Jaruzelski: Hero Or Villain?

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Re: Jaruzelski: Hero Or Villain?

#16

Post by henryk » 25 Sep 2008, 23:02

25 Sept update from Polishradio: External service: English section:
http://www.polskieradio.pl/zagranica/ne ... ote]Warsaw court adjourns Jaruzelski's trial
25.09.2008
Wojciech Jaruzelski proclaiming the martial law on Polish television on December 13, 1981 (Picture).
Warsaw District Court decided to adjourn the trial of the authors of the martial law imposed on Poland in 1981.

The proceedings are to be continued on the 2nd of October. The court also noted the unexplained absence of Czeslaw Kiszczak, one of the accused. Another defendant came without his lawyer and refused to participate in the trial alone.

At today's proceedings general Wojciech Jaruzelski was to give explanations, which he prepared on over two hundred pages.

Jaruzelski, Poland's former communist prime minister, president and military leader, is the main defendant in this case. If proven guilty, he may be imprisoned for ten years. There are six other accused in this trial.
[/quote]

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Re: Jaruzelski: Hero Or Villain?

#17

Post by henryk » 18 Jul 2011, 20:22

In response to the Polish Government's request, NATO has published papers on the Polish Martial Law early. They reveal that NATO decided not to intervene in force. I presume "far-reaching contingency plans" means non-military.. http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/5135 ... tervention
Cold War NATO files rule out Martial Law intervention
18.07.2011 11:42
A new batch of declassified documents made public by NATO HQ reveal that the military organisation did not have plans to intervene in Poland during the early 1980s, when Martial Law was imposed by communist authorities in Poland. The NATO documents – which cover the years 1980-1984 – are the successive files which Poland, as a NATO member since 1999, has managed to obtain which relate to the Cold War period.

The release of the documents comes some ten years earlier than expected, as classified NATO files usually have a 30-year restriction placed on them.

Five years ago, the archives of the Warsaw Pact, NATO’s adversary during the Cold War, were made public, while two years later the CIA declassified almost 1,500 pages of documents drawn up thanks to reports sent by Ryszard Kuklinski, a Polish colonel and spy who passed on secret documents throughout the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s to the USA.

The move to declassify the documents was granted after a formal application made by the Polish government in Warsaw last December was submitted to NATO for the release of material relating to the imposition of Martial Law.

The files show that although NATO had far-reaching contingency plans if the Soviets were to have invaded Poland in 1981, the Alliance was not prepared to launch a counter-strike during the imposition of Martial Law.

While in Brussels, Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski commented on the documents’ details by saying “NATO was not ready to take the risk to help Poles fighting for freedom.”

Sikorski added that “I have read the document, but I cannot provide a commentary – let us leave that to the historians.” (jb)

Source: IAR


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Re: Jaruzelski: Hero Or Villain?

#18

Post by henryk » 19 Jul 2011, 19:34

This thread is related:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... i#p1438101
More information:
http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/5137 ... quote]Cold War NATO documents released on FM website 19.07.2011 10:25
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published on its website 65 declassified NATO documents relating to the political situation in Poland in 1979-84, focusing primarily on the imposition of Martial Law to crush the Solidarity movement in December 1981.
The documents were handed over in Brussels on Monday to Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski by Bill Eaton, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General.

In the early 1980s, NATO countries examined various scenarios relating to a planned Soviet intervention in Poland. According to NATO documents, the alliance had contingency plans to face such an option but it was not prepared to get involved in any military operations in Poland.

According to Foreign Minister Sikorski, the declassified documents are of importance for all those interested in modern history.

“It is a great satisfaction to see that at the time when Poles fought for freedom, Polish affairs were debated in NATO. Today, as a member of NATO, Poland is in a privileged position, looking at the events of the 1980s as a distant history, to which there is no return,” Sikorski said.

The documents also relate to the impact of the election of the Polish Pope on the strengthening of the position of the Church in Poland, the enthusiastic welcome accorded to Pope John Paul II during his first pilgrimage to Poland in 1979, the failure of the economic policies of Communist leader Edward Gierek and the murder of Father Jerzy Popieluszko in 1984.

