Log In

Wilhelm Szewczyk Edit Profile

linguist poet

Wilhelm Szewczyk was a Polish writer, poet, literary critic, translator and activist of the National Radical Camp from the region of Silesia.

Background

He was born in Czuchów (now part of Czerwionka-Leszczyny, Rybnik County) and was raised in familok in Czerwionka.

Education

Szewczyk attended State Liceum in Rybnik and after finishing it relocated to Katowice. And until 1939 worked in local radio station of Polskie Radio.

Career

During World World War II he was forced to join the German Army and in 1941-1942 stayed on the Western Front in Normandy and later on the Eastern Front in Soviet Union. In August 1941 was injured at the battle of Smolensk. When healed in Thuringia, he was sent to Alsace to the front.

Foreign his pacifist stances was arrested and in 1942 jailed in Katowice.

After the war Szewczyk returned to Katowice where he worked as editor of Odra weekly and in 1947-1951 was a literary director of Silesian Theatre. He then worked in several literary magazines.

Szewczyk was also a deputy in the Sejm (Parliament) in 1957-1965 and 1969-1980.