Film Research - Need info on Poland Martial Law period

Hello and Thank you ! to anyone who clicks on this item. To be brief; I'm fulfiling a long past due commitment my friend and partner who passed away years ago and way too young. I am completing a screenplay we began, and the end of the final portion of the story occurs in 1981 Krakow. In order to be accurate in the film, I need to know what it was like to travel in / out / within Poland in the time martial law was imposed. As a westerner ( in Hollywood) , we imagine it was restrictive in nature, but I need to know some more details to have a good conclusion to the film. If anyone can point me to some good reference material, or ideally, contact with a person who could answer some questions it would be a fantastic blessing. - Regards, Bob

Travelling within Poland was possible but you needed a permit from the military governor of the area to travel from one city to another. There were military checkpoints on major cities` borders. Cars and drivers were frisked.

Poland permit for travel from Wrocław to Zielona Góra



Poland Checkpoint:







More: Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2

my husband is a walking encyclopedia of all things post ww2 and ww2. It is a hobby and and obsession. If you want to send me a private message with an email address--I will pass it on to him.

Obsession with history? That`s madness.

Hey - Thanks so much everybody, just the basic response helps me validate I'm not out in left field in my tentative plot conclusion. I'll check out the links you guys provided and I may get back at you "PIP" with some specifiics ...any husband obsessed with history deserves pestering . I was a History major, .so I don't see the problem ha ! :-)

that's interesting. I made that trip each weekend during that time. Neither I, nor my Polish wife, at the time, had such a permit. We were stopped only at Lubin. Nowa Sól and Zielona were checkpoint-free.

Those pics really bring back a flood of memories. My roommate had a Maluch just like that one :)

I suppose it was possible and happened all over Poland. After checking your documents and searching your car boot and realising you were not wanted for anticommunist activities, the soldiers or police let you pass.

Closing an eye was so typically Polish, after all. :):):):):):)

probably so

Hello again everyone - especially PAWAIN and PIP - I've been writing and coming up for air now. First of all, wow...I went thru that thread you provided PAWAIN ; very good stuff !~ In fact, it gave me a wholoe new outlook on that aspect of the screenplay ; I couod get a good feel for "the opression" in that time. i don't think we Westerners knew it was that bad. . So, thanks again .

and PIP - I am now ready to ask the detail questions of your husband if he's still willing. I tried the email thing but it said I had not posted enough "good stuff" to contact you via email. :-(

I assume you have The Power to send to me, so if you could start the ball rolling I'll be happy to give your husband something to discuss Thanks in advance !!