Editing ZOMO (section)

{{Evil_Organization
|Box title = ZOMO
|fullname = Zmotoryzowane Odwody Milicji Obywatelskiej
|alias = "Communist [[Gestapo]]"<br>ZOMO-men
|origin = Poland
|foundation = December 24, 1956
|dissolution = 7 September 1989
|headquarters = Warsaw, Poland
|skills = Special training to fight demonstrations
|goals = Enforce the rule of Communism in Poland (successful until 1989)<br>Enforce martial law (truncated)
|crimes = [[Torture]]<br>Human rights violations<br>Mass [[murder]]<br>[[Terrorism]]
|type of villains = Paramilitary Police
|image=Oznaka MO na mundur ćwiczebny.png|type of villain=Paramilitary Police}}

The '''ZOMO''' ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_language Polish]: ''Zmotoryzowane Odwody Milicji Obywatelskiej''), known in English as '''Motorized Reserves of the Citizens' Militia''', were [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramilitary paramilitary]-[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police police] formations during the [[Polish United Workers' Party|communist era in Poland]]. These purportedly elite units of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milicja_Obywatelska Citizens' Militia] (MO) were created to fight dangerous criminals, provide security during mass events, and help in the case of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_disaster natural disasters] and other crises; however, they became known instead for their brutal and sometimes lethal actions of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_control riot control] and their role in quelling [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_rights civil rights] protests.

The first ZOMO units were deployed in 1956 and became particularly infamous for their ruthless handling of political opponents under [[Military Council of National Salvation|Polish martial law]] (1981–1983). It was permanently disbanded after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutions_of_1989 fall of communism] in 1989, though the term "ZOMO" remains synonymous with [[police brutality]] to this day. They are considered to be a [[death squad]].