A team of NATO archivists working on the declassification of the documents included Pawel Ceranka of the Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry. He was the second person from outside NATO to have ever been invited to take part in the selection of the documents.

Meanwhile, NATO archivists are to continue work on declassifying a further 180 documents on Poland. They will include the minutes of the private sessions of the North Atlantic Council in 1980-82. The declassified documents are to be displayed at a special exhibition in December, marking the 30th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law by the communist regime in Poland. (mk/jb)

The list of documents can be found here. (ed: see below)
Audio by Alicja Baczyńska[/quote]
Here is the list (in Polish), but when you link to the documents through the titles, they are in English.
Google translation:
http://www.msz.gov.pl/Zbior,odtajnionyc ... 44344.html
Document No. 1 - 80.01.22_POLADS (80) 6-ENG

22 January 1980 - a note about the situation in Poland,
ref. ARCHIVES NATO, POLADS (80) 6, NATO confidential, k. 1-11;

•underline the validity of the visit of Pope John Paul II for sentiment in Poland. 35 years of promoting communist ideology no results, and all the people enthusiastically greeted the pope by showing their attachment to Western culture and Catholicism,
•highlight the failure of Gierek's economic policy - in the early 70s socialist bloc countries were more or less the same situation - after a decade of government by a team of Gierek only Poland was struggling with such serious economic problems and a gigantic foreign debt. Disclosure of economic data by Poland to the West in order to obtain further loans rated as the reason for the deterioration of Polish relations with the USSR,
•Gierek will be very difficult to master the crisis, but it can be done to give support from the West, Comecon, the church - no one will depend on the deepening of the conflict,
•increase opposition sentiments, ferment among the intelligentsia.
Document No. 2 - 82.02.25_POLADS (82) 19-ENG

February 25, 1982-report - the reactions of the USSR, the Central European countries and China at the NATO declaration of 11 January 1982,
ref. ARCHIVES NATO, POLADS (82) 19, NATO confidential, k. 1-5;

•NATO solidarity statement surprised and alarmed the Soviet Union and the Member UW as evidenced by their nervous and strong reaction,
•USSR and the U.S. accuse the University of hypocrisy (support for regimes in Chile, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador)
•accusations of a desire exacerbated the situation and the deterioration of East-West relations.
Document No. 3 - 83.06.24_C-R (83) 24-ENG

June 24, 1983 r. - Minutes of the North Atlantic Council meeting of 19 May 1983
ref. ARCHIVES NATO, CR (83) 24, NATO Secret, k. 1-11;

•support to all humanitarian work in the context of the forthcoming visit of the Pope, which may lead to the release of political prisoners,
•necessary to consider the West's strategy in the credit freeze and the refusal of a debt restructuring.
Document No. 4 - 84.11.27_PO (84) 118-ENG

29 November 1984 - note on the situation in Poland after the murder of Father Jerzy Popieluszko,
ref. ARCHIVES NATO, PO (84) 118, NATO confidential, k. 1-5;

•murder provoked by persons within the circles of power seeking to weaken the policy of Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski,
•balanced position of the Church attempting to tone down the mood of society,
•radicalization of the opposition groups.


A collection of declassified documents of NATO


INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT:

