was the vice-commander of the Polish 3rd Infantry Division. In 1945 he became a member of the communist controlled Polish Workers Party (PPR), which later became the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR). In his political career, which lasted from 1945 until 1985, he occupied a number of different positions. First as the vice-voivod of the Silesian-Dąbrowa Voivodeship, from 1950 its first representative and from 1964 the leader of the voivodeship sejmik. In 1973 he became the voivod himself until 1975. He was also a representative in the Polish Sejm from 1947 until 1952 and from 1957 until 1985. From 1961 to 1969 he was the chairman of the Sejm Commission of Building and Communal Economy. From 1963 to 1980 he was a member of the Polish Council of State and from 1980 to 1985 one of its four deputy chairmen. From 1949 until the end of his life he was the vice-president of Society of Fighters for Freedom. In 1959 the People's Republic of Poland awarded him the Order of the Builders of People's Poland. In 1971, at the 30th anniversary of the Third Silesian Uprising, he was also promoted to the rank of generał brygady. In 1977 he received honorary PhD diploma from Silesian University In 1946 he wrote his memoirs about the times of Silesian Uprisings: "Powstańczy Szlak – rozważania powstańcze" (Insurgence trail - thoughts on uprising). His life was also the basis of the 1979 movie by Antoni Halor: Man with the cane (Człowiek z laską). He was responsible for creation of the Silesian culture and refreshment park, Silesia Stadium, Katowice Rondo and many other buildings important for the region. There are monuments to him in the Park as well as on the Katowice Rondo (which is named after him). He is also the patron of Silesian School of Management in Katowice. The Gazeta Wyborcza named him as the second-most important Silesian person in the 20th century, coming second to Wojciech Korfanty and before director Kazimierz Kutz. He died on November 20, 1985 in Katowice. References Entry in PWN Encyklopedia Entry in WIEM Encyklopedia Biography Biography Further reading Jan Walczak, Generał Stanislas Ziętek. Wojewoda katowicki. Biografia Ślązaka 1901-1985., Śląsk Spółka z o.o., 2002, 1901 births 1985 deaths People from Gliwice People from the Province of Silesia Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government politicians Polish Workers' Party politicians Polish United Workers' Party members Members of the Polish