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of Toruń
City Councillors from Toruń who received the title of Honorary Citizen of Toruń. Ten persons:
The awarding of the title of Honorary Citizen of Toruń is certified by:
Marshal Józef Piłsudski (1867-1935)
A 650 person delegation of local authorities, clergy, scholars, artists, businessmen, citizens of Toruń and members of Toruń diocese travelled to Rome to ask the pope to accept the award. The pope met the delegates on 19 February 1998 on a special 1.5 hour audience. It took place exactly in 525th anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus birth; a copy of his portrait was one of gifts from Toruń citizens. - Your visit is a great pleasure to me, because the land of Toruń and the City of Toruń in particular is familiar and precious to me – answered John Paul II. The city is familiar to me mainly through its son – Nicolaus Copernicus (...) All citizens of Poland are aware of his achievements, particularly citizens of Toruń, thanks to the university named after him. From this day, my bond with the city and with you is even stronger." The bonds of John Paul II with Toruń date from times, when cardinal Karol Wojtyła visited his family living in the city. In 1971 he performed marriage ceremonies in st. Joseph church in Toruń for Kazimiera and Marek Wiadrowski. He stays in close contact with children and wife of his cousin, who live in Toruń. Toruń owes a lot to the pope. On 25 March 1992 he issued the "Totus Tuus Poloniae Populus" edict creating the Toruń diocese, which continues old tradition of the Chełmno diocese. In Zakopane in June 1997 he beatificated mother Maria Karłowska – the founder of “Siostry Pasterki od Opatrzności Bożej” congregation. Caritas centre named after her is a gift of heart from Toruń to the Polish pope. A primary school no. 13 bears the name of John Paul II. Citizens of Toruń have always taken part in pope’s pilgrimages. This time they had the opportunity to meet him in their city, about which the pope once said that “After Kraków, it was the dearest to him".
On 31 July 1997 the City
Council of Toruń unanimously decided to award the title of honorary
citizen to professor Wilhelminia Iwanowska. The bestowing of the honour
took place in the same year, during a ceremonious session of the Council
in Artus Court on 25 September.
The title of honorary citizen was awarded to professor Biskup after unanimous decision of the City of Toruń Chapter of Honorary Distinctions, which pointed at his outstanding merits in rendering Toruń famous home and abroad in his numerous books and articles on the history of the city, great contribution to popularising the achievements of the city of Toruń, educating many generations of students in the spirit of respect for native history and his being regarded as a moral and scientific authority.
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A
soldier and a politician. During the World War I he served in Austrian
army, then he became the commander of the II Brigade of the Polish
Legions. In 1918 he led Polish Reinforcing Corps of the Austrian army to
Russian territory. He travelled to France, where he created the famous
"Blue Army". He came back to Poland with his soldiers in 1919
and fought on the Ukrainian front. He commanded the soldiers of the
Pomeranian Front, when the troops entered Toruń on 18 January 1920. In
the Polish war with bolshevicks, he was nominated to the rank of
commander of the Voluntary Army. He acted as the General Army Inspector.
In the years 1920-1927, general Józef Haller was a Member of
Parliament. He was active in right wing circles, and therefore was a
political opponent of marshal Piłsudski. After the May Revolt, Haller
was forced to retire from the army. He was very popular, particularly in
Wielkopolska and Pomerania. He received the title of the Honorary
Citizen of Toruń on 18 January 1921, in the anniversary of the arrival
of his troops to Toruń. During the World War II he emigrated. In the
1940-1943 period, he was the Minister of Education in general
Sikorski’s government.
Marshal
of France, Great Britain and Poland. A distinguished commander and
strategist. One of the heroes of the Word War I. Before the outbreak of
the war, he was a lecturer in the French Military Academy. As the
commander of the 9th Army, he was one of the authors of the Marne
victory in 1914. In 1917 he became the Chief of General Headquarters. In
1918, marshal Foch led a successful counter-strike by the Somme River,
which sealed the defeat of Germany. As the general commander of the
allied forces in the western front he received the unconditional
capitulation of Germany in Compiegne. Marshal Foch was known as a great
friend of Poland. His firm attitude forced German government to call off
the counter-strike against rebels from Wielkopolska. He received the
title of the Honorary Citizen of Toruń on 23 April 1923 during his
triumphant travel across Poland.
