When and where was Oskar Halecki born?
Oskar Halecki entered the world on the 26th of May 1891 within the walls of Vienna. His father served as a Polish officer in the Austrian Army and rose to the rank of lieutenant field-marshal.
Questions about Oskar Halecki
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What academic positions did Oskar Halecki hold at Jagiellonian University?
Oskar Halecki earned a doctorate from the Jagiellonian University between 1909 and 1913 before securing his first teaching position in 1915 as a docent at his alma mater. He later moved to Warsaw University in 1918 where he received a chair of East European history.
How did Oskar Halecki contribute to international cooperation during the interwar period?
Oskar Halecki joined the League of Nations Secretariat in Geneva in 1921 to organize its Committee on Intellectual Co-operation over three years. He subsequently served as Chief of the University Section in the league's Institute on Intellectual Co-operation in Paris.
Why did Oskar Halecki move to the United States in 1940?
Germany invaded France in 1940 which forced Oskar Halecki to escape to the United States with help from Stephen Mizwa and the Kosciuszko Foundation. He spent two years as a visiting professor of history at Vassar College before becoming executive director of the new Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in America.
What was the central thesis of Oskar Halecki regarding Eastern Europe?
Oskar Halecki argued that Eastern Europe distinct from Russia was no less European than Western Europe. Both regions formed part of one great European community sharing spiritual ideals and cultural traditions.
When did Oskar Halecki die and what honors did he receive posthumously?
Oskar Halecki died on the 17th of September 1973 after his wife Helen de Sulima-Szarlowska passed away in 1964. The Polish American Historical Association established the Halecki Prize in 1981 to recognize important books or monographs on the Polish experience in the United States.