History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

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

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]

3 THINGS:

I hate muddy roads/sidewalks/paths/lawns. Everything.
And rough roads:
And environmental attitude of some Poles:

Work / Teaching English in Zakopane, is it safe? [45]

kayterr

Warning against sects one characteristics of which is a display of certain signs.

Work / Teaching English in Zakopane, is it safe? [45]


You should be careful with those Highlanders. They are quick with their axes. There are hundreds of jokes and stories about Lowland dwellers coming back from the mountains with an axe in their back.

Life / Are foreigners welcome in Poland? [267]


I can. I am welcoming to all foreigners. But it is natural that I prefer them to be hard-working responsible guys, not beggars.

Life / Are foreigners welcome in Poland? [267]

Foreigners are welcome. But they`d better be well-off as Poland is too poor to provide for broke guys who come and beg in streets.

News / Original cars manufactured in Poland [64]


Right. The bonnet didn`t open.

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

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:

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

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.

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

Hey, it is a nice eagle. I like contrasting yellow and black.

polishforums.com/user_files/pics/3803/1_th.jpg

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]


I consider the joke immensely funny. :):):):):):):):) Listen to relive this great moment again:

youtube.com/watch?v=kifJ_mQdpZA&feature=related

Listen to his jokes about Soviet Union. Among others, a Soviet family has to wait 10 years for the delivery of a car - order today, come back in 10 years. :):):):)

youtube.com/watch?v=mN3z3eSVG7A


If Americans were stupid, they wouldn`t have won the Cold War with the Soviets. :):):):) See above - 10 years` waiting time for the delivery of a car.:):):):):):)

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]


Yes, Reagan was a good president for those times. He was tough on communists and that`s what I appreciated, though he declared economic sanctions against Poland after the junta cracked down on Solidarity in 1981.

And his joke about a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union starting in 5 minutes was superb. :):):):):)

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]


It was just great. I was 18, had sex for the first time and life looked wonderful. :):):):):)

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]


I see my true identity has been discovered.
What can I say now??? :):):):):):)

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]


In a way, you are right. Workers toppled communism and allowed Solidarity to take over, but when capitalism started to be built, their situation didn`t improve right away. Why? They thought they would work like in communism

(whether you stand or lie, you will get 2000 zlotys -
czy się stoi czy się leży, dwa tysiące się należy)
and earn like in capitalism.
They were wrong.
Those who stubbornly stuck to socialist ideas and didn`t allow their plants to be restructured according to free market economy rules, became drop-outs when their work places went bankrupt.

Communist corruptive ideas had pervaded people`s minds and hearts.
It took 20 years for most Poles to understand that they need to work hard for their own and country`s prosperity.
In comparison to the past, we can say that Poles lost a little to gain a lot. In 1989 an average Pole needed 10 salaries to buy a good quality TV. Today only two salaries. Including workers` wages too.

Kostia, I would gladly fall under Russian domination on one condition: if Russians become like Germans - disciplined, organized, dutiful, etc etc etc, so that they could introduce new quality into Poland and develop these characteristics in Poles :):):):):):):):)

However, I am afraid it won`t happen during my lifetime. :):):):):):):):)

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

Yes. Apparatchiks, i.e. regime`s henchmen, set up private companies, using the state property and funds and created a new class of capitalists. In the wink of an eye. It shows what people communism had - greedy opportunists. :):):)

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

In 1950, a new złoty was introduced, replacing all earlier issues at a rate of one hundred to one. The new banknotes were dated 1948, whilst the new coins were dated 1949. From 1 January 1990 it was a convertible currency.


Only after weeks of wearing. :):):):)

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

Yes, the Soviet regime managed to survive because they still had some support from people. Stalin, despite his crimes, received support from common Russians who decided to defend their country against a greater enemy.

At the end of communism,when economy was crumbling into pieces, regimes realised they were losing support not only of common people but also the police and army, two fundamental pillars without which communist system would have collapsed in any country after 3 months after its introduction.

Shortly speaking, party bosses weren`t sure if the forces would stand by them in case of trouble. They prefered to resign than check it out for themselves. :):):):)

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

There were more victims of the martial law. Altogether - about 100.

