PolishForums.com
POLAND . The Unofficial Guide
 Unanswered | Archives
Meet Polish People at PF! Witamy, Guest | PF Members | Gold Members

Polish Forums / History of Poland / Post reply Start a new thread in [History of Poland]

Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2


page 5 of 8:  « Prev  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  Next »

pawianThreads: 80
Posts: 4,542
Joined: May 30, 08 Pictures: 1 ♂ 		 Jun 20, 09, 23:41    #121
ConstantineK:
well, well, well, we have another Holmes among us... try to look into my profile first. I have never tried to hide my origin, mister Sock.

Hey, it is a nice eagle. I like contrasting yellow and black.

polishforums.com/user_files/pics/3803/1_th.jpg
SeanBMThreads: 41
Posts: 8,647
Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂ 		Edited by: SeanBM  Jun 20, 09, 23:41    #122
mets2redsox0:
Ronald Reagan

pawian:
Listen to relive this great moment again:

Very funny :)

Ronald Ragan street in Nowa Huta
Ronald Ragan street in Nowa Huta
mets2redsox0Threads: 1
Posts: 51
Joined: Mar 24, 07 ♂ 		 Jun 20, 09, 23:46    #123
ConstantineK

you don't have to hide now, because of President Reagan, but, watch-out Comrade!, Comrade Putin is Listening!, beware!!!, your paper's may not be in order?. LOL!.
ConstantineKThreads: 35
Posts: 1,949
Joined: May 10, 07 ♂ 		 Jun 20, 09, 23:47    #124
pawian:
If Americans were stupid, they wouldn`t have won the Cold War with the Soviets.

Don't try to perform our russian stupid fault as american or, God forbid, polish merit. SU collapsed only because it was governed too badly. Neither poland nor america has something with this event.
mets2redsox0Threads: 1
Posts: 51
Joined: Mar 24, 07 ♂ 		 Jun 20, 09, 23:52    #125
ConstantineK:
Don't try to perform our russian stupid fault as american or, God forbid, polish merit. SU collapsed only because it was governed too badly. Neither poland nor america has something with this event.

Are you as Stupid as you sound? or just Dumb?
ConstantineKThreads: 35
Posts: 1,949
Joined: May 10, 07 ♂ 		 Jun 21, 09, 00:01    #126
mets2redsox0:
Are you as Stupid as you sound? or just Dumb?

Well, good pattern of american way of thinking... What did you want to say my little kid. Your sentence is just a senceless exclamation. Well, let's suppose that I am "just dumb", what is then?
mets2redsox0Threads: 1
Posts: 51
Joined: Mar 24, 07 ♂ 		 Jun 21, 09, 00:07    #127
ConstantineK:
Well, good pattern of american way of thinking...

See that's the Difference, between American's & Russian's, We (American's) Think!, Russian's play follow the Leader!, Comrade!. :-)
southernThreads: 116
Posts: 10,900
Joined: May 17, 07 ♂ 		 Jun 21, 09, 00:09    #128
mets2redsox0:
We (American's) Think!,

If you think so hard and at the end you elect Bush,sth is wrong with this thinking.
ConstantineKThreads: 35
Posts: 1,949
Joined: May 10, 07 ♂ 		 Jun 21, 09, 00:10    #129
mets2redsox0:
See that's the Difference, between American's & Russian's, We (American's) Think!,

Come on, don't fool yourself, you just think that you Think. Your thoughts are the same as Homer Simpson has.ó
mets2redsox0Threads: 1
Posts: 51
Joined: Mar 24, 07 ♂ 		 Jun 21, 09, 00:12    #130
ConstantineK:
I am "just dumb", what is then?

I am very glad you asked that, 1, try Reading a History Book Printed Outside of the old "USSR!", 2, ask anyone from Poland, Lithuanian (I myself are 2nd Generation Lithuanian / Irish American) or anyone else Former behind the Old Iron Curtain Country's how they fell about the "USSR!". :-)
ConstantineKThreads: 35
Posts: 1,949
Joined: May 10, 07 ♂ 		 Jun 21, 09, 00:21    #131
mets2redsox0:
I am very glad you asked that, 1, try Reading a History Book Printed Outside of the old "USSR!"