First
marshal of Poland. Regarded as the maker of Polish independence. He was
a conspirator from his youth. In 1888 he was sent to Siberia. He joined
the PPS party and since 1893 was the chief editor of the
"Labourer". Arrested once again in 1900, he escaped from
prison in Petersburg. In 1904 he travels to Japan, where he tries to
gain support for the Polish cause. After split of PPS in 1906, he became
the commander of PPS Revolutionary Front and organised PPS militias.
Anticipating an outbreak of international conflict, he organises a
paramilitary Riflemen Association in Galicia. After the outbreak of the
First World War, he leads his I Brigade of Polish Legions into the lands
occupied by Russians. In 1916 he resigns from his rank. On his return
from imprisonment in Magdeburg, he comes to power as National
Commander-In-Chief and General Commander. He was the author of the
victory over the Red Army in the 1920 War. In 1923 Piłsudski retires
from public life and settles in Sulejówek. In May 1926 he organizes a
coup d’etat, but does not accept the function of President, contenting
himself with the rank of Minister of War and General Army Inspector. He
was buried in Wawel. He officially visited Toruń in June 1921. He also
made two unofficial visits to Toruń. The title of the Honorary Citizen
of Toruń was bestowed upon him posthumously – on 14 May 1935.
Marshal
of Poland. He studied philosophy and graduated from Jagiellonian
University and Fine Arts Academy in Kraków. One of the founders of the
Riflemen Association. In 1914 joined the Legions. He fought in the I
Brigade in ranks from battalion commander to deputy brigade commander.
In 1917-1918 he commanded Pomerania Military Region. He received the
post of Minister of War in Lublin government of I. Daszyński. During
the Polish-Bolshevik War, he led the troops who attacked and conquered
the city of Kijev. Then he commanded the South-Western Front, Central
Front, and finally the 2 Army, which cut off the retreat route of
Tuchaczewski troops returning after losing the Battle of Warsaw. Army
Inspector since 1922, and in 1935, according to the will of marshal Piłsudski,
he was nominated to the rank of General Army Inspector. In 1936 he
became General of Arms and a Marshal of Poland. The National Unity
Fraction forms around his prominent person. He was the General Commander
during the September Campaign. After his escape to Romany and
imprisonment in Hungary, he returned to occupied Poland as Adam Zawisza.
He vainly tried to organise conspiratorial Fraction of Fighting Poland.
On 20 June 1938, he arrived to Toruń to receive the title of Honorary
Citizen.
She
was born on 3 April 1890 in Toruń, a daughter of Leon Szuman – famous
doctor and social activist. After graduating from high schools in Kraków
and Lvov, she devoted herself to pedagogical work and charitable
activities. During the partition period, she provided secret education
for working class children. During the World War I, she organised a
Kingdom of Poland Committee for Aiding War Victims. She founded a Polish
Red Cross division in Toruń and chaired Toruń Educational Commission.
She organised education for Pomeranian teachers of the Polish language.
Wanda Szuman is regarded as a pioneer of Polish special pedagogy. She
carried out work on organising a Polish system of orphaned children
care. She initiated education for teachers working in orphanages,
nurseries and kindergartens. Simultaneously, she began studies in
Warsaw, attending numerous scholarships in foreign orphanages. Wanda
Szuman conducted research on development of orphans and children reared
in isolation. She promoted a family bringing-up as a method of orphans
care. From 1933 to 1939 she was a director in Catholic College for
Kindergarten Teachers in Poznań. During World War II, she once more
became a teacher in secret educational system and worked in Polish
Welfare Committee. She organised aid for families of persons imprisoned
and deported after the Warsaw Upraising. After the war, Wanda Szuman
returned to Toruń from deportation and began working in Kindergarten
Teachers College and Welfare Service. In 1952 she retired but did not
stop her scientific research. She introduced new methods and styles to
Polish pedagogy. She took care of the handicapped, blind and deaf
children. In 1970s she popularised the then innovative method of
rehabilitation of the handicapped through artistic activities. Due to
her diligence and dedication to help the needy she was a respectable
member of the society. Some of awards bestowed upon her are: the
Cavalier Cross of Polish Revival Order, pope’s "Pro Ecclesiae et
Pontifice" medal and the Smile Order. On 13 February 1992 the City
Council of Toruń passed a bill awarding Wanda Szuman with the title of
Honorary Citizen of Toruń. Wanda Szuman died on 1 December 1994, aged
104.
