In December 1981, in response to the declaration of martial law in Poland, the “Wujek" coal mine in Katowice became the scene of dramatic events that were deeply etched into the national memory. This chronicle is dedicated to a detailed account of those events. The miners’ strike was a key act of protest against political repression and the curtailment of civil rights.
On the night of 12–13 December, officers of the Citizens’ Militia and ZOMO carried out an attack on the apartment of Jan Ludwiczak, the chairman of the Solidarity works committee at the “Wujek" coal mine. The militiamen and ZOMO officers brutally forced their way into the apartment, beat the miners who were present, and detained Ludwiczak. Stanisław Siorek describes how he was attacked and lost consciousness. In response to these events, the miners decided to begin a strike.
At one point someone shouted
– To the wall!
And then I was struck
on the back of the head and fell.
Janusz Ludwiczak
On the night of 12–13 December, officers of the Citizens’ Militia and ZOMO carried out an attack on the apartment of Jan Ludwiczak, the chairman of the Solidarity works committee at the “Wujek" coal mine. The militiamen and ZOMO officers brutally forced their way into the apartment, beat the miners who were present, and detained Ludwiczak. Stanisław Siorek describes how he was attacked and lost consciousness. In response to these events, the miners decided to begin a strike.
At one point someone shouted
– To the wall!
And then I was struck
on the back of the head and fell.
Janusz Ludwiczak
On the night of 12–13 December, officers of the Citizens’ Militia and ZOMO carried out an attack on the apartment of Jan Ludwiczak, the chairman of the Solidarity works committee at the “Wujek" coal mine. The militiamen and ZOMO officers brutally forced their way into the apartment, beat the miners who were present, and detained Ludwiczak. Stanisław Siorek describes how he was attacked and lost consciousness. In response to these events, the miners decided to begin a strike.
At one point someone shouted
– To the wall!
And then I was struck
on the back of the head and fell.
Janusz Ludwiczak
On the night of 12–13 December, officers of the Citizens’ Militia and ZOMO carried out an attack on the apartment of Jan Ludwiczak, the chairman of the Solidarity works committee at the “Wujek" coal mine. The militiamen and ZOMO officers brutally forced their way into the apartment, beat the miners who were present, and detained Ludwiczak. Stanisław Siorek describes how he was attacked and lost consciousness. In response to these events, the miners decided to begin a strike.
At one point someone shouted
– To the wall!
And then I was struck
on the back of the head and fell.
Janusz Ludwiczak
On the night of 12–13 December, officers of the Citizens’ Militia and ZOMO carried out an attack on the apartment of Jan Ludwiczak, the chairman of the Solidarity works committee at the “Wujek" coal mine. The militiamen and ZOMO officers brutally forced their way into the apartment, beat the miners who were present, and detained Ludwiczak. Stanisław Siorek describes how he was attacked and lost consciousness. In response to these events, the miners decided to begin a strike.
At one point someone shouted
– To the wall!
And then I was struck
on the back of the head and fell.
Janusz Ludwiczak
On the night of 12–13 December, officers of the Citizens’ Militia and ZOMO carried out an attack on the apartment of Jan Ludwiczak, the chairman of the Solidarity works committee at the “Wujek" coal mine. The militiamen and ZOMO officers brutally forced their way into the apartment, beat the miners who were present, and detained Ludwiczak. Stanisław Siorek describes how he was attacked and lost consciousness. In response to these events, the miners decided to begin a strike.
At one point someone shouted
– To the wall!
And then I was struck
on the back of the head and fell.
Janusz Ludwiczak
On the night of 12–13 December, officers of the Citizens’ Militia and ZOMO carried out an attack on the apartment of Jan Ludwiczak, the chairman of the Solidarity works committee at the “Wujek" coal mine. The militiamen and ZOMO officers brutally forced their way into the apartment, beat the miners who were present, and detained Ludwiczak. Stanisław Siorek describes how he was attacked and lost consciousness. In response to these events, the miners decided to begin a strike.
At one point someone shouted
– To the wall!
And then I was struck
on the back of the head and fell.
Janusz Ludwiczak
On the night of 12–13 December, officers of the Citizens’ Militia and ZOMO carried out an attack on the apartment of Jan Ludwiczak, the chairman of the Solidarity works committee at the “Wujek" coal mine. The militiamen and ZOMO officers brutally forced their way into the apartment, beat the miners who were present, and detained Ludwiczak. Stanisław Siorek describes how he was attacked and lost consciousness. In response to these events, the miners decided to begin a strike.
At one point someone shouted
– To the wall!
And then I was struck
on the back of the head and fell.
Janusz Ludwiczak
On the night of 12–13 December, officers of the Citizens’ Militia and ZOMO carried out an attack on the apartment of Jan Ludwiczak, the chairman of the Solidarity works committee at the “Wujek" coal mine. The militiamen and ZOMO officers brutally forced their way into the apartment, beat the miners who were present, and detained Ludwiczak. Stanisław Siorek describes how he was attacked and lost consciousness. In response to these events, the miners decided to begin a strike.
At one point someone shouted
– To the wall!
And then I was struck
on the back of the head and fell.
Janusz Ludwiczak
On the night of 12–13 December, officers of the Citizens’ Militia and ZOMO carried out an attack on the apartment of Jan Ludwiczak, the chairman of the Solidarity works committee at the “Wujek" coal mine. The militiamen and ZOMO officers brutally forced their way into the apartment, beat the miners who were present, and detained Ludwiczak. Stanisław Siorek describes how he was attacked and lost consciousness. In response to these events, the miners decided to begin a strike.
At one point someone shouted
– To the wall!
And then I was struck
on the back of the head and fell.
Janusz Ludwiczak