Oh please, try to impress me, give me your point of view. Only, please, leave your vain attempts to persude me the you can read Books! It is so incredable. You choice is comics.
mets2redsox0Threads: 1
Posts: 51
Joined: Mar 24, 07 ♂ 		Edited by: mets2redsox0  Jun 21, 09, 00:24    #132
ConstantineK:
try to impress me,

why?, on God's Green Earth would I want to Impress someone like you?, for god sake!, LOL!!, as my mom use to say, "You can drag a Horse to Water, but, you can't make him Drink!". and that's not Kool-Aid!!!!.
ConstantineKThreads: 35
Posts: 1,949
Joined: May 10, 07 ♂ 		 Jun 21, 09, 00:28    #133
mets2redsox0:
why?, on God's Green Earth would I want to Impress someone like you?,

Write me a line in private mail please, because it is 02.24 in moscow, and everything we are arguing about here is 100+% offtopic
mets2redsox0Threads: 1
Posts: 51
Joined: Mar 24, 07 ♂ 		 Jun 21, 09, 00:34    #134
ConstantineK:
Your thoughts are the same as Homer Simpson has.ó

is that the best you can come-up with?.

I'd Rather be "Homer Simpson" then Comrade Putin!!!. :-)

You are 100% off topic, this is the Polish Forum, this Thread is about 20 years of Polish Freedom (from People like YOU!, Comrade!). :-)
ConstantineKThreads: 35
Posts: 1,949
Joined: May 10, 07 ♂ 		 Jun 21, 09, 00:45    #135
mets2redsox0:
You are 100% off topic, this is the Polish Forum, this Thread is about 20 years of Polish Freedom (from People like YOU!, Comrade!). :-)

It's amizing you personality managed to comprise all ridiculous the world has.
First, you are american
Second, you have Lithuanian origin
Third, you are Irish...

Who you are? Malicious troll?
pawianThreads: 80
Posts: 4,542
Joined: May 30, 08 Pictures: 1 ♂ 		Edited by: pawian  Jun 21, 09, 00:52    #136
1988 spring and summer massive strikes helped the communist regime realise certain truth: to avoid an uncontrolled outburst or even a revolution, they need to seek some agreement with Solidarity. Hence, the Round Table talks originated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Round_Table_Talks

The Polish Round Table Talks took place in Warsaw, Poland from February 6 to April 4, 1989. The government initiated the discussion with the banned trade union Solidarność and other opposition groups in an attempt to defuse growing social unrest. Following the factory strikes of the early 1980s and the subsequent formation of the (then still underground) Solidarity movement under the leadership of Lech Wałęsa the political situation in Poland started relaxing somewhat. Despite an attempt by the government to crack down on the anti-Communist sentiments, the movement had gained too much momentum and it became impossible to hold off change anymore. In addition there was fear of a social explosion due to economic malaise and runaway inflation that had depressed Polish living standards and deepened public anger and frustration. By 1988 the authorities began serious talks with the opposition.
In September 1988, when a wave of strikes was coming to an end, a secret meeting was held which included amongst others the opposition leader Lech Wałęsa and Minister of Internal Affairs Czesław Kiszczak. They agreed on holding the so-called Round Table talks in the near future to plan out the course of action to be undertaken in the country. The Round Table talks began on February 6th 1989. They included the solidarity opposition faction and the coalition government faction. The talks were held in the Council of Ministers Office. The meetings were co-chaired by Lech Wałęsa and Czesław Kiszczak.
The Polish Communists, led by Gen. Jaruzelski, hoped to co-opt prominent opposition leaders into the ruling group without making major changes in the political power structure. In reality, the talks radically altered the shape of the Polish government and society. The events in Poland precipitated and gave momentum to the fall of the entire Communist bloc; the Yalta arrangement collapsed soon after the events in Poland.

Walesa meets general Kiszczak, Interior Minister, the one who introduced martial law.

Walesa meets general Jaruzelski

The talks
g

g

g

In the center - young comunist Kwaśniewski. In 1990s he will become a president.
g

g

g


Happy opposition leaders with happy communists.

