The Politics of Global War: Poland Teeters D+14 Part II

Author’s Note: Apologies for being late and for this being a half post. Last couple of days have been intensely busy. I’ll finish up Poland tomorrow. Expect a lengthy post if time allows it, and then we move to the next theater. – Mike

Jaruzelski delivered the speech in his customary colorless tone, allowing the words to project the urgency of the moment, and the reasons behind the decisions he was about to reveal to the Polish people. He informed the populace of the ‘stunning betrayal at the hands of those who were once comrades.’ The plight of Poland’s paratroopers in Denmark was revealed. How the Soviets abandoned them without a second thought was emphasized more than once. The Polish leader even went as far as to directly compare the Soviet actions in Denmark to the Katyn Forest massacre in World War II, and the similarities between the two were not lost on the populace. Jaruzelski’s mention of Katyn was not calculated, however, it had an emotional effect on the millions of Poles who were watching the speech now, or would in the coming hours. Jaruzelski continued. The Polish People’s Republic’s armed forces were being ordered to stand down. All military units now serving abroad were being recalled. His next point was even more consequential, and earth shattering.

Poland was withdrawing from the Warsaw Pact alliance at 12 o’clock that afternoon. Events in Denmark, according to the Polish leader, had cemented the sad reality that Poland could never fully trust its neighbor to the east ever again. The Soviet Union had long treated Poland as little more than a vassal state.

Next, Jaruzelski announced new elections were to be held once circumstances allowed for it. A new coalition government would be formed and he was personally inviting Solidarity, as well as a handful of other pro-democracy leaning, but lesser known banned parties, would be invited to join the government. There was little room for misinterpretation in this message. It was strikingly clear. Poland’s future would decided by her people, not by a handful of men in the Kremlin.

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