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Zofia PraussowaPolish socialist, political and public figure
Date of Birth: 03.09.1878
Country:  Poland |
Content:
- Zofia Prauss: A Polish Socialist and Resistance Fighter
- Political Activism and Revolutionary Activities
- Exile and Return to Poland
- Career in Public Service
- Feminist Leadership
- Post-PPS Split and Political Career
- World War II and Resistance
- Death and Legacy
Zofia Prauss: A Polish Socialist and Resistance Fighter
Early Life and EducationZofia Prauss was born into a landed family in Poland and received her education at grammar schools in Częstochowa and Kazan. In 1904, she graduated from the Bestuzhev Courses in Saint Petersburg, where she studied mathematics.
Political Activism and Revolutionary Activities
From 1899 onward, Prauss became involved in the Polish Socialist Party (PPS). In 1904, she joined the party's combat group and assisted Józef Piłsudski in his escape from prison. Her commitment to the revolutionary cause led to her first arrest in 1905 for distributing leaflets against the conscription of Poles into the Russian army.
Exile and Return to Poland
After being sentenced to exile, Prauss escaped and was arrested again. She was imprisoned in Warsaw before being deported abroad. From 1907 to 1911, she studied mathematics at the Sorbonne in Paris.
Upon returning to Poland, Prauss became a schoolteacher in Zakopane. She joined the breakaway PPS-Revolutionary Faction and actively recruited fighters for Piłsudski's Polish Legions during World War I.
Career in Public Service
In 1918, Prauss enrolled in labor protection courses and later became an inspector of labor after Poland gained independence. She was highly respected among workers and advocated for improved labor conditions, particularly for women and children.
Prauss also served as a member of the Warsaw City Council from 1919 to 1935 and represented the PPS in the Polish parliament from 1922 to 1928. She participated in the development of labor legislation.
Feminist Leadership
Prauss was a prominent figure in the Polish feminist movement. She held leadership positions in the Women's Progressive Political Club and edited the feminist publication "Głos Kobiet." She also contributed to the socialist weekly "Trybuna."
Post-PPS Split and Political Career
In 1928, the PPS split over its stance toward Piłsudski's authoritarian regime. Prauss joined the PPS-Former Revolutionary Faction, which supported Piłsudski. She remained politically active for over a decade, advocating for labor rights and social justice.
World War II and Resistance
After the Nazi invasion of Poland, Prauss joined the Union of Armed Struggle and later the Home Army (Armia Krajowa). She was arrested by the Gestapo in 1942 and imprisoned in the Pawiak prison before being transferred to the Majdanek and Auschwitz concentration camps.
Death and Legacy
Zofia Prauss died in the Auschwitz concentration camp shortly before the arrival of Soviet forces. Her husband, Ksawery Prauss, was also a socialist and held ministerial positions in the Polish government. Their daughter, Ewa Prauss-Płaska, was a member of the Home Army and led a women's sabotage unit during the war.
Prauss's legacy continues to inspire activists and politicians. Her family members have remained active in the fight for social justice and freedom in Poland.