Partying. Everybody was glad that they were able to have a peaceful dispute and agreement instead of civil war.

g
mets2redsox0Threads: 1
Posts: 51
Joined: Mar 24, 07 ♂ 		Edited by: mets2redsox0  Jun 21, 09, 01:10    #137
[pawian]


I am so Glad to see "we" (the free People of the world) are back on topic, since, this is the Polish Forum, and this Wonderful (less some un-happy Russin's) Thread is about 20 years of Polish Freedom!!!. :-)
pawianThreads: 80
Posts: 4,542
Joined: May 30, 08 Pictures: 1 ♂ 		Edited by: pawian  Jul 16, 09, 22:25    #138
Semi free elections, June 4th, 1989. Let`s remember, Poland`s neighbours, Czecholsovakia, East Germany, were still fully communist countries with scanty opposition.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_Sejm

Contract Sejm (Polish: Sejm kontraktowy) is a term commonly applied to the Polish Parliament elected in the Polish parliamentary elections of 1989. The contract refers to an agreement reached by the Communist Party and the Solidarity (Solidarność in Polish) movement during the Polish Round Table Agreement. Solidarność became a legitimate and legal political party.
Perhaps the most important decision reached during the talks was to allow for partially-free elections to be held in Poland. All seats to the newly-created Senate of Poland were to be elected democratically, as were 161 seats (35 percent of the total) in Sejm. The remaining 65% of the seats were reserved for the Communist Party and its satellite parties. In addition, all 35 seats elected via the country-wide list were reserved for the Party's candidates provided they gained a certain quota of support. This was to ensure that the most notable leaders of the Party were elected.
The election of June 4, 1989 (and the second round of June 18) brought a landslide victory to Solidarność: 99% of all the seats in the Senate and 35% of all possible seats in Sejm. Out of 100 seats in the Senate, 99 were won by Solidarity and 1 by an independent candidate. Out of 35 seats of the country-wide list, only one was gained by the Party candidate (Adam Zieliński) and one by a ZSL satellite party candidate, while the remainder were taken by the Solidarity in the second run. Altogether, out of 161 seats eligible, Solidarity took 160.
Although the elections were not entirely democratic, they paved the way for creation of Tadeusz Mazowiecki's cabinet and a peaceful transition to democracy, which was confirmed after the Polish parliamentary elections of 1991.


Elections
g

g

g

g

g

Checking results
g

Solidarnośc office in a cafe.
g

All Solidarity candidates had a photo with Lech Walesa taken.
g

Famous posters
g

g

g

Known celebrities took part in Solidarity campaign
Jane Fonda
g

g

g

g

g

g

Rally
g

Sticking posters
g

g

g

g

g

g

wlodek.metrolan.pl/Wydarzenia%202/Wybory%204%20czerwca%2089.jpg

g

We must win
g

g

g


Victory
g

g

On the same day, Chinese communist dictators ordered the army to massacre revolted students in Tiananmen Square.
g

g

g

g

g

PS. Naturally, I took part in voting. The week before had been very busy, I helped sticking posters all over the area. Then, on the election day, I had a terrific satisfaction crossing out communist candidates, those red stinking *******. Served them well!!!! ;D ;D

The country-wide list comprising the most hardened communists. They were all turned down except for one.
g

Today commemoration
A giant poster on Warsaw skyscraper
g

g

g


Memorial stone in a Polish town
f
pawianThreads: 80
Posts: 4,542
Joined: May 30, 08 Pictures: 1 ♂ 		Edited by: pawian  Sep 24, 09, 22:44    #139
Cabinet of Tadeusz Mazowiecki, a Solidarity leader, opposition activist, was sworn to office on 12 September 1989. The government comprised both opposition and communist party members. Communists were still too strong to ignore them.

Wiki
During his first parliamentary speech as Prime Minister, Mazowiecki nearly fainted. However, it was not to be an omen of things to come. Mazowiecki's government managed to carry out many fundamental reforms in a short period. The political system was thoroughly changed; a full range of civil freedoms as well as a multi-party system were introduced and the country's emblem and name were changed (from the People's Republic of Poland to the Republic of Poland). On December 29, 1989, the fundamental changes in the Polish Constitution were made. By virtue of these changes, the preamble was deleted, the chapters concerning political and economic forms of government were changed, the chapters concerning trade unions were rewritten and a uniform notion of possession was introduced. Thanks to these changes, the economic transformation was enabled. The set of reforms originating under Mazowiecki's government (named after its creator – Balcerowicz's plan) enabled the destruction of hyperinflation, changes in the economy and the introduction of free market mechanisms and privatization.


f

Mazowiecki gestures triumphantly after the election of his cabinet on September 12, 1989.

f

There`s govenrment! The other Poland comes to power.
f

f

Poland and Germany - conciliation.
f

A few days ago the 20th anniversary was celebrated. Parliament paid a tribute to old Mazowiecki.
f

f

What are the results of the change of the system? Multiple. But most important is the fact that in 1989 Poland`s GNP equaled 30% of European Union`s. Today it is 55% and still growing. GDP per capita came to about $6,000 in 1989 and now is above $17,000,

Poland is the only country in Europe which is going to enjoy an economic growth this year:

f
Mr GrunwaldThreads: 34
Posts: 2,354
Joined: Dec 16, 08 ♂ 		Edited by: Mr Grunwald  Oct 23, 09, 03:46    #140
southern:
But you wrote you are a supporter of absolute monarchy.

