On December 13, 1981, communist-era strongman Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski imposed martial law to stifle rising opposition, headed by the Solidarity movement.
It was the start of a dark chapter in modern Polish history that saw thousands of opposition activists jailed and dozens killed.
In a ceremony after midnight, officials led by President Andrzej Duda lit candles at a plaque in Warsaw commemorating Grzegorz Przemyk, a high school student who was beaten to death by Poland's communist-era police.
President Andrzej Duda (centre) attends a ceremony after midnight at a plaque in Warsaw commemorating Grzegorz Przemyk, a high school student beaten to death by Poland's communist-era police. Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell
Later in the day, the Polish president was expected to hand out state decorations to former anti-communist opposition activists during a ceremony in Warsaw.
Religious services and a host of other ceremonies were due to be held throughout the day at various sites, including the former Rakowiecka Prison in the Polish capital, to honour the victims of the communist-era crackdown.
In one such ceremony attended by Polish conservative leader Jarosław Kaczyński, officials placed flowers at the grave of Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, a Catholic priest who was killed by communist-era secret police.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in a Facebook post that "the most important thing is not to let the tragic history of the martial law period evaporate from the memory of future generations."
According to a parliamentary report compiled at the start of the 1990s, more than 90 people were killed during martial law, which lasted formally until July 22, 1983.
On the night of December 13, 1981, more than 6,500 opposition activists were arrested and interned.
During martial law Poland’s communist regime suspended political and workers’ organisations and introduced a curfew.
(gs)
Source: IAR