The History of Felix Dzerzhinsky’s Biographical Entry in the Polish Biographical Dictionary between 1939 and 1949

Abstract

The biographical entry on Felix Dzerzhinsky (Polish: Feliks Dzierżyński), commissioned by the editors of the Polish Biographical Dictionary from Władysław Pobóg-Malinowski and delivered by the author in the summer of 1939, was written in accordance with the rules in force at the time. The war and the subsequent change in the political system delayed publication. In 1947 the text became subject to censorship by the communist authorities of the People’s Republic of Poland (and imposed self-censorship). A biography of Dzerzhinsky, reworked by Helena Waniczek (Wereszycka) and approved by members of the Editorial Committee, was rejected by the censors. The history of this article, written for a scholarly publication, illustrates the rapid decisions made regarding the introduction of Stalinist principles that restricted academic freedom and their consequences between 1947 and 1949.