•80.01.22_POLADS (80) 6-ENG
•81.03.16_PO (80) 133-FINAL-COR1-BIL
•81.03.16_PO (80) 133-FINAL-ENG
•81.08.11_C-R (81) 28-ENG
•81.08.27_C-R (81) 28-COR1-BIL
•82.01.26_C-M (82) 7-ENG
•82.01.27_ CM (82) 7-AS1-ENG
•82.02.01_POLADS (82) 11-ENG
•82.02.02_ISD-290-ENG
•82.02.25_POLADS (82) 19-ENG
•82.03.01_ISD-290-FINAL-ENG
•82.04.30_ISD-300-REV1-ENG
•82.05.16_C-M (82) 42-ENG
•82.06.17_C-M (82) 42-AS1-ENG
•82.08.19_C-R (82) 41-ENG
•82.11.05_C-R (82) 50-ENG
•82.11.08_C-R (82) 50-COR1-ENG
•82.11.19_C-R (82) 53-ENG
•82.12.03_POLADS (82) 50-ENG
•83.06.24_C-R (83) 24-ENG
•83.07.06_C-R (83) 26-PART2-ENG
•83.08.10_C-R (83) 32-ENG
•83.12.09_DPA (83) 339-ENG
•84.03.12_AC_127-D_786-ENG
•84.05.10_C-M (84) 35-ENG
•84.06.28_C-R (84) 32-ENG
•84.07.13_C-M (84) 35-AS1-ENG
•84.11.27_PO (84) 118-ENG
•84.12.07_PO (84) 122-ENG
•85.01.30_C-R (84) 59-ENG
STRATEGY FOR THE EUROPEAN Headquarters (SHAPE):

•80.10.27_3050-SHPPOP-S45-80 - 27 OCT 60
•MESSAGE 80.12.00_SHAPE 090857ZDEC80
•80.12.01_3530.12.02-SHINBM-S-267-80 1 DEC 80
•80.12.02. + 15.02_0030-SHCGS-S-2-80 - 2 DEC 80
•80.12.02_0030-SHCGS-S-2-80 2 DEC 80
•SHPPA 80.12.03_3050-S200-80-3 DEC 80
•80.12.04_0030-SHCGS-S-2-80
•MESSAGE 80.12.09_SHAPE 091715ZDEC80
•80.12.10_1202.2-SHPPA-S18-80 10 DEC 80
•80.12.11_0030-SHPPA-S201-80 11 DEC 80
•80.12.15_0030-SHCGS-S-2-80 15 DEC 80
•80.12.16_1202.SHPPLC-S361-80 16 DEC 80
•81.01.06_1202.2-SHPPLC-S376-80 6 JAN 81
•MESSAGE 81.03.03_SHAPE 021225ZMAR81
•81.06.30_2030-SHCGS-S-8-81 30 JUN 81
International Military Staff:

•CMCM-012-81_ENG_PDP
•CMCM-013-81_ENG_PDP
•CMCM-016-81_ENG_PDP
•IMSM-0166-81_ENG_PDP
•IMSM-0357-81_ENG_PDP
•IMSM-0526-80_ENG_PDP
•MILSTAM (INT)-187-82_ENG_PDP
•MILSTAM (OPS)-134-81_ENG_PDP
•RECORD-MC-024-81_PLEN_PARTIAL_ENG_PDP
•RECORD-MC-029-81_RESTR_ENG_PDP
•RECORD-MC-030-81_RESTR_ENG_PDP
•RECORD-MC-042-80_RESTR_ENG_PDP
•RECORD-MC-043-80_RESTR_ENG_PDP
•RECORD-MC-044-80_RESTR_ENG_PDP
•RECORD-MC-046-80_RESTR_ENG_PDP
•RECORD-MC-047-80_RESTR_ENG_PDP
•RECORD-MC-048-80_PRIV_PARTIAL_ENG_PDP
•RECORD-MC-049-82_PLEN_PARTIAL_ENG_PDP
•RECORD-MC-054-81_PLEN_PARTIAL_ENG_PDP
•RECORD-MC_CS-075_PRIV_PARTIAL_ENG_PDP

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Re: Jaruzelski: Hero Or Villain?

#19

Post by henryk » 02 Dec 2011, 21:20

Polish Radio is too kind toward an old man. Even his Soviet allies disputed any intentions to invade Poland.
http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/59549 ... ssary-evil
Jaruzelski – martial law was 'necessary evil'
PR dla Zagranicy Peter Gentle 02.12.2011 11:58

Just days before the 30th anniversary of the introduction of martial law in Poland, General Wojciech Jaruzelski claims in a new book that the measure was “a necessary evil.” The publication comes two weeks before the 30th anniversary of the crisis, on 13 December 1981, as the Solidarity protest movement soared in strength. The 88-year-old general says that Starsi o 30 lat (30 years older), will be his final work, as his “mental and physical state do not allow me” to write another.