She
was born in Toruń on 19 March 1909. Having finished her studies she
began pedagogical work in schools simultaneously actively supporting
Women Military Education organisation, in which she was the commander of
Silesia Region. She took part in the September Campaign and then
organised conspiratorial groups in Silesia. At first she worked in
Polish Victory Service, then in Armed Combat Association and finally in
the National Army (Armia Krajowa). Till the end of 1940, she commanded
the communication division of Silesia Region of the Armed Combat
Association (Związek Walki Zbrojnej). Then her epic career of National
Army connection started. Known under her "Zo" pseudo, she
became a living legend among couriers operating in occupied Europe. She
repeatedly illegally crossed the border carrying news and reports. She
also trained other couriers. She acted as deputy chief of
"Enclosure" – the division of foreign communication of V
Office of National Army Headquarters. Her most famous route led through
Germany, Austria, France and Spain to England. "Zo" was the
only woman who belonged to the "Cichociemni" organization. At
her request, she was allowed to return on a parachute to her occupied
motherland on 10 September 1943. She worked in the command of Women
Military Service in National Army Headquarters. After the failure of the
Warsaw Upraising she continued to serve the Underground Authorities at
the side of general Okulicki. She brought the first detailed reports on
the post-upraising situation in Poland to Switzerland. After the war she
joined anti-communist conspiratorial organisation Freedom and
Independence. She returned to her pedagogical work – she graduated
form Social Pedagogy College and began work on her doctor’s
dissertation. In 1951 she was arrested by Security Office. She was kept
in prison till 1955. In 1956 she returned to her scientific and
pedagogical work. In 1965 she became a doctor of sciences and received
her professor’s title in 1972. She returned to her hometown Toruń,
where she started work at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in the
Institute of Pedagogy and Psychology. Simultaneously she collected
materials on the history of National Army, and was active in National
Army combatants circles. As a result of repressions from the Security
Office, which included dissolution of Andragogics Institute, of which
she was the head, she prematurely resigned from work at the university.
In 1980s she was active in "Solidarity" circles being an
authority and an example of a patriot for the young generation.
Professor Zawacka was active in Kaszuby-Pomerania Society and was a
co-founder of World National Army Soldiers Association. Her grand
achievement was the establishing of "Pomeranian National Army
Archive" foundation. The foundation not only collects documents and
relations, but also organizes conferences, scientific conventions and
releases multiple publications on the participation of Pomeranians in
the fight for independence. On December 1995 President Lech Wałęsa
awarded professor Elżbieta Zawacka with the White Eagle Order. She was
also honoured with the Cross of Virtuti Militari Order and five Crosses
for Bravery. On 17 December 1992 citizens of her hometown granted
professor Elżbieta Zawacka the title of Honorary Citizen of Toruń.
On 16 January 1998 City Council
of Toruń unanimously decided to grant the title of honorary citizen of
Toruń to the pope John Paul II. It is the highest proof of appreciation
and award which the citizens of Copernicus’ city could grant to a
person of particular merits and authority. For citizens of Toruń and
Poland, John Paul II is the highest moral and spiritual authority in the
world. The councillors’ justification of their decision included a
statement: "to promote and develop the ecumenical dialogue of
understanding between persons, nations and religions, so familiar,
because grounded in history and tradition of Toruń, continued nowadays
by local church, city authorities, higher schools and local community,
and reflected in the Toruń Talks – continuation of Colloquium
Charitativum opened lectures, and in common creation of charitable acts
– Mother Maria Karłowska Caritas Centre
Professor Wilhelmina Iwanowska
was born in Vilno. There, she finished primary school and high-school.
