Romuald Szeremietiew
Romuald Szeremietiew | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Szeremietiew in 2015 | |
| Minister of National Defense | |
| In office 23 May 1992 – 5 June 1992 | |
| President | Lech Wałęsa |
| Prime Minister | Jan Olszewski |
| Preceded by | Jan Parys |
| Succeeded by | Janusz Onyszkiewicz |
| Deputy Minister of National Defense | |
| In office 11 November 1997 – 12 July 2001 | |
| Prime Minister | Jerzy Buzek |
| Minister | Bronisław Komorowski |
| Preceded by | Andrzej Karkosza |
| Succeeded by | Janusz Zemke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 October 1945 Olmonty, Poland |
| Political party | Polish Independence Party |
| Education | Law Military science |
| Alma mater | University of Wrocław Academy of National Defense |
| Occupation | |
| Awards |     |
Romuald Szeremietiew (pl; born 25 October 1945) is a Polish politician and statesman who served as Minister of National Defense. During the Polish People's Republic he was an independence activist, working in many underground movements.
He believed Poland had to be completely liberated from communist and soviet rule. He was one of the founders of the Confederation of Independent Poland, and later his own Polish Independence Party, which had a large underground membership.[1]
He studied law at the Bolesław Bierut University of Wrocław, later writing his doctorate in military science at the Academy of National Defense. After Poland regained its independence in 1990 he served twice in the Ministry of National Defense, in 1992 and 1997-2001.[2]
Life
[change | change source]Szeremietiew was born in 1945 as the son of Mikołaj Szeremietiew, an aristocrat of Russian descent and Anna Szeremietiew (born Lubowicka). His father joined the Polish Underground resistance and was taken away by the Red Army. He disappeared ever since.[2]
Szeremietiew grew up in a very patriotic and anti-communist, catholic family. From early on he was an admirer of Marshal Józef Piłsudski and wanted to restore Poland's independence.[3]
Independence Activist
[change | change source]After serving in the Polish Army he studied law at the university of Wrocław, where he already made contacts with the patriotic underground, led by people such as the WW2 General Roman Abraham. Soon, along with Leszek Moczulski he founded the Confederation of Independent Poland in 1979[4]
The activists of the party were arrested in 1981 and sentenced to prison. Szeremietiew was only released in 1984 after an amnesty. In 1985 the party split between supporters of Leszek Moczulski and supporters of Szeremietiew, which founded the Polish Independence Party. They secretly printed and distributed books and pamphlets and prepared an underground structure for an anti-communist strike and revolution.[4]
Before the strike began, the communists made an agreement with the solidarity movement at the round table, making the plan impossible. In his time as independence activist Szeremietiew held close ties to the President of the government in exile. He was a friend of its last President, Ryszard Kaczorowski.[5]
In Independent Poland 1990-
[change | change source]Szeremietiew became a popular figure and soon a minister in the first non-communist government of Jan Olszewski. The government only lasted for a month, before being dismissed by the President. A second time he became the deputy minister of defence, in the government of Jerzy Buzek. During that time Szeremietiew secured and helped develop many weapon systems, including the famous AHS Krab gun-howitzer which was even called the "Szeremietiew's cannon".[6] Today Szeremietiew's Cannons are used in the defense of Ukraine against Russia's invasion.[7]
In 2001 Szeremietiew was accused of corruption by two journalists, leading to his dismissal. The allegations turned out to be false after 9 years of intense court investigations. Szeremietiew and many of his supporters suspect that Komorowski might have used the secret services to fabricate false evidence against him.[8] Szeremietiew did not serve in any high office since. Following that, Szeremietiew became a professor at the Academy of Arts of War. Today he is a respected commentator on military sciences.
- ↑ Domagalski, Włodzimierz. "Polska Partia Niepodległosciowa". Encyklopedia Solidarności. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 "Ludzie. Romuald Szeremietiew". Wprost nr. 9. 1992. p. 6.
- ↑ "W łapach "Ludowej" (cz. I)". salon24.pl (in Polish). 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 Narodowej, Instytut Pamięcie. "Konfederacja Polski Niepodległej". Encyklopedia Solidarności (in Polish). Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ "Wierni swoim poglądom (Polska Partia Niepodległościowa)". salon24.pl (in Polish). 2020-01-22. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ ""Działa Szeremietiewa". B. szef MON: Mówili, że niepotrzebne". wpolityce.pl (in Polish). 17 June 2022. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ Świerkowski, Adam (2025-10-08). "Krab koniem roboczym. Ukraińska broń zwycięstwa". defence24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ "Szeremietiew kontra Komorowski". Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). Retrieved 2026-07-06.