If Americans were stupid, they wouldn`t have won the Cold War with the Soviets.
Don't try to perform our russian stupid fault as american or, God forbid, polish merit. SU collapsed only because it was governed too badly. Neither poland nor america has something with this event.
Well, good pattern of american way of thinking... What did you want to say my little kid. Your sentence is just a senceless exclamation. Well, let's suppose that I am "just dumb", what is then?
I am very glad you asked that, 1, try Reading a History Book Printed Outside of the old "USSR!", 2, ask anyone from Poland, Lithuanian (I myself are 2nd Generation Lithuanian / Irish American) or anyone else Former behind the Old Iron Curtain Country's how they fell about the "USSR!". :-)
I am very glad you asked that, 1, try Reading a History Book Printed Outside of the old "USSR!"
Oh please, try to impress me, give me your point of view. Only, please, leave your vain attempts to persude me the you can read Books! It is so incredable. You choice is comics.
why?, on God's Green Earth would I want to Impress someone like you?, for god sake!, LOL!!, as my mom use to say, "You can drag a Horse to Water, but, you can't make him Drink!". and that's not Kool-Aid!!!!.
You are 100% off topic, this is the Polish Forum, this Thread is about 20 years of Polish Freedom (from People like YOU!, Comrade!). :-)
It's amizing you personality managed to comprise all ridiculous the world has. First, you are american Second, you have Lithuanian origin Third, you are Irish...
1988 spring and summer massive strikes helped the communist regime realise certain truth: to avoid an uncontrolled outburst or even a revolution, they need to seek some agreement with Solidarity. Hence, the Round Table talks originated.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Round_Table_Talks
The Polish Round Table Talks took place in Warsaw, Poland from February 6 to April 4, 1989. The government initiated the discussion with the banned trade union Solidarność and other opposition groups in an attempt to defuse growing social unrest. Following the factory strikes of the early 1980s and the subsequent formation of the (then still underground) Solidarity movement under the leadership of Lech Wałęsa the political situation in Poland started relaxing somewhat. Despite an attempt by the government to crack down on the anti-Communist sentiments, the movement had gained too much momentum and it became impossible to hold off change anymore. In addition there was fear of a social explosion due to economic malaise and runaway inflation that had depressed Polish living standards and deepened public anger and frustration. By 1988 the authorities began serious talks with the opposition.
Walesa meets general Kiszczak, Interior Minister, the one who introduced martial law.
Walesa meets general Jaruzelski
The talks:
Happy opposition leaders with happy communists.
Partying. Everybody was glad that they were able to have a peaceful dispute and agreement instead of civil war.
I am so Glad to see "we" (the free People of the world) are back on topic, since, this is the Polish Forum, and this Wonderful (less some un-happy Russin's) Thread is about 20 years of Polish Freedom!!!. :-)
Semi free elections, June 4th, 1989. Let`s remember, Poland`s neighbours, Czecholsovakia, East Germany, were still fully communist countries with scanty opposition.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_Sejm
Contract Sejm (Polish: Sejm kontraktowy) is a term commonly applied to the Polish Parliament elected in the Polish parliamentary elections of 1989. The contract refers to an agreement reached by the Communist Party and the Solidarity (Solidarność in Polish) movement during the Polish Round Table Agreement. Solidarność became a legitimate and legal political party.
Elections in Poland
Checking results
Solidarnośc office in a cafe.
All Solidarity candidates had a photo with Lech Walesa taken.
Famous posters
Known celebrities took part in Solidarity campaign
Jane Fonda
Rally in Poland
Sticking posters
We must win
Victory
On the same day, Chinese communist dictators ordered the army to massacre revolted students in Tiananmen Square.
PS. Naturally, I took part in voting. The week before had been very busy, I helped sticking posters all over the area. Then, on the election day, I had a terrific satisfaction crossing out communist candidates, those red stinking *******. Served them well!!!! ;D ;D
The country-wide list comprising the most hardened communists. They were all turned down except for one.
Today commemoration A giant poster on Warsaw skyscraper
Today in Poland
Memorial stone in a Polish town
Cabinet of Tadeusz Mazowiecki, a Solidarity leader, opposition activist, was sworn to office on 12 September 1989. The government comprised both opposition and communist party members. Communists were still too strong to ignore them.
Wiki During his first parliamentary speech as Prime Minister, Mazowiecki nearly fainted. However, it was not to be an omen of things to come. Mazowiecki's government managed to carry out many fundamental reforms in a short period. The political system was thoroughly changed; a full range of civil freedoms as well as a multi-party system were introduced and the country's emblem and name were changed (from the People's Republic of Poland to the Republic of Poland). On December 29, 1989, the fundamental changes in the Polish Constitution were made. By virtue of these changes, the preamble was deleted, the chapters concerning political and economic forms of government were changed, the chapters concerning trade unions were rewritten and a uniform notion of possession was introduced. Thanks to these changes, the economic transformation was enabled.