Her inquisitive nature led her to study astronomy at Stefan Batory
University. In 1927 she started work in the University Astronomical
Observatory which was organised and run by professor Władysław
Dziewulski. In 1937 she received her professor’s degree. Her promising
scientific career was broken by World War II. The harsh conditions of
living in occupied country forced her to do various jobs; at the same
time she took part in secret education. After the Red Army captured
Vilno and its Polish citizens were "repatriated", professor
Iwanowska and her colleagues from the University were transported to Łódź.
The communists wanted to send the unwelcome scientists to different
universities. The professors from Vilno led by professor Władysław
Dziewulski decided not to give in, but to create a new university
continuing the traditions of their beloved Alma Mater. For this purpose
they chose Toruń, known as the place of birth of the greatest
astronomer. Thus began the connection of professor Iwanowska to the city
of Copernicus. She not only was the co-founder of Nicolaus Copernicus
University in Toruń, but with professor Dziewulski, she created the
Toruń school of astronomy and radioastronomy. The school which reminded
the world of Toruń, the birthplace of Copernicus and educated a group
of eminent scholars who are now professors in numerous universities
around the world. Professor Wilhelmina Iwanowska’s research and
scientific dissertations on star astronomy (including statistical
analysis of star movements in space, fotographic fotometry of variable
stars, study of star spectra, galaxy evolution) made her a distinguished
scientist. The great esteem of professor Iwanowska in the scientific
world was certified by numerous invitations to give lectures in European
and American educational institutions and the fact of granting her the
function of Deputy President of International Scientific Union. Prof.
Wilhelmina Iwanowska is also a factual member of Polish Academy of
Science and multiple scientific associations around the world, as well
as Honoris Causa Doctor of three great universities (University of
Leicester in England, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada and her
home Nicolaus Copernicus University. She is a honorary citizen of
Canadian city of Winnipeg. Professor Iwanowska is also the founder of
Toruń Division of Astronomical Centre of Polish Academy of Science.
Professor Marian Biskup was
born on 19 December 1922 in Inowrocław. After the war he settled in
Toruń. He is the author of numerous books and articles on history of
Toruń and its famous citizens, mainly Nicolaus Copernicus. He was a
dedicated explorer of the history of Pomerania, Teutonic Knights and
Toruń. The list of his scientific and editing activities is impressive.
He was the head of one of the best Polish periodicals dedicated to
history, namely the “Historical Records”. From his initiative a
Historical Olympics was organised. In 1991 he became factual member of
Polish Academy of Science and Polish Academy of Abilities. His life and
career are firmly bound to Toruń. Professor Biskup graduated from the
University of Nicolaus Copernicus after his studies in 1949-52; in the
years 1947-51 he was a teacher in Toruń high-school, he also worked in
the university for 15 years (1957-72); in 1958 he became assistant
professor, in 1961 he was nominated to associate professor to finally
become full professor of the Institute of Medieval History. Since 1955
he has been active in the Scientific Society of Toruń, in 1965 he
became the general secretary of the Society to be elected President of
the Scientific Society of Toruń in 1983. He holds the office to the
present day.
Professor Artur Hutnikiewicz,
born in Lvov in 1916, has lived in Toruń since 1946, when he took over
the post of senior assistant in the Department of Theory of Literature
and Comparison Literature at the Nicoloaus Copernicus University. He
completed all stages of University career: he received the title of
doctor in 1948, after submitting a dissertation on the works of Żeromski,
in 1962 he was promoted to associate professor and in 1973 he became a
full professor. In the period of 1956-58 he was the Dean of Humanistic
Division; until 1968 he worked as the Director of Department of Polish
XX Century Literature, then in 1973 he became the Director of Department
of Polish Literature History and held the post till 1986. In years 1980
- 1986 he was the Director of the institute of Polish Philology. He was
active in the Scientific Society of Toruń, in the Scientific Council of
Institute of Literary Research and in the Committee of Literary Sciences
of Polish Academy of Science. He is also an honorary member of Adam
Mickiewicz Literary Society and Stefan Żeromski Society. In 1993 he
joined the reactivated Polish Academy of Abilities in Kraków.