On the night of 12–13 December 1981, the communists imposed Martial Law in Poland. Power was seized by the Military Council of National Salvation led by General Wojciech Jaruzelski.
The aim of Martial Law was to eliminate social protests and halt the democratic processes initiated in August 1980.
The official reason given for the imposition of Martial Law was the deteriorating economic situation of the country and the threat to state structures. The publication of almost all press was suspended, and radio, television and large industrial plants were militarised.
Among the numerous repressions carried out by the communists against the Polish nation was also a ban on civilian flights by Polish and foreign aircraft. Military supervision was imposed over civil aviation at every level.
With the authorisation of the military authorities, only rescue flights and international flights without landing in the Polish People’s Republic were permitted. Military and law enforcement flights were also significantly restricted.
In 2002, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland designated 13 December as the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Martial Law.
We remember.
