15th December 2015
The Pacification of Wujek was a strike-breaking action by the Polish police and army at the Wujek Coal Mine in Katowice,Poland, culminating in the massacre of nine striking miners on December 16, 1981.
Photos from 1981 -Katowice
It was part of a large-scale action aimed to break the Solidarity free trade union after the introduction of martial law in Polandin 1981. Although the strike was suppressed, in a longer term, it turned out to be a milestone towards the collapse of theauthoritarian system in Poland and, ultimately, to the collapse of the Eastern Bloc.
On December 16, three days after the introduction of the martial law in Poland, pro-Solidarity miners striking against the declaration of the martial law by General Wojciech Jaruzelski were dispersed by the troops of the Polish army and police. The forces used in the main thrust against the miners consisted of eight companies of riot police (ZOMO, supported by ORMO (police reservists) and NOMO) with seven water cannons, three companies of military infantry fighting vehicles (each of 10 vehicles) and one company of tanks. The miners repeatedly fought them off with their tools. During the brawl a number of strikers and 41 troops were injured, including 11 severely.
In the apex of the events, a commando-type special platoon of ZOMO opened the "shoot to kill" fire at the strikers, killing nine of them (Jan Stawisiński, Joachim Gnida, Józef Czekalski, Krzysztof Giza, Ryszard Gzik, Bogusław Kopczak, Andrzej Pełka, Zbigniew Wilk and Zenon Zając) and wounding 21 others. One of the deaths took place after 20 or more days in hospital with severe head-wounds.
( from wikipedia)
THE WUJEK MASSACRE MEMORIAL
NEVER AGAIN!!!
This was a sad news. You're right,this should never happen again.
ReplyDeleteLei definitely you are right
DeleteYes I recall this miners strike. Thanks for the information to re-jog memory cells. Terrible, scary time for the Poles and the Free World watched nervously. Thankfully nothing too dramatic occurred on the East/West front but it was Poland's desire to become free which did lead to the fall of the Wall and the Eastern block Soviet controlled countries.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been a very hard time on the people of Poland.
Gosia - I noted that you think IF you visited Australia that July and August would suit. July is well - winter and cold. probably temperate for you but like February NEVER come in August - it is the southern winds month and the 'flu' runs beserk - nearly everyone has colds!!!
So just put lines through your calender for February and August as NO GO Australia - ha ha.
Pleasantly cool here again this morning.
Cheers
Colin
Gosia
DeleteI just "googled" Wujek for more information and I
find Wujek means "Uncle" in Polish.
So it is the "Uncle Mine". Well that is surely
different.
Colin
Colin in Upper Silesia there were a lot of strike. People here love freedom and prefer independent lifestyle
DeleteNasty business. I just wondered if Jaruzelski is still alive, but he died last year.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, Definlitely Jaruzelski was a bad character
DeleteNever again for sure. I remember.
ReplyDeleteMargaret I believe it does not happen again
DeleteTragic event, for sure. Good there is a memorial as a reminder.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most memorable tragic ection of Polish army and police
Delete