Grzegorz Przemyk, a 19 yo high school student, beaten up to death at the police station in 1983.

Przemyk`s grave



One more death which shocked Poles. Solidarity priest Jerzy Popiełuszko was assassinated by the communist secret police. The murder was so blatant that the regime was forced to react. The murderers were arrested and received due punishment.

On October 19, 1984, a frail, young priest was savagely beaten and drowned by government security agents in the woods of rural Poland. The brutal death of this holy priest, carried out in the dark of night, captured the attention of the world, and his martyrdom is increasingly seen as a sacrifice leading not only to the resurrection of his own country as a free and independent nation of Christian people, but a bloody sacrifice redeeming all enslaved European peoples from the Baltic to the Urals.



The nation`s answer: But they can`t kill the soul.

Bogdan Włosik, shot during a demonstration in 1983.

Monument

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

Hey, make up your mind at last if you want a little bloodshed


or a big massacre.


:):):):)


Actually, they were never afraid to use lethal violence against protesting workers and others. If you look carefully through this thread, you will see it.

But after continual usage of violence they realised it didn`t help, only made the situation much worse in the long run. Angry workers didn`t want to work and eventually even communist rulers, those Red Princes, started complaining about economy when they couldn`t give the police and army satisfactory pay rises and new equipment because there was not enough money.

Finally communists realised they needed to give away power to avoid being eaten alive by the furious hungry nation and nobody would help them because their protectors, red army and police, would be hungry too.

Ponial, towariszcz? :):):):):):):)

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]


Guys, calm down. :):):) Constantine is a vampire longing for bad emotions, he plays with you by means of little provocations. :):):)

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]


Not necessarily. You must have overlooked the massacre in Lubin above.

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

The martial law imposed multiple restrictions on freedom but didn`t suppress the aspirations of the nation. From 1981 to 1989 Solidarity led an underground activity and encouraged Poles to resist communism. Resistance, due to the regime`s brutality, was carried out in a peaceful way. E.g, the boycott of state TV.

TV NEWS OBJECTORS

It happened in 1982 in Świdnik, an industrial town in southern Poland, where people found many ways in which they expressed their disagreement with the regime`s policy. The disagreement which in fact, in conditions of totalitarian system, meant protest. Such nonviolent protest was something that communists couldn`t cope with.

""One evening, just as the nightly television news came on, a Pole fed up with the daily dose of government propaganda got out of his chair, turned his TV set toward the window and went out for a stroll. No one in Swidnik, a factory town 100 miles southeast of Warsaw, claims to know just who made that first "news-walk," but within days almost the entire population of 30,000 began to crowd the tree-lined main street for an evening promenade during the 7:30 newscast."

Another way to demonstrate one`s attitude to communism was going to street demonstrations. They always ended in violent riots.
The most massive and biggest demonstrations took place on 31 August, 1982, to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of Solidarity. Hundreds of thousands people went out to streets, clashes lasted for many hours till night, several thousand were arrested, cities were totally tear gassed. In one case the police shot at people, killing 3. Such demonstrations, big or small, continued till 1989.

The riot police didn` t pity anyone. They were said to be drunk or sometimes even drugged.

See how the police attacks peaceful elderly people who attended the mass in the Old Town in Warsaw, 1983.
dziennik.pl/foto/article166058/Palowanie_pod_katedra.html?gallerySeq=1#top

Krakow, Nowa Huta. See the gas attack on the crowd of demonstrators.

Blood

Walesa in the picture and V-sign meaning victory over communism.

Lenin desecrated



A sudden attack on unsuspecting women who have just put a floral cross on the ground in the site where John Paul II gave a sermon.

In 1982 the police used guns against demonstrators which were going home after a peaceful protest. 3 men were killed on the spot.

On August 31, 1982, the communist regime perpetrated a crime in Lubin that shall forever remain in the hearts and minds of the townsmen as well as all Poles. Due to the actions of Civic Militia 3 people were fatally shot and other tens were wounded. The memory of the victims of the Martial Law is crucial for coming generations. The memory of Michał Adamowicz, Andrzej Trajkowski and Mieczysław Poźniak, all of whom were killed by the 'people's government', should never wane. The names of those whose decisions contributed to the killing of innocent people should also never be forgotten.



