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'''Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski''' (<small>Polish: </small>[ˈvɔjt͡ɕɛx ˈvitɔlt jaruˈzɛlskʲi] (listen); 6 July 1923 – 25 May 2014) was a Polish military officer and politician. He was First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party from 1981 to 1989, and as such was the last leader of the People's Republic | |Image = Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski 13 grudnia 1981.JPG | ||
|fullname = Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski | |||
|alias = | |||
|origin = Kurów, Poland | |||
|occupation = First Secretary of the [[Polish United Workers' Party]] (1981 – 1989)<br>President of Poland (1989 - 1990)<br>Prime Minister of Poland (1981 – 1985) | |||
|type of villain = Oppressive Tyrant | |||
|goals = Keep Poland under military rule (failed) | |||
|crimes = [[Mass murder]]<br>Oppression<br>[[War crimes]]<br>Imposing martial law illegally<br>[[Torture]] | |||
|hobby = }}{{Quote|Thank goodness we don't live in medieval times, when people fought wars over ideas.|Wojciech Jaruzelski}}'''Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski''' (<small>Polish: </small>[ˈvɔjt͡ɕɛx ˈvitɔlt jaruˈzɛlskʲi] (listen); 6 July 1923 – 25 May 2014) was a Polish military officer and politician. He was First Secretary of the [[Polish United Workers' Party]] from 1981 to 1989, and as such was the last leader of the Polish People's Republic. He also served as Prime Minister from 1981 to 1985 and the country's head of state from 1985 to 1990 (titled as Chairman of the Council of State from 1985 to 1989 and as President from 1989 to 1990). He was also the last commander-in-chief of the Polish People's Army (LWP). He resigned after the Polish Round Table Agreement in 1989, which led to multi-party elections in Poland. | |||
== Early life == | == Early life == | ||
Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski was born on 6 July 1923 in Kurów,<sup>[1]</sup> into a family of Polish gentry.<sup>[1][2]</sup> He was the son of Wanda (née Zaremba) and Władysław Mieczysław Jaruzelski, a Czech-educated agronomist and volunteered soldier who fought in the war against Soviet Russia in 1920and was raised on the family estate near Wysokie (in the vicinity of Białystok). From 1933 until September 1939, he was educated in a Catholic school in Warsaw where he received strict religious education.[[World War II]] commenced on 1 September 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Germany, aided by the Soviet invasion of Poland | |||
Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski was born on 6 July 1923 in Kurów,<sup>[1]</sup> into a family of Polish gentry.<sup>[1][2]</sup> | |||
<nowiki> </nowiki>sixteen days later. These resulted in the complete defeat of Poland by October, and a partition between Soviet and German zones of control. | <nowiki> </nowiki>sixteen days later. These resulted in the complete defeat of Poland by October, and a partition between Soviet and German zones of control. | ||
Jaruzelski and his family fled to Lithuania to stay with some friends. However, a few months later, after Lithuania and the other Baltic states were forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union, Jaruzelski and his family were captured by the Red Army and deported to Siberia.<sup>[1][5]</sup> | Jaruzelski and his family fled to Lithuania to stay with some friends. However, a few months later, after Lithuania and the other Baltic states were forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union, Jaruzelski and his family were captured by the Red Army and deported to Siberia.<sup>[1][5]</sup> | ||
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== Military career == | == Military career == | ||
Jaruzelski was selected by the Soviet authorities for enrolment into the Soviet Officer Training School.<sup>[1]</sup> | Jaruzelski was selected by the Soviet authorities for enrolment into the Soviet Officer Training School.<sup>[1]</sup> During his time in the Kazakh Republic, Jaruzelski wanted to join the non-Soviet controlled Polish exile army led by Władysław Anders, but in 1943, by which time the Soviet Union was fighting in Europe against Germany in the Eastern Front, he joined the Polish army units being formed under Soviet command.<sup>[2]</sup> He served in this Soviet-controlled First Polish Army during the war.<sup>[1]</sup> He participated in the 1945 Soviet military takeover of Warsaw and the Battle of Berlin.By the time the war ended that year, he had gained the rank of lieutenant.<sup>]</sup> He "further credited himself in Soviet eyes by engaging in combat against the non-Communist Polish Home Army, from 1945 to 1947. | ||
