On 13 December 1981, exactly 44 years ago, martial law was imposed in Poland, a desperate act by the communist authorities of the People’s Republic of Poland (PRL) that has forever remained in the nation’s memory as a symbol of repression and the fight for freedom. The decision, made by the Military Council of National Salvation (WRON) under the leadership of General Wojciech Jaruzelski, was a response to the growing influence of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union „Solidarity” and a wave of strikes that threatened the totalitarian system. Martial law formally lasted until 22 July 1983, but its effects are still felt today, serving as a reminder of the price Poles paid for their pursuit of democracy.
Archival Recording
An archival recording survives of Wojciech Jaruzelski delivering a speech to the nation 44 years ago.
How Did the Nation Endure Martial Law?
On the night of 12 to 13 December 1981, security forces began mass arrests. About 10,000 people were interned, including leaders of „Solidarity” such as Lech Wałęsa. Streets filled with soldiers and militia, a curfew was introduced, civil rights were suspended, and the media came under strict censorship. Poles woke up to a reality resembling occupation: telephone lines were cut, gatherings were banned, property was confiscated, and strikes were brutally suppressed.
The nation endured this with a mixture of fear, determination and resistance. In the first days, repression affected thousands: families were separated, and many lost their jobs or suffered physical harm. The events at the „Wujek” coal mine in Katowice became symbolic, where on 16 December 1981 ZOMO riot police shot dead nine miners and wounded many others. Despite the terror, an underground resistance movement emerged: leaflets were printed, secret meetings and strikes were organised. „Solidarity” went underground, and society showed solidarity, sharing food, sheltering internees, and lighting candles in windows as a sign of protest. As witnesses recall, it was a time of collective trauma, but also of building national identity in opposition to the authorities. Children, as in stories of fear of uniforms on television, grew up in an atmosphere of uncertainty.
Consequences of Martial Law
The consequences were devastating. According to estimates, between several dozen and over one hundred people died during martial law, and thousands suffered repression: internment, beatings, and damage to their health. Economically, Poland sank into crisis: shortages of supplies, hyperinflation, and international isolation (sanctions by the USA and the West) accelerated the collapse of the system. Martial law, although it temporarily crushed „Solidarity”, paradoxically strengthened social resistance, leading to the Round Table Talks in 1989 and the system transformation. In the long term, the event left scars: an epidemic of neurosis and addiction, and social divisions, while the lack of full accountability for perpetrators (such as Jaruzelski) remains controversial to this day. It was a „war of the authorities against the nation,” as historians describe it, which ultimately contributed to the end of communism in Central Europe.
How Do We Commemorate This Anniversary Today?
13 December is the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Martial Law in Poland, established by the Sejm of the Republic of Poland. In 2025, marking the 44th anniversary, the commemorations are reflective and educational in nature. The Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) organises exhibitions, such as „Martial Law 1981–1983” at Litewski Square in Lublin, where generations gather to pass on memory to the young. In Warsaw, at 6:30 p.m. by the Papal Cross on Piłsudski Square, the ceremony „Light the Light of Freedom” takes place, an initiative launched by the IPN in which Poles light candles in their windows in memory of the victims. Wreaths are laid in towns and cities, and local authorities pay tribute to those who were repressed.
Today, the anniversary is an occasion for discussion about freedom and the rule of law. On social media, Poles share personal stories, from memories of fear to appeals to remember the heroes. Organisations such as the „Wspólnota i Pamięć” Association remind people of the victims, including the miners from „Wujek”. Education plays a key role: schools and the media recall the facts so that the younger generation understands the price of democracy. Despite the passing years, the anniversary still stirs emotions: for some it is a symbol of resistance, for others a warning against authoritarianism.
Martial law remains a dark lesson in history. By remembering it, Poles honour the victims and celebrate the freedom they fought for.
