Jakub Berman | |
|---|---|
 Jakub Berman | |
| Born | 23 December 1901 |
| Died | 10 April 1984 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Known for | Involvement with the Ministry of Public Security and its activities |
| Political party | Polish United Workers' Party |
| Other political affiliations | KPP PPR |
Jakub Berman (23 December 1901 – 10 April 1984) was a Polish communist politician. An activist during the Second Polish Republic, in post-war communist Poland he was a member of the Politburo of the Polish Workers' Party (PPR) and then of the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR). From 1948, he was considered the second most powerful politician in Poland after President Bolesław Bierut, until he was removed from power in 1956, following Bierut's death.
Alongside Bierut, Berman was responsible for party oversight of the Stalinist Ministry of Public Security, commonly known as the "UB". Under Berman's leadership, 200,000 people were imprisoned for alleged political crimes, and 6000 were executed.[1] Berman also oversaw Poland's cultural affairs.