Economist, social activist, banks manager, the Vice-Voivode of Wrocław

Danuta Wielebińska, née Zając, was born on November 3, 1928, in Lviv as the second daughter of Stefan Zając (1895-1961) and Jadwiga, née Szolin (1903-1980). Krystyna was her older sister (1926-2016). Her father was a distinguished officer of the Polish Army, a Legionnaire, and a participant in the Polish-Soviet War. He was awarded numerous honours, including the Virtuti Militari Order, the Polonia Restituta Order, the Golden Cross of Merit, the Golden Papal Cross, multiple Crosses of Valour, and the Cross of Independence. During the Polish-German War of 1939, he served as a lieutenant colonel commanding the 32nd Infantry Regiment of the 8th Infantry Division in Modlin. He was taken prisoner by the Germans and remained in various POW camps until the end of the war.

Young Danuta received a thorough education and was raised in a patriotic spirit at home. However, as a child, due to the nature of her father’s military service, she frequently moved with her parents, following her father’s changing assignments. She lived and attended primary schools and middle school in several locations, including Dawidgródek, Jarosław, Ostrów-Komorowo, Modlin, and finally Warsaw, where she settled with her mother and sister in 1939. It was in the capital where she spent the German occupation.

Despite the extremely difficult living conditions, for three months in 1942, her mother, along with both daughters, provided shelter to a Jewish family who were hiding from the murderous occupier. Years later, this fact was recorded by the Main Commission for the Investigation of Nazi Crimes in Poland at the Institute of National Remembrance, and all three were included in the list of Poles who aided Jews during the Nazi occupation. Based on this, the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression granted them veteran rights.

She survived the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 as a civilian, taking part in the burial of fallen soldiers-insurgents, as well as civilian victims of Nazi terror. Recalling the days of the uprising years later, she stated: “There was a terrible, numbing hunger.” On October 1, 1944, after the uprising’s fall, she, along with her mother and sister, as well with other residents of Żoliborz, were forced by the Germans into St. Adalbert’s Church in Wola (76 Wola Street), which had became a stop on the way to the transit camp in Pruszków. From there, most Poles were deported to forced labour or concentration camps. However, in the next day (October 2), in Włochy, they managed to escape from the column of civilian prisoners thanks to the help of an acquaintance who spotted them in the crowd. The journey of displacement took them through Białaczów, Kańczuga, and Łódź. In 1946, they settled in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój, where, after some time, Danuta’s father-released from captivity-was able to reunite with them. She resumed her education, which had been interrupted by the occupation.

In 1947, Danuta Zając passed her matura exam at the Stefan Żeromski State Middle School and Secondary School in Jelenia Góra, which allowed her to apply for entrance exams at Wrocław University of Science and Technology. She passed them successfully. However, she was not able to begin her studies due to, what she described as, “difficult living conditions.” Nevertheless, a more likely reason for her ultimate rejection was her father’s pre-war background as a “sanation” senior officer-a serious obstacle to obtaining higher education during the Stalinist era. Determined to continue her education, she decided to move somewhere her father’s past would not be known, likely concealing this fact on her documents.

She moved to Szczecin, where, between 1948 and 1952, she studied at the Faculty of Finance at the Higher School of Economics. On March 21, 1952, she obtained a diploma in financial planning and earned qualifications as an economist-planner. During her studies, she worked as a volunteer assistant in the English language department. Additionally, on September 1, 1951, she began working as a teacher of social and economic science at the Shipbuilding and Energy Technical School in Szczecin, where she remained employed until August 31, 1952.

In 1952, she returned to Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój, and in 1953, she married Tadeusz Wielebiński (1922-1978)-an experienced banker who had previously worked at the Agricultural Bank in Toruń and Szczecin, later at the Investment Bank in Jelenia Góra and the local branch of the National Bank of Poland. Eventually, he became the manager of the Jelenia Góra branch of the Universal Savings Bank. She also pursued a career in banking. On November 16, 1952, she started working at the Jelenia Góra Branch of the National Bank of Poland, where she remained until November 30, 1971, steadily advancing in her career. She successfully held positions as supervisor of the planning department, financial and credit expert, economic analysis specialist, and the supervisor of the economic unit. While working at the bank, she pursued external studies at the Main School of Planning and Statistics in Warsaw in the Department of Finance and Statistics. Her five years of study, which began in 1955, culminated in success on May 31, 1960, when she earned a master’s degree in economics with a focus on monetary circulation. Her additional professional qualifications, combined with her work experience and extensive expertise, contributed to further career advancement.