Jaruzelski has been in and out of hospital over the last two years.

Thousands were imprisoned and approximately 100 killed during martial law, or the State of War (Stan Wojenny) as the term literally translates. The period lasted from 13 December 1981 to July 1983, with detainment regularly enforced for those who broke the curfew or engaged in what was deemed to be an illegal gathering.

In an interview with television station TVN, Jaruzelski claimed that the media's depiction of the crisis continues to be sensationalistic and lop-sided. “Around 13 December, there is a focused portrayal (through television, film and much of the media), that presents an emotional assessment of martial law – tanks, truncheons, tear gas and the grim bearing of Jaruzelski on the television screen,” he said.

The former leader also referred to the annual vigil outside his Warsaw residence, during which his detractors protest against the introduction of martial law. According to the general, last year saw an especially large gathering. “Never before have such crowds gathered outside my window,” he said. “It was almost like a concert by Miss Doda,” he said, referring to the blonde Polish pop star.

Jaruzelski has always argued that the introduction of martial law precluded an invasion from Moscow. Historians are divided over this hypothesis. Jaruzelski himself wrote that even though it was “the lesser evil [...] it was still evil.” (nh/pg)

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Re: Jaruzelski: Hero Or Villain?

#20

Post by henryk » 09 Dec 2011, 22:34

The brainwashing persists:
http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/80193 ... ssary-evil
Poles split on whether 1981 martial law was ‘necessary evil’
PR dla Zagranicy ..........Peter Gentle 09.12.2011 12:45

Days before the 30th anniversary of the introduction of martial law, a poll finds that 51 percent of Poles believe that the action by the communist regime was justified. Some 57 percent of respondents told the TNS/OBOP pollsters that martial law, announced by General Wojciech Jaruzelski on the morning of 13 December 1981, saved Poland from an invasion of Soviet troops.

Nevertheless, 53 percent believe that the aim of the brutal oppression by the communists was to crush Poland's nascent democratic movement. Some 26 percent of respondents said that those who introduced martial law are due respect for the decision, while the same amount said that they should be condemned. Meanwhile, 23 percent believe that communist leaders should face trial for crimes against the nation.

In 1991, 28 percent said that the architects of martial law were due respect, 32 percent said they should be condemned, and 19 percent said there should be a trial.

Thousands were imprisoned and approximately 100 killed following the declaration of stan wojenny (literally state of war) on 13 December 1981. The crackdown came as the Solidarity trade union appeared to be making an unprecedented breakthrough in the communist-ruled Eastern bloc.

In a book released this month General Jaruzelski claimed that the introduction of martial law was a “necessary evil” to head of a Soviet military intervention.

Some 1001 Polish citizens, from 15 years of age and over, took part in the survey. (nh/pg)

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Re: Jaruzelski: Hero Or Villain?

#21

Post by henryk » 12 Dec 2011, 19:14

More. The pot keeps stewing.
http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/80311 ... aw-apology
Mixed reactions to Jaruzelski martial law apology
PR dla Zagranicy ..........Peter Gentle 12.12.2011 09:54

Politicians have expressed mixed reactions to the latest apology by former communist leader General Wojciech Jaruzelski over the introduction of martial law thirty years ago. “I am sorry to everyone who met with some form of injustice or harm. I say this once again,” the 87-year-old general expressed in a statement on Sunday as Poland prepares to commemorate the introduction of the crackdown against the Solidarity trade union on 13 December 1981.

Some 10,000 were interned and approximately 100 killed by security forces, delivering a blow to the emerging Solidarity movement under the leadership of Lech Walesa.

Although the 88 year-old Jaruzelski, recently diagnosed with cancer, reiterated his claim that the action was “a lesser evil” that prevented a Moscow-led invasion, today's politicians in Poland, many of whom are veterans of Solidarity, have voiced reservations. “I'm in a very awkward situation, because the general is dying and it is difficult to enter into a debate with him,” said presidential advisor Tomasz Nalecz. “But I think that the more time that passes […] the more obvious it becomes that there was no reason to bring tanks against his people, and that such a decision cannot be justified,” Nalecz said.

