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Poles embraced Communism at the end of WW2


Varsovian  91 | 634  
12 Sep 2012 /  #1
There are people around who want to rehabilitate Communism, in an understated way of course.

The fact was that at the end of WW2 Poles overwhelmingly wanted to rebuild Poland. Later on, everyone was affected by the totalitarian regime to a lesser or greater extent. Like it or not. Lives had to be lived - most people just wanted to get on as normally as they could, despite the bizarre situation.

However, it was an illegal regime founded on the threat of violence. The Czechs have acknowledged this in law, and handed back the stolen property. Poland's political elite decided it should stay stolen. The regime's crowning glory came in its last few years, as its elite handled the transition to perfection - keeping their ill-gotten gains.

Now we have people, like the moderators of this forum, doing the final bit of PR work connected with the transition. The villains weren't that bad, and if they were, it all happened a very long time ago and nobody is squeeky clean, are they?

Discuss.
goofy_the_dog  
12 Sep 2012 /  #2
However, it was an illegal regime founded on the threat of violence. The Czechs have acknowledged this in law, and handed back the stolen property. Poland's political elite decided it should stay stolen. The regime's crowning glory came in its last few years, as its elite handled the transition to perfection - keeping their ill-gotten gains.

Poland's "political elite" are in the majority the old commies, which means that Poland is still not a free country...
I reckon they should enforce Lustracja just the way they did in Eastern Germany when they were joing the Western part.
Without it Poland will be always poor, full scandals and just not important...

Cheers
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
12 Sep 2012 /  #3
However, it was an illegal regime founded on the threat of violence.

You do realise that the Communists weren't as unpopular in the post-war period as you make them out to be? They enjoyed a wave of popularity after WW2, not least because it was a clear rejection of fascism.

The Czechs have acknowledged this in law, and handed back the stolen property.

Actually, their property restitution process is every bit as slow as Poland's.

Poland's political elite decided it should stay stolen.

Not quite.

Poland's "political elite" are in the majority the old commies, which means that Poland is still not a free country...

Yes, like Jaroslaw Kaczynski. Son of a PZPR member, previously a member of the AK - the worst kind of turncoat traitor.

I reckon they should enforce Lustracja just the way they did in Eastern Germany when they were joing the Western part.

Why? The majority is against it - good Catholics believe in forgiveness, and sensible people can't see any benefit from digging up old wounds.

Without it Poland will be always poor, full scandals and just not important...

Most of us don't want Poland to be important. Poles are quite sick of the countless years of wars, battles, wars, battles, etc.

Then again goofy, if you care so much about Poland, why are you in the UK?
pawian  221 | 25663  
12 Sep 2012 /  #4
Then again goofy, if you care so much about Poland, why are you in the UK?

Because:

Poland's "political elite" are in the majority the old commies, which means that Poland is still not a free country...
I reckon they should enforce Lustracja just the way they did in Eastern Germany when they were joing the Western part.
Without it Poland will be always poor, full scandals and just not important...

Isn`t it a nice pretext to stay in UK or US?: Poland isn`t a free country. :):):)
sobieski  106 | 2111  
12 Sep 2012 /  #5
I reckon they should enforce Lustracja just the way they did in Eastern German

The Polish church was never a supporter of this, for obvious reasons.
OP Varsovian  91 | 634  
13 Sep 2012 /  #6
Thanks guys, for proving my points one by one!

Communism = a force for good

Anti-Communists = twisted

Theft is fine

No-one in a totalitarian system remains squeeky clean

"Nuff said"
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
13 Sep 2012 /  #7
Isn`t it a nice pretext to stay in UK or US?: Poland isn`t a free country. :):):)

Then he should come and free it, if he thinks it isn't free.

The Polish church was never a supporter of this, for obvious reasons.

One has good reason to suspect that the Polish Church was at the forefront of keeping things locked up, not least because of the internal battles that would arise.

The damage done to churches in East Germany after the revelations of widespread collaboration is one good reason why the RCC wouldn't want this stuff in the open.
Peter_H  3 | 47  
13 Sep 2012 /  #8
You do realise that the Communists weren't as unpopular in the post-war period as you make them out to be? They enjoyed a wave of popularity after WW2, not least because it was a clear rejection of fascism.

I'd love to see some robust data on that.

While I agree that the Communists were quite possibly more popular in post-war Poland than is currently acknowledged, I don't think the statement

enjoyed a wave of popularity after WW2

has any basis in fact.

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