Martial Law Victims Remembrance Day in Poland

Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Martial Law - a Polish holiday celebrated annually on December 13, on the anniversary of the introduction of martial law in Poland. This day was decided by acclamation by the Sejm of the Republic of Poland on December 6, 2002. The Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Martial Law is not a day off from work.

On December 13, 1981, the State Council of the People's Republic of Poland introduced martial law on the territory of the entire state. The self-proclaimed Military Council for National Salvation was established, headed by General Wojciech Jaruzelski, an organ that administered the country through the army, militia and other services. Arrests and harassment of opponents of the communist government began.

During the night of December 12-13, the services took control of telephone exchanges, TV and radio stations as part of the "Azalia" operation. Telephones were turned off and correspondence was censored. Moreover, publishing of the press outside the official titles has been suspended. The authorities restricted freedom of movement by introducing a curfew. A number of institutions were militarized. Suspended, inter alia, the right to strike, as well as the activities of schools and universities.

At the same time, the action "Jodła" was carried out, which was aimed at depriving a group of approx. 10 thousand people. selected people, mainly related to the opposition, but also representatives of former ruling teams. The leaders of NSZZ "Solidarność" were interned, including chairman Lech Wałęsa, and the union itself was banned.

In response, workers, shipyard workers and miners launched strikes that brutally pacified security forces, mainly the Motorized Civic Militia Odwody (ZOMO). On December 16, 1981, the most tragic events took place - nine miners were shot by ZOMO in Katowice, and 23 were injured. In Gdańsk, a hundred thousand-strong demonstration was held, during which one person was killed and over 300 were injured. Similar events took place a day later in Krakow. Demonstrations repeated in 1982.

Martial law was suspended on December 31, 1982, and then abolished on July 22, 1983. The balance of its victims is difficult to estimate, but it is assumed that it amounts to approximately 100 killed and several hundred wounded. At the same time, thousands of people lost their jobs, were forced to emigrate or faced other kinds of repression.

Every year on December 13 in the evening, the Institute of National Remembrance organizes the action "Light the light of freedom." It refers to the gesture of solidarity by citizens of the free world towards Poles, made on Christmas Eve 1981, who lit candles in the windows of their homes. including John Paul II and the President of the USA Ronald Reagan A symbolic candle commemorating the victims of martial law is also lit in one of the windows in the building at Wiejska Street.