One is not a stone, mood may change, one day a Smith another day a brown :=)

But im allmost for what Const said about democracy just that I like "noble Democracy" better.

Or more to say "educated democracy"
I wouldn't have anything against experts controlling the experteese.
Let the samrt guys rule, the other scum mob can just go and speak up something in the media and play opressed for what I care.

If just becaouse some huge mob of idiots makes my country volnurable for attacks I would make revolution and even bring socsialism to them for all I care ;(

But as I said I like "Educated Democracy" best, but if it is necessary I would also accept dictatorship. Hopefully not me I would most likely love to be some form of general or allmost highest commander, not THE chief ;)
But if it IS reqired what can one do...
btw Pawian thanks for info was nice reading :=)
mateinoneThreads: 10
Posts: 78
Joined: Mar 15, 09 ♂ 		 Dec 7, 09, 10:30    #141
This is the best thread that I have read on any forum anywhere. Only ruined by the ridiculousness of Constantine. I am not sure why his posts were not just deleted and the thread left to run its course.

You have done a sensational job Powian. I know a fair amount about this time, but there is a lot of information in there that I did not know and it has left me looking up links, chasing up things to read up on later etc.

two thumbs up on an exceptional thread!!
Mr GrunwaldThreads: 34
Posts: 2,354
Joined: Dec 16, 08 ♂ 		 Dec 7, 09, 16:51    #142
mateinone:
two thumbs up on an exceptional thread!!

me 2
pawianThreads: 80
Posts: 4,542
Joined: May 30, 08 Pictures: 1 ♂ 		 Dec 7, 09, 22:18    #143
Thank you for the words of praise. It is nice to know our work is appreciated.

As the main stream of anti-communist movement has already been more or less described, I will focus now on particular events.

The story of Lenin monument in Kraków.


Bombastic Lenin monument erected in Nowa Huta in 1973 was pulled down in 1989 after violent demonstrations during which people tried to destroy it with steel ropes and finally burned it. The police, sent by Solidarity government, protected the monument in fear of Russian Embassy`s reaction and clashed with demonstrators. To avoid further violence, the monument was removed on 10.12.1989, 3 days before the anniversary of martial law.

Earlier, there were more attempts to assassinate Lenin. In 1979, a worker from the nearby Lenin Steel Plant, Andrzej Szewczuwaniec, tried to blow it up with his friends at night. Amateur assassins blew up the job. Lenin only lost his foot, the police didn`t find the perpetrators though the investigation was massive, including students of chemical classes in Krakow high schools.

In 1980s, during the martial law, there were also demonstrations of angry protesters near Lenin monument.

Unveiling

g

g

g

g


The best of times

krakow-travel.com/grafika_upd/fotografie_duze/nh_lenin.jpg

g

photoblog.pawelsuder.pl/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/05.jpg

g


Prevention
g

g

g

Burning Lenin
g

g

g

Lenin was actually hanged.
g

g

Ditched Lenin
g


Today it is in the museum in Sweden.
g

Empty space in Nowa Huta

http://www1.dziennik.krakow.pl/ipn/nowa_huta_miasto_pracy_i_walki/

Couldn`t they leave Lenin, painted in bright colours, with a baseball cap, and a f*g in his mouth?? Today it would be an unusual attraction in Nowa Huta.
Poles are too emotional. They can`t get rid of historical prejudice. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Mr GrunwaldThreads: 34
Posts: 2,354
Joined: Dec 16, 08 ♂ 		 Dec 8, 09, 00:51    #144
pawian:
Poles are too emotional. They can`t get rid of historical prejudice.

He got hanged, burned, blown up (his foot) and it is cursing somewhere in Sweden
I couldn't be more happy LOL ^^
pawianThreads: 80
Posts: 4,542
Joined: May 30, 08 Pictures: 1 ♂ 		 Dec 18, 09, 23:59    #145
1970 Gdynia massacre anniversary
17.12.2009 16:18

On 17 December, 1970, in Gdynia, communist militia and army opened fire at protesting workers in Gdynia, northern Poland, killing 18 people.