Adam Hofman, spokesman for the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, was more forthright in his criticism. “The place for General Jaruzelski is in the courtroom,” he told Radio ZET.

Marek Siwiec, from the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), a party that was partly formed from the ranks of former communists, was more sympathetic to the general. “If someone rejects an apology that's his business,” he said, “but I listened to a man who has the right to say something on this occasion.”

Meanwhile, Stanislaw Zelichowski from junior coalition partner the Polish Peasants' Party (PSL) praised the general for making the apology, adding that it was up to historians to evaluate the general's decision in December 1981.

Professor Jerzy Eisler from the state-backed Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) told Polish Radio on Monday that Jaruzelski is trying to avoid responsibility for his actions by calling martial law "a lesser evil." Eisler argued that the general did exactly what Moscow could have wished for, because he "brought things to order in the name of communism, without a single drop of Soviet blood being shed in Warsaw." (nh/pg)

Source: PAP, IAR

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Re: Jaruzelski: Hero Or Villain?

#22

Post by henryk » 14 Jan 2012, 20:30

The trial is complete and sentence passed. Jaruzelski finally admits the reason for martial law was not fear of Soviet invasion, but rather fear of rebellion.
http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/82075 ... Jaruzelski ‘appalled’ after martial law court verdict
PR dla Zagranicy Peter Gentle 13.01.2012 12:02

General Wojciech Jaruzelski, the last communist leader of Poland, has said he is “appalled” by a Warsaw court's decision that the imposition of martial law in 1981 was illegal. Yesterday, 86-year old former interior minister General Czeslaw Kiszczak was given a two-year suspended prison sentence for his part in the imposition of the crackdown against the Solidarity trade union. Jaruzelski, now 88, was withdrawn from the case on account of his ill health after being diagnosed with cancer. Former first secretary of the Polish communist party Stanislaw Kania, who resigned from his post before martial law was declared, was acquitted by the court.

“I'm appalled by the verdict,” Jaruzelski told Onet,pl, “because the court knew material which I had provided, particularly the book Older by 30 Years, which clarifies many things which the court does not understand,” he said, referring to his new book. For many years, Jaruzelski argued that the introduction of martial law – which came after Solidarity became the first free trade union in the then communist, eastern European bloc - staved off a Moscow-led invasion.

Thousands were imprisoned and approximately 100 killed during martial law, which was imposed on 13 December 1981. However, speaking yesterday, Jaruzelski said that “the threat of civil war” was in fact the main reason for the clampdown. When questioned about his health, he replied that it was “very bad” at present. “I would like to recover, so as to take part in the trial,” he said.

General Kiszczak did not appear in court yesterday, and he may appeal against the verdict. (nh/pg)[/quote]

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Re: Jaruzelski: Hero Or Villain?

#23

Post by henryk » 13 Dec 2016, 21:45

http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/28427 ... neral-rank
Polish defence minister: Communist leaders to be stripped of General rank
Polish Radio 13.12.2016 11:55

Poland’s defence minister has said that Wojciech Jaruzelski and Czesław Kiszczak, top officials in Communist-era Poland, will be stripped of their General rank.

Jaruzelski (L) and Kiszczak(R) died in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Photo: PAP Archive

Jaruzelski was First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party when he imposed martial law in Poland on 13 December, 1981, exactly 35 years ago.

Kiszcak served as interior minister at the time.

On that date, the communists cracked down on the Solidarity pro-democracy movement, marking a dark chapter in modern Polish history. Thousands of opposition activists were jailed and dozens were killed around Poland.

“People who committed crimes against the nation should be stripped of their General rank,” Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz told the public TVP broadcaster on Tuesday.

He said that recently the ministry had posthumously promoted Ryszard Kukliński, who passed secret Warsaw Pact documents to the CIA during the Cold War, to the rank of brigadier general.

“On the one hand we honour such heroes as Kukliński, who we promoted to the rank of general," Macierewicz said, adding that at the same time Poles wrongly "respect and accept this position in the case of people who not only betrayed, but also committed crimes against their country.”