On December 1, 1971, Danuta Wielebińska was appointed as the manager of the District Branch of the Agricultural Bank in Jelenia Góra. She held this position until March 31, 1973, after which, on April 1 of that year, she was appointed manager of the District Branch of the National Bank of Poland in Jelenia Góra. She supplemented her qualifications through courses in the application of newly introduced computer systems. Following the administrative reform and the establishment of the Jelenia Góra Voivodeship, on June 12, 1975, she was appointed as the Bank’s Plenipotentiary for the organisation of the NBP Provincial Branch in Jelenia Góra. However, shortly afterward, by order of the President of the Council of Ministers dated June 19 of that year, she was appointed, effectively on June 20, as the Vice-Voivode of Wrocław. Her work and professionalism were highly valued by her superiors. In an assessment written on February 12, 1973, by Henryk Błaszczak, director of the NBP Provincial Branch in Wrocław, he stated, among other things that: “She has gained extensive experience in the field of crediting and controlling the socialised economy, as well as economic analysis. She keeps her economic knowledge […] up to date by following economic press and publications. She also possesses a proper knowledge of other banking activities. […] she is characterised by enthusiasm and engagement in her work, dutifulness, conscientiousness, and discipline. She has managerial skills that enable her to assess the organisational and personal situation of the team she leads. She has a strong sense of responsibility for fulfilling her assigned duties and is a person of great professional ambition, striving for positive evaluations of her actions. Citizen Wielebińska is non-partisan.”

As vice-voivode, she was primarily responsible for cultural and sports affairs. Stanisław Szelc recalled her from that period as follows: “Mrs Danuta was known for never missing even the seemingly least important cultural or sporting event. In her modest way, she took part in the final farewells of artists and athletes. She was a Lady.” A striking example of this was her participation in the celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of state archives in Poland’s Western and Northern Territories. During the event, held in the Leopoldina Hall of the University of Wrocław, she delivered a speech that was later published in Archeion, Poland’s leading archival journal (vol.83, 1987, pp.11-13). Her significant involvement in the restoration and installation of the Racławice Panorama-the magnificent work by Jan Styka and Wojciech Kossak-at the Wrocław Rotunda should also be highlighted. Originally from Lviv, the painting was brought to Poland after the war and was finally made accessible to the public on June 4, 1985. For her outstanding contribution to the conservation of the Racławice Panorama, she was awarded a commemorative medal.

Zdzisław Smektała also remembered her very fondly, stating: “Wielebińska was the only high-ranking official I knew who genuinely took the mission of promoting culture seriously. She knew almost everything about the Lower Silesian art and artists. She was a true culture enthusiast.” She was dismissed from her position as vice-voivode at the request of the Wrocław Voivode on May 8, 1986. The justification cited “the implementation of the Council of Ministers’ regulation of April 13, 1984, which set limits on the number of vice-voivodes, vice- mayors, and district chiefs, restricting Wrocław Voivodeship to four vice-voivodes.” It seems that she was the fifth-and, notably, a non-partisan-vice-voivode, and she had also reached retirement age. Her dismissal was formally issued by the Minister of the Head of the Council of Ministers’ Office on July 3, 1986, and took effect on July 15 of that year. She retired, leaving behind a vacation backlog of nearly three months (104 days)-a clear testament to her deep commitment to her work, often at the expense of her personal time.

Her dedication and immense activity in social initiatives were evident in her active participation in numerous organisations and associations. As early as 1945, she became a member of the Union of Youth Struggles, and after its reorganisation in 1948, she joined the Union of Polish Youth, remaining a member until its dissolution in 1957. During her university years, she was also part of the Union of Polish Academic Youth. Between 1952 and 1957, she served as chairwoman of the Association of Polish Cities Club (ZMP) at the National Bank of Poland (NBP) in Jelenia Góra. From 1952 to 1958, she held the position of chairwoman of the District Committee of Peace Defenders in Jelenia Góra. In her professional life, starting in 1954, she was actively involved in trade unions. Among her many roles, she served for three terms (1958-1963) as chairwoman of the Works Council at NBP in Jelenia Góra. From 1962 to 1973, she was chairwoman of the District Branch of the Trade Union of State and Local Government Employees in Jelenia Góra and was also a member of the Regional Board of this Union in Wrocław (1963-1973). Additionally, from 1967 to 1976, she was a member of the Central Council of Trade Unions.