After the end of the war, Jaruzelski graduated from the Polish Higher Infantry School and then from the General Staff Academy. He joined Poland's Communist party, the Polish United Workers' Party, in 1948<sup>[7]</sup> and became an informant for the Soviet supervised Main Directorate of Information of the Polish Army using the cover name Wolski. | |||
In the initial post-war years, he was among those who fought the Polish anti-Communists ("cursed soldiers") in the Świętokrzyskie region. A BBC News profile of Jaruzelski states that his career "took off after the departure [from Poland] in 1956 of the Soviet Marshal, Konstantin Rokossovsky",<sup>[2]</sup> who had been Poland's Commander in Chief and Minister of Defence.<sup>[2]</sup> Jaruzelski became the chief political officer of the Polish armed forces in 1960, its chief of staff in 1964; and Polish Minister of Defense in 1968,<sup>[2]</sup> four years after he was elected to be a member of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party.<sup>]</sup> Even the minister of defence, Marshal Marian Spychalski was persecuted.<sup>[10]</sup> Jaruzelski obtained his post. | |||
In August 1968, Jaruzelski, as the defence minister, ordered the 2nd Army under General Florian Siwicki (of the "LWP") to invade Czechoslovakia, | |||
<nowiki> </nowiki>resulting in military occupation of northern Czechoslovakia until 11 | <nowiki> </nowiki>resulting in military occupation of northern Czechoslovakia until 11 | ||
November 1968 when under his orders and agreements with the Soviet Union | November 1968 when under his orders and agreements with the Soviet Union | ||
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== Leader of the Polish military government == | == Leader of the Polish military government == | ||
On 11 February 1981, Jaruzelski was named Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister). | On 11 February 1981, Jaruzelski was named Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister). On 18 October, Stanisław Kania was ousted as First Secretary of the Central Committee | ||
<nowiki> </nowiki>of the Polish United Workers' Party after a listening device recorded him criticising the Soviet leadership. Jaruzelski was elected his | <nowiki> </nowiki>of the Polish United Workers' Party after a listening device recorded him criticising the Soviet leadership. Jaruzelski was elected his | ||
successor, becoming the only professional soldier to become leader of a | successor, becoming the only professional soldier to become leader of a | ||
ruling European Communist party.<sup>[5][7]</sup> | ruling European Communist party.<sup>[5][7]</sup> | ||
Jaruzelski | A fortnight after taking power, Jaruzelski met with Solidarity head Lech Wałęsa and Catholic bishop Józef Glemp, and hinted that he wanted to bring the church and the union into a sort | ||
<nowiki> </nowiki>of coalition government. However, his intention was to crush Solidarity.As early as September, while he was still merely prime minister, he met with his aides to find an excuse to impose martial law. | |||
On 13 December, citing purported recordings of Solidarity leaders planning a coup, Jaruzelski organised his own coup by proclaiming martial law. A [[Military Council of National Salvation]] was formed, with Jaruzelski as chairman. A BBC News profile of | |||
Jaruzelski contends that the establishment of martial law was "an attempt to suppress the Solidarity movement." | Jaruzelski contends that the establishment of martial law was "an attempt to suppress the Solidarity movement." | ||
According to Jaruzelski, martial law was necessary to avoid a Soviet invasion. | According to Jaruzelski, martial law was necessary to avoid a Soviet invasion. In a May 1992 interview with ''Der Spiegel'', | ||
<nowiki> </nowiki>Jaruzelski said: "Given the strategic logic of the time, I probably would have acted the same way if I had been a Soviet general. At that | <nowiki> </nowiki>Jaruzelski said: "Given the strategic logic of the time, I probably would have acted the same way if I had been a Soviet general. At that | ||
time, Soviet political and strategic interests were threatened." | time, Soviet political and strategic interests were threatened." However, at a press conference in September 1997 Viktor Kulikov, former supreme commander of Warsaw Pact forces, denied that the Soviet Union had either threatened or intended to intervene.<sup>[15]</sup> According to Politburo minutes from 10 December 1981, Yuri Andropov stated "We do not intend to introduce troops into Poland. That is the proper position, and we must adhere to it until the end. I don't know how things will turn out in Poland, but even if Poland falls under the control of Solidarity, that's the way it will be." | ||