This is the best known photograph of the event - men are carrying a fatally wounded mate under gun fire. You must admit it is really shocking. It is a symbol of communist rule in Poland.





Temporary monument on the day after the killing.





Bullet holes



Inhabitants of Lubin were indomitable. On the next day after the massacre they went out to streets again to protest against communist crimes.





Films from various protests and events of the martial law:

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

The martial law was implemented by Poles against other Poles. Soviet troops didn`t participate in it. General Jaruzelski had consulted his Soviet military superiors, that`s natural, apart from being the Prime Minister, he was also the head of Polish Armed Forces and as such he stood to attention before Marshall Kulikow, the commander of the Warsaw Pact.

General Jaruzelski and others have always claimed that they had to introduce the martial law because there was an imminent threat of Soviet intervention in Poland. They simply chose the lesser evil - home crackdown instead of foreign invasions and probably war. However, documents available today prove that Soviets didn` t have any intention to invade Poland in Czechoslovakia-1968-style. One Afghanistan was enough for Soviet leaders at the time, they didn`t want to get into another quagmire in Poland. But they took every chance possible to exert pressure on Polish leaders to crack on Solidarity at last. The independent workers` movement and union meant a deadly danger to the communist system whose very nature is to keep everything under the state control. Solidarity couldn`t be controlled, so it had to be destroyed to avoid giving a bad example to other socialist countries.

Soviet and socialist countries` governments welcomed the martial law with enthusiasm and full support. The governments of Western European countries sighed with relief that at last "the crisis" in Poland was settled. Common Westerners showed great sympathy to Poles - Germans, the French, Scandinavians and others sent millions of parcels with food and clothing to Poland during the hardest time.

The US government answered with embargo on trade and loans.


Not the guys who made arrests. They had to be clear. But the riot police who fought with demonstrators in streets were said to be drugged because they beat people in complete amock. Beating frenzy.

But they lost. :):):):)

In December 1981 I was young and rather unaware of the situation because politics was boring to me. I prefered my books, for school and not only, I also started to be interested in girls. In 1982 I left primary school and went to a high school and that was connected with passing entrance exams. I studied hard.

But my political education was growing rapidly after December 1981. When in the high school in September 1982, I was fully aware of my strong reluctance to communism and those who implemented it in Poland. I wasn`t alone - during school years most of us were against.

We were children of the martial law. Tough, confirmed anticommunists. No wonder communism was doomed to fall. :):):):)


Years 1981-1989 wasn`t a civil war. Solidarity side didn`t have any weapons and they consciously decided not to use ones. It was a peaceful revolution in a totalitarian country ruled by the regime backed by Soviet bayonettes.

Besides, the martial law, though full of violence and even brutal murders committed by the regime henchmen, was quite mild compared to similar events in other countries. In Tiananmen Square in China a few thousands people were killed during one night alone. In Poland about 100 during the whole martial law.

Yes, 1945-1945 were civil war with victims on both sides.

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

Hmm... I think I was talking generally about all education places in Poland. Yes, regular schools started back on 2 January, but universities on 8 February, which makes about 2 months, doesn`t it? :):):):)

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]


Yes, very probable, I have joined many historical forums and have been putting the same story in them to promote knowledge of the Polish effort.


Yes, the main trial of murderers ended just this year, in April. The commander of the shooting unit was sentenced to 11 years, other murderers from 2.5 to 3 years. Because of the amnesty in 1989, the sentences were reduced by half.

There are still trials of the Police Chief and military prosecutors from the time.

Read more about the massacre in the mine
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacification_of_Wujek
The Pacification of Wujek was a strike-breaking action by the communist forces at the Wujek Coal Mine in Katowice, Poland, culminating in the massacre of striking miners on December 16, 1981. It was part of a large-scale action aimed to break the Solidarity trade union after the introduction of the martial law in Poland in 1981. The pacification was technically successful; however, in a longer term, it turned out to be a milestone towards the collapse of the communists system in Poland...


It is a very painful issue because they were all Polish. And there weren`t any Jews, if you hint at that. These Poles were lackeys of the Soviet empire, the worst scum ever.