She was also a member of the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society, the Polish-Soviet Friendship Society, the Pholatelists’ Union, and the Society of Polish Urbanists, whose Jelenia Góra branch she co-founded in 1973. That same year, she became a founding member of the Karkonosze Scientific Society and later joined its governing body as a member of the Arbitration by Fellow Members. Additionally, she was a member of the Friends of the Museum of Post and Telecommunications in Wrocław, serving on its board from 2005. She was particularly active in the Polish Economic Society, organising its Jelenia Góra branch in 1962. She became the chairwoman of the PTE Club at the National Bank of Poland (NBP) and also chaired the Jelenia Góra District Branch of the PTE. Between 1965 to 1976, she was a member of the Presidium of the Provincial Board of the PTE in Wrocław, and in 1976, she was elected to the PTE Chief Council. In 1970, she became a member of the Board of the Wrocław Branch of this Society. Already retired, she became a member of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology Senior Club. Between 1966 to 1975, she was a member of the editorial team of Rocznik Jeleniogórski. She not only recruited authors and secured funding for the periodical but also contributed her articles, such as: “Heavy Industry in the Jelenia Góra Basin” (vol. II, 1964, pp. 40-57), and “On Some Aspects of Tourism in the Jelenia Góra Region” (vol. V, 1966, pp. 43-66). When she moved to Wrocław for work, leaving behind her involvement with Rocznik Jeleniogórski, the journal’s then-editor-in-chief, Stanisław Bernatt, acutely felt her absence, writing that: she was “the most active and useful member of the editorial committee.”

She was actively involved in local government. In 1954, she became a member and chairwoman of the Finance, Budget, and Planning Committee of the District National Council in Jelenia Góra, serving for two terms until 1961. In this year, she was elected as a councilwoman of the District National Council, and later as a councilwoman of the National Council of the City and District of Jelenia Góra, where, from 1965, she was part of the Presidium. From 1975 to 1976, she served as a councilwoman of the Provincial National Council in Jelenia Góra.

Due to her extensive activities, Danuta Wielebińska received numerous awards and honours. In 1961, she was awarded the 15th Anniversary Badge of Lower Silesia. For her trade union work, she received the Silver Badge of the Trade Union of State and Local Government Employees in 1962, and the Golden Badge in 1967. In 1966, she was honoured with the Millennium Badge of the Polish State. In 1967, she received the Gold Badge “Distinguished for Lower Silesia.” In 1968, in recognition of her social involvement, she was awarded the 100th Anniversary Badge of Polish Sport. In 1969, she received the Bronze Cross of Merit, the Golden Badge of the Polish Economy Society, and the 25th Anniversary Commemorative Medal of the National Bank of Poland. In 1970, she was awarded the Bronze Medal for Merits in National Defence and the 25th Anniversary Medal for Services to Physical Culture and Tourism in Lower Silesia. In 1974, she received the Golden Cross of Merit, the 30th Anniversary Medal of the Polish People’s Republic, and the Honorary Medal “Distinguished for the City and District of Jelenia Góra.” In 1979, she was honoured with the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. She received many other decorations and honorary distinctions throughout her career.

In 1961, the Wielebiński family, together with Danuta’s parents, purchased a residential house from the Treasury on Nadbrzeżna Street in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój. After moving to Wrocław in 1976, they settled on Januszowicka Street.

DDanuta Wielebińska passed away on April 26, 2018, in Jelenia Góra. Fulfilling her wish, she was laid to rest on April 28, 2018, at the old cemetery in Cieplice.

Sources and Literature:

1. State Archives in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra Branch, National Bank of Poland in Jelenia Góra, personal files.
2. Lower Silesian Voivodeship Office in Wrocław, institutional archive, personal files.
3. Ivo Łaborewicz, Danuta Wielebińska (November 3, 1928-April 26, 2020), Rocznik Jeleniogórski, vol.50, 2018, pp. 353-256.

List of Illustrations:

• Main and remaining photographs: Danuta Wielebińska.

Author: Ivo Łaborewicz

Translation: Natalia Pławiak