Following yesterday's 28th anniversary of the massacre at the Wujek coal mine, where communist militia opened fire at striking workers, killing 9 and injuring many more, today Poland marks the 39th anniversary of another massacre orchestrated by Poland's communist regime.

It is estimated that in December of 1970 at least 44 people were killed in Gdansk and Gdynia and thousands wounded by communist militia crushing workers' protests. Some sources suggest as many as several hundred might have lost their lives.

Because information was strictly censored, exact numbers of casualties remains a unknown. Communist authorities forged death certificates and families of victims were forced to bury their dead at night, with communist militia guarding them so that nobody found out what happened.

"My son was killed in Gdansk. We arrived at the cemetery at night, I couldn't even see anything. I wanted to take the body, but they wouldn't allow me. So we buried him at night and in the morning we came back to look at the tomb," one mother recalled. (jn)

h
SeanusThreads: 22
Posts: 30,160
Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂ 		 Dec 19, 09, 14:29    #146
I think some post office staff will be petitioning for reverting to the 'good old days' as they seem to be living them now ;) ;)
convexThreads: 47
Posts: 7,189
Joined: Nov 25, 09 Pictures: 2 ♂ 		 Jan 31, 10, 21:47    #147
pawian:
But Poles never gave up hope and many times they tried to throw off the communist yoke.

Some fought against communism when it was being introduced into the country.
These partisans stayed in the forest and continued the fight, attacking communist prisons and freeing fellow underground soldiers, Polish patriots imprisoned by secret police.

I'm reminded of the fight that took place in '68 in northern Bohemia, can you tell me about that?
pawianThreads: 80
Posts: 4,542
Joined: May 30, 08 Pictures: 1 ♂ 		 Jan 31, 10, 22:17    #148
convex:
I'm reminded of the fight that took place in '68 in northern Bohemia, can you tell me about that?

You mean Prague Spring in general? Wiki offers fair description:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Spring
convexThreads: 47
Posts: 7,189
Joined: Nov 25, 09 Pictures: 2 ♂ 		 Jan 31, 10, 22:19    #149
pawian:
You mean Prague Spring in general? Wiki offers fair description:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Spring

Yeah, you know....Poles in tanks...leading the fight since WW2...
Bratwurst BoyThreads: 11
Posts: 14,563
Joined: Apr 2, 07 ♂ 		Edited by: Bratwurst Boy  Jan 31, 10, 22:22    #150
convex:
Yeah, you know....Poles in tanks...leading the fight since WW2...

...
On the night of 20-21 August 1968, Eastern Bloc armies from four Warsaw Pact countries — the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Poland and Hungary—invaded the ČSSR.[35][36]

Note, no Germans! ....this time.... ;)

...
That night, 200,000 Warsaw Pact troops and 2,000 tanks entered the country.[37] The troops first occupied the Ruzyně International Airport, where air deployment of more troops was arranged.
The Czechoslovak forces were confined to their own barracks and were surrounded until the threat of a counter-attack was assuaged. By the morning of 21 August Czechoslovakia was occupied.[36]

page 5 of 8:  « Prev  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  Next »

Home / History of Poland / Unanswered [this forum] | Similar


Similar discussions:

Reply re: Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2

If you're reading this, you are probably not a registered user yet and cannot access all forums and features!

 - Before creating a new thread, make sure to follow the Thread Title Creation Rules.
 - Your message must comply with the General Forum Rules.
 - If you have further questions, check the Forum FAQ & Feedback section.

To post anonymously, please enter a temporary and unique username (without password) or login and post as a member.

Username:   Password: 


re: Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2


Posting Guidelines:

- Stay on topic. If your post is not related to this thread, create a new thread or post in the Off-topic forum.
- Use the Search and Similar Threads features to avoid duplicating threads.
- Do not insult or harass others, play nicely!
- Do not personally attack others to avoid temporary or permanent suspension.
What connects Poland with Vlad Impaler or to say Vlad Tepes or simple Dracula  POLISH MEMORIES OF CHERNOBYL...April 26th 1986


Random: Address in Warsaw for various offices to registerd company



Home | Unanswered | Archives | Random | Statistics Time in Poland: 07:06 / Feb 10

About Us | Contact Us | Rules, Privacy | Poland Advertising
© 2005-12 PolishForums.com