Jaruzelski also claimed in 1997 that Washington had given him a "green light", stating that he had sent Eugeniusz Molczyk to confer with | Jaruzelski also claimed in 1997 that Washington had given him a "green light", stating that he had sent Eugeniusz Molczyk to confer with | ||
<nowiki> </nowiki>Vice-President George H. W. Bush, who had agreed with Molczyk that martial law was the lesser of two evils. | <nowiki> </nowiki>Vice-President George H. W. Bush, who had agreed with Molczyk that martial law was the lesser of two evils. Whether this meeting with the American vice-president occurred is disputed. While it is erroneously cited,Harvard historian Mark Kramer has pointed out that no documents support Jaruzelski's claim. | ||
Jaruzelski was chiefly responsible for the imposition of martial law in Poland on 13 December 1981 in an attempt to crush the pro-democracy movements, which included Solidarity, the first non-Communist trade union in Warsaw Pact | Jaruzelski was chiefly responsible for the imposition of martial law in Poland on 13 December 1981 in an attempt to crush the pro-democracy movements, which included Solidarity, the first non-Communist trade union in Warsaw Pact | ||
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journalists and opposition activists without charge; few lost their lives in the first days of introduction of martial law. The socio-economic crisis deepened even more than in the late 1970s and | journalists and opposition activists without charge; few lost their lives in the first days of introduction of martial law. The socio-economic crisis deepened even more than in the late 1970s and | ||
rationing of basic foods such as sugar, milk, and meat, as well as | rationing of basic foods such as sugar, milk, and meat, as well as | ||
materials such as gasoline and consumer products continued | materials such as gasoline and consumer products continued while the median income of the population fell by as much as 10 percent. During | ||
Jaruzelski's rule from 1981 to 1989, around 300,000 people left the country. | Jaruzelski's rule from 1981 to 1989, around 300,000 people left the country. | ||
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been determined. Jaruzelski, however, justified cracking down by | been determined. Jaruzelski, however, justified cracking down by | ||
alleging that the threat of Soviet intervention was quite likely had he dealt with Solidarity internally. This question, as well as many other facts about Poland in the years 1945–1989, are presently under the investigation of government historians at the Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (IPN), whose publications reveal facts from the Communist-era archives. | alleging that the threat of Soviet intervention was quite likely had he dealt with Solidarity internally. This question, as well as many other facts about Poland in the years 1945–1989, are presently under the investigation of government historians at the Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (IPN), whose publications reveal facts from the Communist-era archives. | ||
<nowiki> </nowiki>Additionally, there are numerous confirmations from Czech army officers | <nowiki> </nowiki>Additionally, there are numerous confirmations from Czech army officers | ||
<nowiki> </nowiki>of the time speaking of ''Operation Krkonoše'', plan of armed invasion of Poland, because of which many units of the Czechoslovak People's Army were stationed on highest alert, ready for deployment within hours.<sup>[19]</sup> | <nowiki> </nowiki>of the time speaking of ''Operation Krkonoše'', plan of armed invasion of Poland, because of which many units of the Czechoslovak People's Army were stationed on highest alert, ready for deployment within hours.<sup>[19]</sup> | ||
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<nowiki> </nowiki>Solidarity won all the remaining elected seats, and 99 out of the 100 | <nowiki> </nowiki>Solidarity won all the remaining elected seats, and 99 out of the 100 | ||
seats in the fully elected Senate were also won by Solidarity-backed | seats in the fully elected Senate were also won by Solidarity-backed | ||
candidates.<sup>[1]</sup> Amid such a crushing defeat, there were fears Jaruzelski would annul the results. | candidates.<sup>[1]</sup> Amid such a crushing defeat, there were fears Jaruzelski would annul the results. However, he allowed them to stand.<sup>[20]</sup> Jaruzelski was elected by parliament to the position of president. He was the only candidate. | ||
