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Kłoczowski awarded with the Order of the White Eagle by President Kwaśniewski, 2004

Jerzy Kazimierz Kłoczowski (born December 29, 1924, in Bogdany Wielkie, Poland – died December 2, 2017) was an important Polish historian. He was a professor at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin and a former member of the Polish Senate. During World War II, Kłoczowski was a soldier in the Home Army (Armia Krajowa). He bravely took part in the Warsaw Uprising, where he was seriously injured and lost his right hand. After leaving the military hospital in April 1945, he went on to study at universities in Poznań and Toruń, earning his Ph.D. in 1950.

He was also a member of the anti-communist Solidarity movement. After communism fell in Poland, Kłoczowski was elected as a Senator. He served on the Senate's Commission for Foreign Affairs and represented the Polish Parliament at the Council of Europe.

Early Life and War Hero

Jerzy Kłoczowski was born to Eugeniusz Kłoczowski, a landlord, and Irena Cichowska. He started attending Adam Mickiewicz High School in Warsaw in 1937.

When World War II began, Jerzy joined the Home Army, a secret Polish resistance group. He fought bravely in the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. During this fight, he was badly hurt and lost his right hand.

After recovering in the hospital in April 1945, he continued his education. He studied at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and then at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. He earned his university degree and a Ph.D. in 1950.

Family Life

In 1947, Jerzy Kłoczowski married Krystyna Minkiewicz. They had five children together: Piotr, Paweł, Jan, Isia, and Anna.

A Life in Academia and Public Service

Professor Kłoczowski dedicated his life to history and education. He taught history at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. He also directed the Institute of East-Central Europe in Lublin. He led several important groups, including the International Federation of Institutes of East-Central Europe. He also chaired the Polish Commission for UNESCO.

He was a former member of the UNESCO Executive Board. He was also the first president of a joint committee between UNESCO and the International Committee of Historical Sciences.

Teaching Around the World

Jerzy Kłoczowski was a guest lecturer at many famous universities. These included the Collège de France (1977), Merton College at Oxford University (1980), and the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1985). He also taught at Paris-Sorbonne University (1985–1987) and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton (1989–1990). From 1997, he lectured at the College of Europe in Natolin, Warsaw.

Special Honors

Many universities recognized his great work with honorary degrees, called Doctor honoris causa. These included the University of Grodno (1993), Kiev-Mohyla Academy (1998), Free University of Berlin (1998), and Sorbonne (1999).

Awards for Bravery and Service

The Polish government honored him with several important awards. These included the Order of the White Eagle, the Virtuti Militari, the Cross of Merit with Swords, and the Cross of Valor.

Standing Up for Truth

In 2004, Professor Kłoczowski faced a difficult situation. A magazine article made false claims about him. It suggested he might have been involved with a secret security service from the communist era.

However, many important people quickly came to his defense. A widely publicized protest letter was signed by 35 academics and well-known politicians. These included Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Władysław Bartoszewski, and film director Andrzej Wajda. The letter explained that the accusations were based on false information created by the security service itself. The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin also joined in the public protest, showing their support for Professor Kłoczowski.

Death

Jerzy Kłoczowski passed away on December 2, 2017, just a few weeks before his 93rd birthday.

Major Publications

Jerzy Kłoczowski wrote and edited about 1,000 publications. Some of his major works include:

  • Wspólnoty chrześcijańskie (Christian Communities), 1964
  • Europa Słowiańska w XIV-XV wieku (Slavic Europe in 14th-15th Centuries), 1984
  • Histoire religieuse de la Pologne (Religious History of Poland), 1987
  • La Pologne dans l'Église medievale (Poland in the Medieval Church), 1993
  • East Central Europe in the historiography of the countries of the region, 1995
  • Młodsza Europa. Europa Środkowo-Wschodnia w kręgu cywilizacji chrześcijańskiej średniowiecza (The Younger Europe. East-Central Europe in the Middle Ages Christian Civilisation Circle), 1998
  • A History of Polish Christianity, 2000
  • L'héritage historique de la Res Publica de Plusieurs Nations (Historic Heritage of the Commonwealth of Two Nations), 2004
  • Central Europe between East and West, 2005
  • La Pologne et l'Europe, du partage à l'élargissement (XVIIIe-XXIe siècles), 2007
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