drobner joined the Socialist Party and in 1922 became one of the founders of the Independent Socialist Party. When the two parties reunited in 1928 he was appointed to the supreme council of the united party. He represented the left wing of the party calling for cooperation between socialists and communists. Drobner was frequently arrested for organizing strikes and following the outbreak of World War ii left Poland for the U.S.S.R., where he was a founder of the Soviet-sponsored Union of Polish Patriots. He became minister of labor and social care in the Committee of National Liberation and at the conference of the Polish Socialist Party in 1944 was elected party chairman.

Drobner returned to Poland after the war and was a member of the Polish delegation at the Russo-Polish frontier negotiations of August 1945. In 1947 he was elected to the Sejm (Polish parliament) and in the following year joined the ruling communist United Workers Party. He had a great love for his native Cracow and did much for the preservation of its historical relics. He also initiated the restoration of Jewish culture there, particularly the 15^th-century Jewish synagogue.

bibliography:

New York Times (March 23, 1968), 31 (obituary). add. bibliography: C. Kozlowski, Zarys Dziejow Polskiego Ruchu Robotniczego … (1980), index.

[Abraham Wein]