Post by Pawian on Dec 13, 2006 12:58:26 GMT -7
""They came at about 1 am. Three of them. With a crowbar, truncheon and handcuffs. They said they were taking my husband to Białołęka, claiming there was a decree proclaimed. They were noisy, rude, and in a great hurry. The older daughters were standing silent and terrified. The younger ones were crying loudly . "
25 years ago General Jaruzelski, backed by the police, secret police and the Polish army as well as party leaders and members, introduced the martial law in order to suppress Solidarity and crush the nation`s aspirations for more soveignty and independence in the communist block.
The martial law had been prepared for months. The date of 13 December wasn`t chosen by pure accident. Firstly, the regime was ready to strike. Secondly, on 15 December, a lot of drafted soldiers were to go home after a 2 year service in the army. The leave of experienced soldiers would substantially diminish the army`s capacity to introduce the martial law. Thirdly, desperate Solidarity planned mass demonstrations and strikes on 17 December. Solidarity leaders had been getting impatient with the regime`s reluctance to reach a serious compromise, that`s why some of them became radical hawks and openly called for showdown with the regime. The regime seemed weak in comparison with powerful Solidarity which boasted of having 10 million members, while the party had 2 million, continually abandoning the ship. Solidarity leaders and common people thought it was enough to press harder and the regime would collapse. Events soon proved how wrong they were.
The regime managed to keep their plans secret. There were a few leaks from befriended policemen but nobody knew anything for sure at lower levels of the forces, that is why their vague warnings were ignored. Some people reported the discreet movement of troops in the country, but that was ignored too.
The regime attacked on many fronts on the night of 13 December. The most important actions and regulations:
1. They cut off phone lines in the whole country to reduce the possibility of Solidarity members warning each other. Phones didn`t wirk for about two months (?). Nobody estimated how many seriously ill people died because the ambulance service didn`t get to them on time.
2. All radio and TV programmmes stopped. At 6 am there was a speech by General Jaruzelski, repeated for many hours, intertwined with classical music and war marches. Of course, there was the news in the evening, the speakers were wearing military uniforms without ranks.
3. About 3 thousand people were arrested and sent to detention centers. It was called the internment. They were dragged out of their beds by police teams, often after breaking the door. Altogether about 10 thousand people were interned during the martial law. Not only Solidarity leaders, also celebrity people who where suspected of being in opposition to the regime, e.g., artists and writers. Most of the latter ones were soon released but interning them was a very bad publicity for the regime anyway.
4. Heavy armoured vehicles appeared on the streets of major cities. Tanks, personnel carriers and trucks, next to them armed soldiers and militiamen. They blocked the roads, checked people`s papers, ransacked cars.
5. Military commissars i.e. army officers, were appointed as directors or managers to factories, ministries, offices, organizations etc.
6. All independent trade unions, both worker and peasant, were made illegal. Some organizations, e.g. The Union of Polish Journalists (it had gotten too independent before) and PenClub were dissolved. Only two government papers were allowed for publication.
7. Factories had to adopt the military style of work - heavy punishments awaited those who committed the slightest offence. Going on strike and showing disobedience to martial law regulations was a major offence.
8. Travels to other cities or countries were halted, all those waiting at Okęcie Airport were turned back. To travel to another city you had to have a pass.
9. Schools broke up for two months.
10. The censorship was imposed on mail. Envelopes were opened and checked.
Did I forget anything?
25 years ago General Jaruzelski, backed by the police, secret police and the Polish army as well as party leaders and members, introduced the martial law in order to suppress Solidarity and crush the nation`s aspirations for more soveignty and independence in the communist block.
The martial law had been prepared for months. The date of 13 December wasn`t chosen by pure accident. Firstly, the regime was ready to strike. Secondly, on 15 December, a lot of drafted soldiers were to go home after a 2 year service in the army. The leave of experienced soldiers would substantially diminish the army`s capacity to introduce the martial law. Thirdly, desperate Solidarity planned mass demonstrations and strikes on 17 December. Solidarity leaders had been getting impatient with the regime`s reluctance to reach a serious compromise, that`s why some of them became radical hawks and openly called for showdown with the regime. The regime seemed weak in comparison with powerful Solidarity which boasted of having 10 million members, while the party had 2 million, continually abandoning the ship. Solidarity leaders and common people thought it was enough to press harder and the regime would collapse. Events soon proved how wrong they were.
The regime managed to keep their plans secret. There were a few leaks from befriended policemen but nobody knew anything for sure at lower levels of the forces, that is why their vague warnings were ignored. Some people reported the discreet movement of troops in the country, but that was ignored too.
The regime attacked on many fronts on the night of 13 December. The most important actions and regulations:
1. They cut off phone lines in the whole country to reduce the possibility of Solidarity members warning each other. Phones didn`t wirk for about two months (?). Nobody estimated how many seriously ill people died because the ambulance service didn`t get to them on time.
2. All radio and TV programmmes stopped. At 6 am there was a speech by General Jaruzelski, repeated for many hours, intertwined with classical music and war marches. Of course, there was the news in the evening, the speakers were wearing military uniforms without ranks.
3. About 3 thousand people were arrested and sent to detention centers. It was called the internment. They were dragged out of their beds by police teams, often after breaking the door. Altogether about 10 thousand people were interned during the martial law. Not only Solidarity leaders, also celebrity people who where suspected of being in opposition to the regime, e.g., artists and writers. Most of the latter ones were soon released but interning them was a very bad publicity for the regime anyway.
4. Heavy armoured vehicles appeared on the streets of major cities. Tanks, personnel carriers and trucks, next to them armed soldiers and militiamen. They blocked the roads, checked people`s papers, ransacked cars.
5. Military commissars i.e. army officers, were appointed as directors or managers to factories, ministries, offices, organizations etc.
6. All independent trade unions, both worker and peasant, were made illegal. Some organizations, e.g. The Union of Polish Journalists (it had gotten too independent before) and PenClub were dissolved. Only two government papers were allowed for publication.
7. Factories had to adopt the military style of work - heavy punishments awaited those who committed the slightest offence. Going on strike and showing disobedience to martial law regulations was a major offence.
8. Travels to other cities or countries were halted, all those waiting at Okęcie Airport were turned back. To travel to another city you had to have a pass.
9. Schools broke up for two months.
10. The censorship was imposed on mail. Envelopes were opened and checked.
Did I forget anything?