Jaruzelski was unsuccessful in convincing Lech Wałęsa to include Solidarity in a "grand coalition"<sup>[1]</sup> with the Communists. He resigned as first secretary of the PZPR on 29 July 1989.<sup>[1][21]</sup> Mieczysław Rakowski succeeded him as party leader.<sup>[21]</sup> | Jaruzelski was unsuccessful in convincing Lech Wałęsa to include Solidarity in a "grand coalition"<sup>[1]</sup> with the Communists. He resigned as first secretary of the PZPR on 29 July 1989.<sup>[1][21]</sup> Mieczysław Rakowski succeeded him as party leader.<sup>[21]</sup> | ||
The Communists initially intended to give Solidarity a few token | The Communists initially intended to give Solidarity a few token | ||
cabinet posts for the sake of appearances. | cabinet posts for the sake of appearances. However, Wałęsa persuaded | ||
the Communists' two allied parties, the United People's Party (ZSL) and the Alliance of Democrats (SD), to break their alliance with the PZPR.<sup>[22]</sup> | the Communists' two allied parties, the United People's Party (ZSL) and the Alliance of Democrats (SD), to break their alliance with the PZPR.<sup>[22]</sup> | ||
<nowiki> </nowiki>Accepting that he would have to appoint a Solidarity member as prime | <nowiki> </nowiki>Accepting that he would have to appoint a Solidarity member as prime | ||
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<nowiki> </nowiki>Jaruzelski was attacked by a male pensioner with a stone and had his jaw injured, after which he was sent to a hospital to receive surgery. The man had been arrested in prison during the martial law period. Later, the man was sentenced two years and fined 200 zloty. | <nowiki> </nowiki>Jaruzelski was attacked by a male pensioner with a stone and had his jaw injured, after which he was sent to a hospital to receive surgery. The man had been arrested in prison during the martial law period. Later, the man was sentenced two years and fined 200 zloty. | ||
In an interview in 2001, Jaruzelski said that he believed Communism failed, and that he was now a social democrat. | In an interview in 2001, Jaruzelski said that he believed Communism failed, and that he was now a social democrat. He also announced his support for then-President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, as well as future Prime Minister Leszek Miller. Both Kwaśniewski and Miller were members of the Democratic Left Alliance, the social democratic party that includes most of the remains of the PUWP. | ||
In May 2005, Russian President Vladimir Putin | In May 2005, Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] | ||
<nowiki> </nowiki>awarded a medal commemorating the 60th anniversary of victory over Nazi | <nowiki> </nowiki>awarded a medal commemorating the 60th anniversary of victory over Nazi | ||
<nowiki> </nowiki>Germany to Jaruzelski and other former leaders, such as former Romanian King Michael I.<sup>[27]</sup> Czech President Václav Klaus criticised this step, claiming that Jaruzelski was a symbol of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia | <nowiki> </nowiki>Germany to Jaruzelski and other former leaders, such as former Romanian King Michael I.<sup>[27]</sup> Czech President Václav Klaus criticised this step, claiming that Jaruzelski was a symbol of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia | ||
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== Death == | == Death == | ||
Jaruzelski died on 25 May 2014, in a Warsaw hospital after suffering a stroke earlier that month.<sup>[33][34]</sup> Prior to his death, he reportedly requested last rites by a Catholic priest.<sup>[35][36]</sup> President Bronisław Komorowski | Jaruzelski died on 25 May 2014, in a Warsaw hospital after suffering a stroke earlier that month.<sup>[33][34]</sup> Prior to his death, he reportedly requested last rites by a Catholic priest.<sup>[35][36]</sup> President Bronisław Komorowski | ||
<nowiki> </nowiki>and former Presidents Lech Wałęsa and Aleksander Kwaśniewski as well as | <nowiki> </nowiki>and former Presidents Lech Wałęsa and Aleksander Kwaśniewski as well as | ||
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== Personal life == | == Personal life == | ||
Jaruzelski married Barbara Halina Jaruzelska (1931–29 May 2017)<sup>[39]</sup> in 1961.<sup>[40]</sup> They had a daughter, Monika who was born on 11 August 1963. Monika has a son, Gustav. | Jaruzelski married Barbara Halina Jaruzelska (1931–29 May 2017)<sup>[39]</sup> in 1961.<sup>[40]</sup> They had a daughter, Monika who was born on 11 August 1963. Monika has a son, Gustav. | ||
