Edmund Jan Osmańczyk (10 August 1913 – 4 October 1989), was a Polish writer, author of ''Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements''. Osmanczyk-tablica

Osmańczyk was born in Deutsch Jägel, Lower Silesia,

German Empire The German Empire (),; ; World Book, Inc. ''The World Book dictionary, Volume 1''. World Book, Inc., 2003. p. 572. States that Deutsches Reich translates as "German Realm" and was a former official name of Germany. also referred to as Imperia ...

into a family of Polish

immigrants Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not usual residents or where they do not possess nationality in order to settle as permanent residents. Commuters, tourists, and other short- ...

in German Lower Silesia in 1913. During the

interwar period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period, also known as the interbellum (), lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days) – from the end of World War I (WWI) to the beginning of World War II ( ...

he would contribute to the

Union of Poles in Germany Union of Poles in Germany (, ) is an organisation of the Poland, Polish minority in Germany, founded in 1922. In 1924, the union initiated collaboration between other minorities, including Sorbs, Danish minority in Southern Schleswig, Danes, Fris ...

, consisting out of Polish immigrants in the

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( Ruhr Poles) and other industrial centres, as well as out of Polish minority living in villages in the German-Polish 1919–1939 border region. After the Nazi era, he would become a political deputy in communist Poland and promote Re-

polonization Polonization or Polonisation ()In Polish historiography, particularly pre-WWII (e.g., L. Wasilewski. As noted in Смалянчук А. Ф. (Smalyanchuk 2001) Паміж краёвасцю і нацыянальнай ідэяй. Польскі ...

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. He died in

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

People's Republic of Poland The Polish People's Republic (1952–1989), formerly the Republic of Poland (1947–1952), and also often simply known as Poland, was a country in Central Europe that existed as the predecessor of the modern-day democratic Republic of Poland. ...

in 1989.

Education

Osmańczyk's first academic training was as an historian. He obtained a degree in history from the

University of Warsaw The University of Warsaw (, ) is a public university, public research university in Warsaw, Poland. Established on November 19, 1816, it is the largest institution of higher learning in the country, offering 37 different fields of study as well ...

before going to Berlin to study journalism. He fled from Germany to avoid conscription in the army.

Fight against Nazi occupation

Not just content to wield a pen, Osmańczyk served as a soldier in the resistance force against the German occupation of Warsaw. He participated in the 1944 uprising. Later, in 1945, when the resistance against the Germans became successful, he became a war correspondent for the Polish Army.

Journalism career and major works

Osmańczyk covered the Potsdam Conference and the Nuremberg trials extensively. His articles on these were compiled and published as ''Prussia'' in 1947. The reporting on these two events marked the beginning of phase in his journalistic career during which he became and foreign correspondent. Between 1946–1968, Osmańczyk traveled to several countries and participated in important international conferences. He later became a spokesman for the United Nations. Osmańczyk's literary debut had come in 1937, with the publication of his poetry collection, ''Sunny Freedom''. His later works, like the ''Poles'' (1947), were compilations of his experiences of war. His later books include ''Himmler'' (1951), ''Asia in Geneva'' (1955), ''Notre Europe'' (1971). He also wrote erudite commentaries such as the ''Encyclopedia of International Affairs and the United Nations'' (1974) and the ''Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Relations'' (1982). His books won several state and international awards.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Osmanczyk, Edmund 1913 births 1989 deaths People from Strzelin County Writers from the Province of Silesia Members of the Polish Sejm 1952–1956 Members of the Polish Sejm 1969–1972 Members of the Polish Sejm 1972–1976 Members of the Polish Sejm 1976–1980 Members of the Polish Sejm 1980–1985 Members of the Senate of Poland 1989–1991 Polish male writers Warsaw Uprising insurgents Recipients of the Order of the Builders of People's Poland Recipients of the State Award Badge (Poland) Recipients of the Medal of the 10th Anniversary of the People's Republic of Poland