Tadeusz Garczyński

Tadeusz Garczyński was a sprinter and all-around athlete who was entered in the 100 metres at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics but did not start. Garczyński was better known as a journalist and political activist. He studied law at the Faculty of Law and Economics of the University of Lviv from 1911-13, and then earned a masters’ degree in law from the University of Warsaw (1921-23).

Garczyński became a journalist in 1916, and later became vice-president of the Association of Economic Journalists and Publishers. His publications were often controversial, however, opposing the status quo in Poland, and he had to appear in court several times because of his articles. Between the two wars he was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit for his journalistic activity.

Garczyński helped with the defense of Poland in World War II, working in the underground press. He was arrested by the Gestapo on 8 July 1942 and was imprisoned in Pawiak. In January 1943 he was sent to the concentration camp at Majdanek, and he eventually spent time at Gross-Rosen and Litoměřice camps.

After World War II Garczyński worked in the editorial offices of Gazeta Ludowa (1946-49), Rzeczypospolita (1948-50), and Turysty (editorial secretary in 1956-61). He was a co-founder of the Society of Moral Culture and edited the society’s bulletin. He was also a member of the Senior Journalists’ Team at the Polish Journalists Association.