US_Rover
26 Apr 2011
History / Question on Poland 1980-82 (the history of Solidarity during the years of 1980 and 1981) [17]
Hi everyone,
I'm a student of history and more specifically, a student of Soviet military history. Over the past few years I've focused on Russian Command and Control and their exercises from the late 70's to mid 80's. During my research, I came across books that linked Soviet military exercises to events inside Poland. The events of Solidarnosc. As a result, I dove head first into Polish military history and the history of Solidarity during the years of 1980 and 1981.
I knew very little of Polish military history, or rather realized such after I started, but I soon became fascinated with those two years and the hundreds of years prior - mostly focusing on the relationship between Poland and her neighbors (Germany and Russia) - when I heard this joke:
"You're a Polish General and both the Germans and Russians are attacking you at the same time. Who do you shoot first?
The Germans. Business before pleasure."
I've read many books thus far but they can't properly complete the picture. I've not been to and don't look likely to ever go to Poland any time soon, and I also don't know any Polish people. So, I looked up Polish internet groups and found this forum. I've read through a number of threads already and I think I'll find exactly what I'm looking for. That is, I'd like to know about those years from people who lived there during that time.
-What was your view of Solidarity and KOR in August of '80 and did it change by December of '81? If so how and why?
-Did government rationing and propaganda play a role?
-What were the rations and what commodities were available? What commodities were luxury items? What were, if any, the differences between city and country life?
-What was your view of the PUWP, specifically Gen. Jaruzelski, PM Kania, and Gen Olszowski? Did it change between Aug '80 and Dec '81? If so how and why?
-What was your view of Col. Kuklinski's defection? Did you know of it at that time? If so, how did you hear of it?
-What was your view of the CPSU; Brezhnev, Andropov, Ustinov, Suslov, etc? Was Marshal Kulikov a know figure? If so, how?
-Did the USSR's history of Hungary '56, Czechoslovakia '68, and Afghanistan '79 play on your mind during this time? Did it affect how you viewed your government or Solidarity's actions?
-The ZOMO, how often and what impact did they have on your life or those around you?
-And what role or effect did Cardinal Wyzsynski and Pope John Paul II have on you, your friends and family, and on the government and Solidarity?
-For those who attended church, what was the message from the pulpit?
-What was the reaction after the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II?
I have many more questions but I think I've posted enough thus far. Thank you for your time.
Hi everyone,
I'm a student of history and more specifically, a student of Soviet military history. Over the past few years I've focused on Russian Command and Control and their exercises from the late 70's to mid 80's. During my research, I came across books that linked Soviet military exercises to events inside Poland. The events of Solidarnosc. As a result, I dove head first into Polish military history and the history of Solidarity during the years of 1980 and 1981.
I knew very little of Polish military history, or rather realized such after I started, but I soon became fascinated with those two years and the hundreds of years prior - mostly focusing on the relationship between Poland and her neighbors (Germany and Russia) - when I heard this joke:
"You're a Polish General and both the Germans and Russians are attacking you at the same time. Who do you shoot first?
The Germans. Business before pleasure."
I've read many books thus far but they can't properly complete the picture. I've not been to and don't look likely to ever go to Poland any time soon, and I also don't know any Polish people. So, I looked up Polish internet groups and found this forum. I've read through a number of threads already and I think I'll find exactly what I'm looking for. That is, I'd like to know about those years from people who lived there during that time.
-What was your view of Solidarity and KOR in August of '80 and did it change by December of '81? If so how and why?
-Did government rationing and propaganda play a role?
-What were the rations and what commodities were available? What commodities were luxury items? What were, if any, the differences between city and country life?
-What was your view of the PUWP, specifically Gen. Jaruzelski, PM Kania, and Gen Olszowski? Did it change between Aug '80 and Dec '81? If so how and why?
-What was your view of Col. Kuklinski's defection? Did you know of it at that time? If so, how did you hear of it?
-What was your view of the CPSU; Brezhnev, Andropov, Ustinov, Suslov, etc? Was Marshal Kulikov a know figure? If so, how?
-Did the USSR's history of Hungary '56, Czechoslovakia '68, and Afghanistan '79 play on your mind during this time? Did it affect how you viewed your government or Solidarity's actions?
-The ZOMO, how often and what impact did they have on your life or those around you?
-And what role or effect did Cardinal Wyzsynski and Pope John Paul II have on you, your friends and family, and on the government and Solidarity?
-For those who attended church, what was the message from the pulpit?
-What was the reaction after the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II?
I have many more questions but I think I've posted enough thus far. Thank you for your time.