Józefa Zofia Bramowska (née Batschów; March 10, 1860, in Żyglin – October 4, 1942, in Żyglin) was a promoter of Polishness in

Silesia Silesia (see names #Etymology, below) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Silesia, Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at 8, ...

, and

senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

of the Republic of

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

in 1929–1930 and in 1935.

Early life and career

Jozéfa was born on March 10, 1860, into the family of Tomasz Batsch, a farmer, and Barbara née Przybyłków. She completed four classes at a primary school in Żyglin. After her father's death at the age of eighteen, she started working in the ore mine in Pasieki (now Bibiela). In 1891, she married Piotr Bramowski. She ran a farm in the village of Żyglin in Tarnowskie Góry county (now Miasteczko Śląskie). In 1909, she founded the Society of Polish Women in Żyglin. She promoted Polish newspapers and Polish readership and gave patriotic speeches, for which she was imprisoned several times by the German authorities. She participated in the plebiscite in

Upper Silesia Upper Silesia ( ; ; ; ; Silesian German: ; ) is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia, located today mostly in Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic. The area is predominantly known for its heav ...

and in the Third Silesian Uprising, nding her apartment as a weapons warehouse and underground premises. From 1927 on, she was the chairwoman of the Main Board of the Society of Polish Women in Silesia. She was also a member of the National Organization of Women. She ran in the 1928 elections on behalf of the National Christian Labor Union, but she took over the mandate only in 1929 after the death of Józef Londzin. She also became a senator for the third term in 1935, after resigning from the mandate by Jan Kołłątaj-Srzednicki. After the start of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, she evacuated to the east, but on September 29, 1939, she returned to Żyglin. She died on October 24, 1942, in Żyglin.

Orders and awards

Cross of Independence Cross of Independence () was the second highest Polish military decoration between World Wars I and II. It was awarded to individuals who had fought actively for the independence of Poland, and was released in three classes. History The Cr ...

(September 13, 1933) * Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta * Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (November 10, 1928) *

Golden Cross of Merit Golden means made of, or relating to gold. Golden may also refer to: Places United Kingdom *Golden, in the parish of Probus, Cornwall *Golden Cap, Dorset *Golden Square, Soho, London *Golden Valley, a valley on the River Frome in Gloucestershir ...

(April 22, 1939) *

Silver Cross of Merit Silver is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag () and atomic number 47. A soft, whitish-gray, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal. ...

Commemoration

She is one of the 30 heroes of the exhibition entitled "60 x 100 Neighborhoods." The Voice of Women about Silesian Uprisings and the Plebiscite" is devoted to the role of women in Silesian uprisings and the plebiscite action (2019). The concept of the exhibition and materials were prepared by Małgorzata Tkacz-Janik, with graphics by Marta Frej.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bramowska, Józefa 1860 births 1942 deaths Polish politicians Polish activists Polish women activists Silesian politicians Recipients of the Cross of Independence Officers of the Order of Polonia Restituta