In 2014, his wife Barbara threatened to file for divorce, saying | In 2014, his wife Barbara threatened to file for divorce, saying | ||
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== Legacy == | == Legacy == | ||
The BBC reported in 2001 that "for some Poles — particularly the Solidarity generation — he is little short of a traitor",<sup>[2]</sup> even comparing his philosophy of "a strong Poland within a Soviet dominated bloc" to Vidkun Quisling's philosophy of a similar status for Norway within the Nazi controlled hemisphere. | The BBC reported in 2001 that "for some Poles — particularly the Solidarity generation — he is little short of a traitor",<sup>[2]</sup> even comparing his philosophy of "a strong Poland within a Soviet dominated bloc" to Vidkun Quisling's philosophy of a similar status for Norway within the [[Nazi]] controlled hemisphere. | ||
<nowiki> </nowiki>Meanwhile, opinion polls as of 15 May 2001 suggested that a majority of | <nowiki> </nowiki>Meanwhile, opinion polls as of 15 May 2001 suggested that a majority of | ||
<nowiki> </nowiki>the Polish people were open to agreeing with his explanation that | <nowiki> </nowiki>the Polish people were open to agreeing with his explanation that | ||
martial law was implemented to forestall a Soviet invasion.<sup>[2]</sup> Available documents indicate that Jaruzelski actually lobbied for Soviet intervention.<sup>[11]</sup> In interviews in Russian media (''Rossiyskaya Gazeta'' for example) he has been presented as the harbinger of Poland's democracy. | martial law was implemented to forestall a Soviet invasion.<sup>[2]</sup> Available documents indicate that Jaruzelski actually lobbied for Soviet intervention.<sup>[11]</sup> In interviews in Russian media (''Rossiyskaya Gazeta'' for example) he has been presented as the harbinger of Poland's democracy. | ||
Croatian writer Slavenka Drakulić described Jaruzelski as a "tragic believer in Communism who made a pact with the devil in good faith".<sup>[44]</sup> | Croatian writer Slavenka Drakulić described Jaruzelski as a "tragic believer in Communism who made a pact with the devil in good faith".<sup>[44]</sup> | ||
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{| class="box-Unreferenced_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced" | {| class="box-Unreferenced_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced" | ||
| | | | ||
|This section '''does not cite any sources'''. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. | |This section '''does not cite any sources'''. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. <small>''(December 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)''</small> | ||
|} | |} | ||
; Polish | ; Polish | ||
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* Poland: Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland | * Poland: Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland | ||
* Poland: Medal "For participation in the battle for Berlin" | * Poland: Medal "For participation in the battle for Berlin" | ||
* Poland: Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals | * Poland: Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals Medal "Merit for National Defense" – 1973, 1968 and 1966 | ||
* Poland: Medal of the National Education Commission | * Poland: Medal of the National Education Commission | ||
* Poland: Medal Pro Memoria – 2005 | * Poland: Medal Pro Memoria – 2005 | ||
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* Soviet Union: Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (USSR) | * Soviet Union: Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (USSR) | ||
* Soviet Union: Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (USSR) – 1972 | * Soviet Union: Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (USSR) – 1972 | ||
* Soviet Union: Badge of the 25th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War 1941–1945 (USSR) – 1970 | * Soviet Union: Badge of the 25th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War 1941–1945 (USSR) – 1970 | ||
* Soviet Union: Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (USSR) – 1975 | * Soviet Union: Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (USSR) – 1975 | ||
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* Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry (Portugal) – 1975 | * Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry (Portugal) – 1975 | ||
* Italy: Knight Grand Cross with Ribbon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Italy) – 1989 | * Italy: Knight Grand Cross with Ribbon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Italy) – 1989 | ||
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