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

I saw some nasty treatment of customers or passengers in US stores and buses back in those 90s.
Does it mean that US is/was a communist country? :):):)
Probably it is now with Obama spending more billions to support crumbling companies. That is what communists used to do in the past, that is why communist economy sucked. :):):):)



When did you collect such nice ration cards?

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]

More on Polish defiance:

1980, one year after Pope`s visit to Poland, workers of shipyards went on strike. They decided to lock themselves inside their workplaces as they still remembered the massacre of 1970 when the communist police and army had shot them like ducks in streets.

The biggest Polish shipyard in Gdańsk, at that time called Lenin Shipyard.

Striking workers were led by Lech Walesa.

Workers` families gathered at the fence of the locked shipyard every day. People feared another massacre similar to one in 1970.

What struck foreign journalists and observers was the religiousness of workers.

Workers vowed to stand by each other. The idea of Solidarity was born.

Count on me.

After attempts to break workers`s determination, the communist authorites sent a representative to run negotiations which took place in this room. Lenin bust on the right.

The members of the Strike Comittee. Their main postulate was the right to an independent trade union, not subjected to authorities control.

Negotiations

Triumph. The government gave in, workers were allowed to register their independent trade union called Solidarity and gained the legal right to strike (in communist countries strikes were illegal).

Signing the pact. Walesa is using a giant pen. :):):)

In this way Solidarity became another milestone in Polish history.

The communist answer was typical: Propaganda
Common road, common aim

In December 1980 Poland avoided the Soviet invasion similar to the one in 1968 in Czechoslovakia. It is said that Soviet leaders were intent on implementing the invasion but eventually changed their mind, apparently after American president and others` warnings.

The next 12 months were very stormy. Poland`s economy ruled by communists was falling apart. The foreign debt amounted to incredible 26 billion $, with crushing interest rates to be paid. The export of goods to earn hard currency deprived Polish internal market of many nessecities. The authorities introduced rationing: meat, sweets, flour, fats, pasta (sugar was already rationed in 1976). Later on vodka, cigarettes, petrol, etc etc.

Meat rationing card

10 million Poles joined Solidarity (even socialist militiamen and other regime services tried to set up Solidarity cells in their work places but to no avail as they were immediately fired). Party members gave up their membership en masse.

People demanded more political freedom but also expected that the government would introduce some sane measures to improve the tragic economic situation. They didn`t realise that the condition of inefficient economy was hopeless.

Inside the butcher`s at the time.

People got tired by shortages and hard conditions. Also they got tired by communists` resistance to give more freedom to people. Concessions that communists had already made (e.g., less strict censorship in the press, journalists could write about many things which had been banned before) were not enough, e.g, T.V. still was controlled by the regime, and spread lies and misinformation, making people really angry.



Solidarity members organized strikes, marches, protests.

Free political prisoners!

Communist regime organised dirty provocations, e.g, Solidarity members were beaten by the police.

But nobody predicted what it was planning to do:

to be cont...

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]


Fortunately, educated Westerners know the truth

Tearing down the Iron Curtain

PRAGUE - A quiz for history buffs. Twenty years ago - on June 4, 1989 - three events shaped a fateful year. Which do you remember most vividly, and which most changed the world?: (a) the bloody denouement of the protests on Tiananmen Square; (b) the death of Iran's revolutionary cleric, Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini; and (c) the Polish elections.

Few would answer (c). The victory of the famed opposition trade-union movement, Solidarity, in Eastern Europe's first free election since 1946 was eclipsed by the violent crackdown in Beijing and Khomeini's tumultuous passing.

[....]

History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [339]


Really?? Who cares??? :):):):)

Seriously, which West are you talking about? Probably some undereducated masses?


Really? :):):)
BTW, which Czech Rep do you mean? The one in Czechoslovakia??? :):):):)

I am afraid you must go back to serious history studies. First check the chronicle of events.

4 June - semi-free elections in Poland.
24 August - T. Mazowiecki from Solidarity becomes a Prime Minister
17 November - Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia

As you can see, Czechs (and Slovaks) still lived in a stalinist system when Poles already had a new government created by Solidarity opposition.


Exactly. But, as I said, who cares?? :):):):)

Stay tuned and have a nice education!! You certainly need it. :):):):)