”The men who rule them and their totalitarian allies fear the very freedom that the Polish people cherish. They have been betrayed by their own government.” For a thousand years, Christmas has been celebrated in Poland, a land of deep religious faith, but this Christmas brings little joy to the courageous Polish people. ”As I speak to you tonight, the fate of a proud and ancient nation hangs in the balance. President Reagan on December 23 issued ”Address to the Nation about Christmas and the Situation in Poland”. Tanks and armed soldiers appeared on the streets, curfew was introduced, airports were closed, mail censored, telephone lines were under strict control as well as mass media, educational institutions, public transport. Various pro-democratic organisations and movements including Solidarity were banned. Many political prisoners were not released in 1983 when the martial law finished but in 1986 a year of the general amnesty. Severe repressions started: thousands of opposition activists were put in prison without charge and as many as 91 were killed. The authoritarian communist government of the People’s Republic of Poland drastically restricted life in Poland by introducing martial law in order to crash political opposition. General Jaruzelski believed that introducing the military state would prevent the Russian intervention. The Communist party in the years 1980-1981 experienced a huge crisis involving the growing popularity of Solidarity movement and demands, poor economic situation of Poland and at the same time the Soviets were not satissfied with the situation in Poland. The council of state, obeying the constitution, declared a state of war (at midnight) on the territory of Poland.” (Read more here: ) ”I declare that today, the army council of national salvation, has been constituted. Each day delivers new blows to the waning economy.” State structures are ceasing to function. The achievements of many generations and the Polish home that has been built up from the dust are about to turn into ruins. I address you concerning extraordinarily important questions. ”Today I address myself to you as a soldier and as the head of the Polish government. Warsaw,, Source: Archiwum Dokumentacji Mechanicznej, Wojskowa Agencja Fotograficzna/Wikipedia, author unknown, public domain. Wojciech Jaruzelski seen ready in a TV studio to read a speech announcing the introduction of martial law. On the television they saw General Jaruzelski- Prime Minister and the First Secretary of The Party announcing: On Decemin the morning Polish people woke up in the new shocking reality caused by the totalitarian communist system.
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