Jaruzelski and Kiszczak died in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Tuesday marks the 35th anniversary of the imposition of Martial Law in Poland. (rg)

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Re: Jaruzelski: Hero Or Villain?

#24

Post by henryk » 20 Oct 2017, 19:59

http://www.thenews.pl/1/11/Artykul/3313 ... o[quote]US exhibition honours Polish Cold War hero

Polish Radio 20.10.2017
The Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C., is the venue of an exhibition documenting the life of Polish army colonel Ryszard Kukliński who worked for the CIA during the communist period.

Ryszard Kukliński. Photo: polskieradio.pl

The exhibition's opening on Thursday was preceded by a conference attended by former CIA liason officer David Forden, former CIA analyst Aris Pappas, and Polish Ambassador to the US Piotr Wilczek.

Forden, who acted as Kukliński’s handler from 1973 to 1978 and masterminded his escape from Poland in 1981, described Kukliński as a “fervent patriot” who decided to cooperate with the CIA because he was convinced that “in the geopolitical situation of the time the United States was the only country which was able to come to Poland’s assistance.”

Pappas said that Kukliński’s contribution cannot be overestimated bearing in mind the classified information that he passed to the CIA but also considering his role in explaining to Americans the way of thinking of Warsaw Pact strategists.

Wilczek said that it is largely thanks to the activities of Kukliński, who is often dubbed “the first Polish officer in NATO,” that all Polish Army officers are now NATO officers.

The exhibition, entitled General Kuklinski’s Mission, brings together more than 200 photographs and documents, including photocopies of documents mapping out a planned attack of Warsaw Pact countries on Western Europe.

Kukliński passed over 40,000 pages of mostly Soviet secret documents to the CIA between 1971 and 1981. Some of these described plans for the imposition of martial law in Poland.

Shortly after the declaration of martial law in December 1981, Kukliński was extracted from Poland by the CIA, along with his family. In 1984, a military court in Warsaw sentenced him to death. The sentence was annulled after the fall of communism.

Kukliński visited Poland in 1998. He died in Florida in 2004. He is buried at Warsaw’s Powązki Military Cemetery and was posthumously promoted to general. (mk/gs)
[/quote]

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Re: Jaruzelski: Hero Or Villain?

#25

Post by henryk » 24 Apr 2018, 20:41

http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/36044 ... ote]Polish Cold War hero honoured with monument
Polish Radio 24.04.2018 18:20

A monument honouring Ryszard Kukliński, a Polish army colonel who worked for the CIA during the communist era, has been erected in the southern city of Kraków.

The monument, which comes in the form of a thought-provoking symbolic design, is due to be officially unveiled in a square in the historic Polish city in early June.

The more than nine-metre-tall structure has cost almost PLN 1.5 million (EUR 360,000, USD 440,000) to build, Monika Chylaszek, a spokeswoman for Kraków’s mayor, has told Poland’s PAP news agency.

The square holding the monument is named after Jan Nowak-Jeziorański, a World War II hero who spent his life fighting for an independent Poland and headed the Polish section of Radio Free Europe for two decades during the Cold War era.

Kukliński passed top-secret Warsaw Pact documents to the CIA between 1971 and 1981, including plans for a military onslaught on the West and for the imposition of martial law in Poland to crush the Solidarity movement.

Shortly after the declaration of martial law in December 1981, Kukliński was extracted from Poland by the CIA, along with his family.

In 1984, a military court in Warsaw sentenced him to death in absentia. The sentence was annulled after the fall of communism in Poland in 1989.

Kukliński died in the United States on February 11, 2004 at the age of 73.

He is buried at Warsaw’s Powązki Military Cemetery and was posthumously promoted to general by Polish President Andrzej Duda in 2016.

A former CIA liaison officer has described Kukliński as a "fervent patriot" who decided to work for the CIA because he was convinced that “in the geopolitical situation of the time the United States was the only country which was able to come to Poland’s assistance.”

(gs) Source: dzieje.pl, PAP[/quote]
plac Jana Nowaka Jeziorańskiego is just outside Old Town, near the main train station.

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