Jaruzelski, Wojciech (vōĭ`chĕkh yär
zĕl`skē), 1923–, Polish military and political leader. He fought in World War II, became a general in 1956, and began his rise in the Communist party in 1960. During the 1981 crisis involving the trade union Solidarity Solidarity, Polish independent trade union federation formed in Sept., 1980. Led by Lech Wałęsa , it grew rapidly in size and political power and soon posed a threat to Poland's Communist government by its sponsorship of labor strikes and other forms of
..... Click the link for more information. , Jaruzelski became premier and party leader. Known as a moderate, he sought a compromise but finally ordered a military crackdown, placed Poland under martial law (Dec., 1981), outlawed Solidarity, and ordered the arrest of Solidarity leaders, including Lech Wałęsa Wałęsa, Lech (lĕkh väwĕn`zə), 1943–, Polish labor and political leader.
..... Click the link for more information. . By the end of 1982, Solidarity had been suppressed; martial law was lifted, and Wałęsa was released. In 1987, Jaruzelski found his attempts at economic reform thwarted by Solidarity. Then, a series of crippling nationwide strikes forced him to open a dialogue with Solidarity. In Apr., 1989, Solidarity was legalized and granted the right to campaign for the upcoming elections. In June, Solidarity members won almost every seat in the upper house of the parliament, but the party was restricted to competing for only 35% of the seats in the lower house, all of which they won. The restriction allowed Jaruzelski to be elected president by a one-vote margin in the national assembly. Unable to maintain a Communist-led government, however, he was forced in September to agree to a Solidarity prime minister. Jaruzelski was succeeded as president by Wałęsa in Dec., 1990. In 1993, Jaruzelski was charged with criminal conduct in a 1970 incident in which demonstrating workers were killed after he allegedly ordered soldiers to fire on them, but court proceedings, which began in 1996, have progressed slowly because of delays and disputes. Additional criminal charges against him, relating to the imposition of martial law and internment of Solidarity leaders and others, were filed in 2006.
zĕl`skē), 1923–, Polish military and political leader. He fought in World War II, became a general in 1956, and began his rise in the Communist party in 1960. During the 1981 crisis involving the trade union Solidarity Solidarity, Polish independent trade union federation formed in Sept., 1980. Led by Lech Wałęsa , it grew rapidly in size and political power and soon posed a threat to Poland's Communist government by its sponsorship of labor strikes and other forms of..... Click the link for more information. , Jaruzelski became premier and party leader. Known as a moderate, he sought a compromise but finally ordered a military crackdown, placed Poland under martial law (Dec., 1981), outlawed Solidarity, and ordered the arrest of Solidarity leaders, including Lech Wałęsa Wałęsa, Lech (lĕkh väwĕn`zə), 1943–, Polish labor and political leader.
..... Click the link for more information. . By the end of 1982, Solidarity had been suppressed; martial law was lifted, and Wałęsa was released. In 1987, Jaruzelski found his attempts at economic reform thwarted by Solidarity. Then, a series of crippling nationwide strikes forced him to open a dialogue with Solidarity. In Apr., 1989, Solidarity was legalized and granted the right to campaign for the upcoming elections. In June, Solidarity members won almost every seat in the upper house of the parliament, but the party was restricted to competing for only 35% of the seats in the lower house, all of which they won. The restriction allowed Jaruzelski to be elected president by a one-vote margin in the national assembly. Unable to maintain a Communist-led government, however, he was forced in September to agree to a Solidarity prime minister. Jaruzelski was succeeded as president by Wałęsa in Dec., 1990. In 1993, Jaruzelski was charged with criminal conduct in a 1970 incident in which demonstrating workers were killed after he allegedly ordered soldiers to fire on them, but court proceedings, which began in 1996, have progressed slowly because of delays and disputes. Additional criminal charges against him, relating to the imposition of martial law and internment of Solidarity leaders and others, were filed in 2006.
Jaruzelski, Wojciech (Witold)
(born July 6, 1923, Kurow, Pol.) Polish army general and chief of state (1981–89) and president (1989–90) of Poland. He rose through the ranks of the army and the Communist Party to be elected premier and first secretary of the party in 1981 as Poland came under increasing pressure from the Solidarity movement. He declared martial law (1981–83), carrying out mass arrests of dissidents. Unable to restore Poland's stagnant economy, he began negotiations in 1988 with Solidarity, culminating in agreements to reform Poland's political system. Elected president in 1989, he resigned his posts in the Communist Party. In 1990 Lech Walesa was elected president, and Jaruzelski relinquished the last of communist power in Poland.
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