Edward Próchniak

Edward Próchniak (Polish pronunciation: [ˈɛdvart ˈpruxɲak]; 4 December 1888 in Puławy – 21 August 1937) was a leading Polish communist activist and one of the founders of the Communist Party of Poland.

He joined the Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania in 1903.

After the Russian Revolution he headed a department in the Polish Commissariat of the People's Commissariat for Nationalities in Russia and was a member of the Polish Section of the Bolshevik Party.

Despite severe torture, he allegedly denied accusations of being an agent of the Polish Military Organization (POW).

Próchniak was sentenced to death on 21 August 1937 and shot the same day.

Portrait of Próchniak after his arrest by the NKVD in 1937