Jozef Rymer

Jozef Rymer

Józef Rymer (born February 9, 1882 in Zabelkau near Ratibor , † December 5, 1922 in Katowice ) was a Polish politician.

Life

Rymer came from a simple Upper Silesian family and grew up in rather poor circumstances. At 16 he left his parents' house to work as a miner in Westphalia. There he was simultaneously socially and politically involved in several Polish-influenced organizations, such as B. the gymnastics club "Sokół" (Towarzystwo Gimnastyczne "Sokół") and the People's Library Association (Towarzystwo Czytelni Ludowych). In 1902, when the Polish Professional Association (Zjednoczenie Zawodowe Polskie) was founded in Westphalia , Rymer founded a branch of this organization in Dellwig and became its director. In 1907 he was promoted to the board of directors in Bochum and in 1909 became the first chairman of the organization, at the same time he also headed the press office. He represented Polish miners at international workers 'congresses (e.g. during the congress in Paris , in Herne and at the metalworkers' congress in Bochum).

In 1913 he returned to Silesia, to Katowice, where he continued his activities and became President of the Headquarters of the Polish Professional Association (Centralny Zarząd Zjednoczenia Zawodowego Polskiego). In 1918 he was also active in the Supreme People's Council (Naczelna Rada Ludowa) in Poznan , in the same year he became Vice-President of the National Workers' Party (Narodowe Stronnictwo Robotnicze). He participated in the establishment of the Upper Silesian Supreme People's Council (Naczelna Rada Ludowa Górnego Śląska) and became its head.

As a negotiator for the Main People's Council, he represented Poland twice at the Paris Upper Silesia Conference. In 1919 he became a member of the Polish National Assembly , and later also a representative of the Polish Plebiscite Commissioner. Shortly before the 2nd Silesian Uprising , German combat troops beat him to hospital, and later there was an attempt to shoot him in his office. Rymer took part in the 3rd Silesian Uprising as a member of the civil administration. In 1922 he became the first voivode of the autonomous Silesian Voivodeship in Poland. He died on December 5, 1922, leaving behind his wife Teresa (née Kozubek) and nine children.