Historical calendar – anniversary of the pacification by ZOMO of miners gathered at protest in the coal mine “Wujek” in Katowice.
Today, in our calendar, we will look at the last elements of building a communist dictatorship with monoparty in power in Poland.
On December 12, 1981 a peculiar gathering of the State Council was held at which Jaruzelski presented a draft martial law. It was directed to implement the same day at night. Even before it was officially announced on radio and tv on 13 December, peculiar militia groups and ZOMO began arrests of opponents, which were then placed in specially prepared internment sites.
Interestingly, not only the leaders of “Solidarity” were closed, but besides part of the erstwhile leadership of the PZPR (Gierka, Jaroszewicza and others) as a sign of the army taking over power in the country. The military surrounded previously selected objects, e.g. radio and tv broadcasts. Hundreds of officers were sent to the government and key companies, who, according to Jaruzelski's plans, were expected to heal the economy by taking the military drylon.
Strikes were banned, the ability to decision limited, and acting on an ad hoc basis the courts issued judgments on political opponents. extended censorship and police hr were introduced, and government propaganda leader Jerzy Urban accused the enemies of communist power of accidents. The consequence to Solidarity was fresh strikes, but they were brutally driven. In many places, uniforms utilized firearms. Killed and wounded. That was, among others, the Stone Coal Mine Uncle.
When on December 13, 1981 at dawn miners from the Katowice mine "Wujek" were preparing to start work, they did not yet know about the gigantic operation of communist power, aimed at "Solidarity" and millions of Poles supporting it. On the another hand, uncertainty raised information about the brutal detention of Jan Ludwiczak, the president of the Plant Commission of the NSZZ “Solidarity”. After the morning speech of General Wojciech Jaruzelski, it was clear that this was a consequence of martial law. shortly a mining protest began.
The strikers demanded the release of Ludwiczak and another arrested activists from all over the country, as well as the abolition of martial law, which would let the union to resume its activities. Not only “Uncle” was standing in the area of the war. About 50 workplaces were on strike in Katowice.
The authorities of the Polish People's Republic have decided to pacify the miners' ‘rebellion’ besides to intimidate others. On 14 December, the military and militia began to suppress protests. In Jastrzębie-Zdrój, a fire was opened under the “July Manifesto” mine, injuring 4 miners.
It was the announcement of the most bloody pacification during the martial law period – a massacre carried out by the ZOMO in the territory of KWK "Wujek", where about 3 1000 miners were on strike. The decision to usage force was made on 15 December evening, during a gathering of the Provincial Defence Committee. A immense amount of forces that were directed to the mine – 1471 MO and ZOMO officers and 760 soldiers, with 22 tanks and 44 combat vehicles – clearly testified about the Communist intentions. The start of the mine’s “unlock” action is scheduled for 16 December.
A fewer minutes after 8.00 P.M., KWK's “Uncle” area was closely surrounded by the militia, to which the military later joined. After calling the strikers to disperse (unmoved protesters sang, among others, Mazurek Dąbrowski), utilizing water cannons and gas launchers, the storm on the mine began. Tanks and combat wagons entered the site, ramming the fence. Strikers tried to defend themselves, among others, utilizing metallic rods. They besides placed the barricades in haste.
The biggest drama took place around 12.30 erstwhile a peculiar platoon of ZOMO was directed to the pacification action. Officers equipped with device guns killed six miners. The death rate then increased to 9 – 3 injured died in the hospital.
The plan to strangle the strike force at KWK "Uncle", as well as the nature of the gunshot wounds (abdominal, chest, or skull) proves that the massacre of 16 December was premeditated. This is besides evidenced by the fact that the military and militia are obstructing rescue action on the mine site.
The bloody consequence of the "Uncle" pacification – 9 killed and 23 injured miners (not counting gas-poisoned) decided to end the strike on the day of the massacre, December 16. respective twelve police officers and soldiers were besides injured.
Communist authorities have brought protest organizers to trial. On February 3, 1982, sentences were issued – 2 weeks after the resignation of the investigation into the liability of officers for the usage of firearms (the "needed defence"). The president of the Stanisław Płatek Strike Committee was sentenced to 4 years in prison. another defendants – Adam Skwira, Marian Deaf and Jerzy Wartak, heard the sentences of 3 years in prison.
It took 27 years to punish the 1 liable for the bloody pacification of "Uncle" – the commander of the peculiar platoon of the ZOMO sergeant. Romualda Cieślak (24 June 2008) He was convicted. for six years imprisonment). respective of his subordinates were punished from 3 and a half years to 4 years in prison.
The leaders of the PZPR, who, through the decision of the martial law, sealed the destiny of miners, were not held accountable. At the time, the head of the MMA Czesław Kiszczak was tried in connection with the massacre in “Uncle” respective times, starting in 1994. In 2008, the court found his “involuntary guilt”, but a year later the erstwhile head of the MMA was acquitted.
The criminals were to stay unpunished and the others remained, which shows that the alleged “systematic transformation” was fiction.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.