Mazowiecki gestures triumphantly after the election of his cabinet on September 12, 1989.
There`s government! The other Poland comes to power.
Poland and Germany - conciliation.
A few days ago the 20th anniversary was celebrated. Parliament paid a tribute to old Mazowiecki.
What are the results of the change of the system? Multiple. But most important is the fact that in 1989 Poland`s GNP equaled 30% of European Union`s. Today it is 55% and still growing. GDP per capita came to about $6,000 in 1989 and now is above $17,000,
Poland is the only country in Europe which is going to enjoy an economic growth this year:
But you wrote you are a supporter of absolute monarchy.
One is not a stone, mood may change, one day a Smith another day a brown :=)
But im allmost for what Const said about democracy just that I like "noble Democracy" better.
Or more to say "educated democracy" I wouldn't have anything against experts controlling the experteese. Let the samrt guys rule, the other scum mob can just go and speak up something in the media and play opressed for what I care.
If just becaouse some huge mob of idiots makes my country volnurable for attacks I would make revolution and even bring socsialism to them for all I care ;(
But as I said I like "Educated Democracy" best, but if it is necessary I would also accept dictatorship. Hopefully not me I would most likely love to be some form of general or allmost highest commander, not THE chief ;)
But if it IS reqired what can one do... btw Pawian thanks for info was nice reading :=)
This is the best thread that I have read on any forum anywhere. Only ruined by the ridiculousness of Constantine. I am not sure why his posts were not just deleted and the thread left to run its course.
You have done a sensational job Powian. I know a fair amount about this time, but there is a lot of information in there that I did not know and it has left me looking up links, chasing up things to read up on later etc.
Thank you for the words of praise. It is nice to know our work is appreciated.
As the main stream of anti-communist movement has already been more or less described, I will focus now on particular events.
The story of Lenin monument in Kraków.
Bombastic Lenin monument erected in Nowa Huta in 1973 was pulled down in 1989 after violent demonstrations during which people tried to destroy it with steel ropes and finally burned it. The police, sent by Solidarity government, protected the monument in fear of Russian Embassy`s reaction and clashed with demonstrators. To avoid further violence, the monument was removed on 10.12.1989, 3 days before the anniversary of martial law.
Earlier, there were more attempts to assassinate Lenin. In 1979, a worker from the nearby Lenin Steel Plant, Andrzej Szewczuwaniec, tried to blow it up with his friends at night. Amateur assassins blew up the job. Lenin only lost his foot, the police didn`t find the perpetrators though the investigation was massive, including students of chemical classes in Krakow high schools.
In 1980s, during the martial law, there were also demonstrations of angry protesters near Lenin monument.
Unveiling
The best of times
Poland communism
Prevention
Burning Lenin in Poland
Lenin was actually hanged.
Ditched Lenin
Today it is in the museum in Sweden.
Empty space in Nowa Huta
Couldn`t they leave Lenin, painted in bright colours, with a baseball cap, and a f*g in his mouth?? Today it would be an unusual attraction in Nowa Huta.
Poles are too emotional. They can`t get rid of historical prejudice. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
On 17 December, 1970, in Gdynia, communist militia and army opened fire at protesting workers in Gdynia, northern Poland, killing 18 people.
Following yesterday's 28th anniversary of the massacre at the Wujek coal mine, where communist militia opened fire at striking workers, killing 9 and injuring many more, today Poland marks the 39th anniversary of another massacre orchestrated by Poland's communist regime.
It is estimated that in December of 1970 at least 44 people were killed in Gdansk and Gdynia and thousands wounded by communist militia crushing workers' protests. Some sources suggest as many as several hundred might have lost their lives.
Because information was strictly censored, exact numbers of casualties remains a unknown. Communist authorities forged death certificates and families of victims were forced to bury their dead at night, with communist militia guarding them so that nobody found out what happened.
"My son was killed in Gdansk. We arrived at the cemetery at night, I couldn't even see anything. I wanted to take the body, but they wouldn't allow me. So we buried him at night and in the morning we came back to look at the tomb," one mother recalled. (jn)
... On the night of 20-21 August 1968, Eastern Bloc armies from four Warsaw Pact countries — the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Poland and Hungary—invaded the ČSSR.[35][36]
Note, no Germans! ....this time.... ;)
... That night, 200,000 Warsaw Pact troops and 2,000 tanks entered the country.[37] The troops first occupied the Ruzyně International Airport, where air deployment of more troops was arranged. The Czechoslovak forces were confined to their own barracks and were surrounded until the threat of a counter-attack was assuaged. By the morning of 21 August Czechoslovakia was occupied.[36]
East Germans. armed to their teeth, were ready and willing to invade too. Normal. However, they were grounded by Soviet Union leaders who didn`t want to make the situation worse. Instead, neutral Poles were sent. :):)
