Wacław Kostek-Biernacki

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Wacław Kostek-Biernacki (1882-1957) was a Polish politician, soldier and writer.

He was an activist for the Polish Socialist Party. He was a member of the Polish Military Organization and the Polish Legions in World War I. He supported Józef Piłsudski's May Coup. He held the rank of Commendant of Bereza Kartuska Detention Camp from 1930 to 1931; he was later its supervisor. He was Voivode of Nowogródek Voivodeship from 1931 to 1932, and of Polesie Voivodeship from 1932 to 1939. After the German invasion of Poland in 1939 left Poland with the government; he was interned in Romania until 1944. He returned to Poland and was arrested by the Communist secret police, Urząd Bezpieczeństwa. He was sentenced in 1946 to 10 years in prison for "supporting fascism and responsibility in the '39 defeat". He was released after amnesty in 1955, and died in 1957.

Kostek-Biernacki was the author of several books, including:

• Jak oni!" (1909) - short stories collection, fiction about revolutionaries, partially based on personal experiences
• "Na ulicach Warszawy" (1911) - as above
• Szlakami buntu" (1911) - novel, as above
• "Straszny gość" (1931) - collection of well received horror stories from Kresy, perhaps his most famous work
• "Ułan dyżurny" (1939) - memoirs

[edit] References

• (Polish) Włodzimierz Jurasz, Straszny gość
• (Polish) Marek Arpad-Kowalski, Diabeł kresowy