Walery Antoni Wróblewski

Valery Antoni Wroblewski ( born December 5, 1836 in Żołudek, Poland, † July 5, 1908 in Ouarville, Eure- et- Loir ) was a Polish militia commander, and a leading defender of the Paris Commune.

Life and work

Wroblewski was one of the leaders of the Polish uprising against Tsarist Russia 1863/64. After its suppression he emigrated to France and worked here first as a teacher, and later, in 1870, he joined the National Guard. In Paris he represented the Polish and Lithuanian exile groups. During the German siege of Paris he hit the first government of the Third French Republic, the Gouvernement de la Défense Nationale compile before a legion of Polish volunteers. But these refused. A short time later, during the Paris Commune he was of the revolutionary government, the Conseil de la Commune, was appointed commander of the defense portion between the fortifications and Ivry Arcueil. After numerous defenders and defenders of the Commune were dropped, including many high-ranking officers, he was offered the command. He declined due to the already high losses. After the suppression of the Commune, he fled to London and joined there by the International Working Men's Association to in whose General Council he was elected. From 1872 he was corresponding secretary for Poland. In the same year he was a delegate at the Hague Congress. After an amnesty in 1880, he returned to France.

In July 1908 he died and rests at the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.