Polish Resistance

Solidarity's Survival (1981-1989)

Despite the brutal crackdown following the imposition of martial law in December 1981, the Solidarity movement in Poland did not die. Instead, it went underground and evolved into a resilient symbol of national resistance. The efforts of the Catholic Church, international allies, and the Polish people themselves ensured that the spirit of Solidarity survived and triumphed.

The Catholic Church and Pope St. John Paul II

A cornerstone of Solidarity’s survival during martial law was the steadfast support of the Catholic Church. In a nation where Catholicism was deeply rooted in cultural and national identity, the Church emerged as the most powerful institution not under communist control. Led by Polish-born Pope John Paul II, the Church provided both moral authority and practical assistance to the resistance. Clergy across Poland offered shelter to dissidents, served as intermediaries between activists and the state, and kept communities informed when independent media was suppressed.

Pope John Paul II played a particularly pivotal role. His 1979 visit to Poland had already inspired the nation. However, his return trips in 1983 and 1987, during and after martial law, inspired continued hope. These visits drew millions into the streets in peaceful gatherings that doubled as demonstrations of national unity. Without explicitly attacking the regime, the Pope’s words consistently emphasized dignity, freedom, and human rights. His presence alone pressured the government while signaling to Solidarity members and sympathizers that they were not forgotten by the Church or the world.

Throughout this time, churches became centers of resistance. Priests helped organize underground education and communication networks and offered spiritual support to families of imprisoned activists. The Church’s independence and its moral alignment with the ideals of Solidarity gave the opposition legitimacy and sustainability. Ultimately, the Church's support ensured that Solidarity did not die under repression. Its continued existence set the stage for its resurgence later in the decade.

Pope John Paul II

Western Influence

Western nations, particularly the United States, also played a vital role in sustaining Solidarity. The Reagan administration covertly funneled financial aid to the underground movement through intermediaries such as the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and the Vatican. Radio Free Europe and Voice of America broadcasts penetrated the Iron Curtain, keeping the Polish people informed and inspired. Meanwhile, economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure from the West isolated the Jaruzelski regime and signaled that repression came at a cost. These international efforts complemented internal resistance, reinforcing that Poland was not alone.

This Daily Telegraph article (depicted to the right) comments on the economic and political state of the Soviet Union in the middle of the Solidarity crisis. It provides a Western perspective of how the Soviet Union was perceived. The article notes that "martial rule, like a foreign organ transplanted into a human body, seems certain to be rejected in one way or another by the Polish people." While Western nations were financially supporting the underground movements of resistance in Poland, the Polish economy as a whole was still plummeting. This weak economy required Moscow to "stand as guarantor"—effectively causing financial strain on the Soviet Union as well, contributing to its overall progressive weakening.

Nigel Wade. “Can Russia afford the cost of ‘liberating’ Poland’s economy,” Daily Telegraph (London, England), January 1, 1982, Keston Center Archives.

Failure of Soviet Strategy

Although the Soviet Union provided critical support to Poland’s communist authorities, the strategy failed to eliminate dissent. The repression of Solidarity only deepened public resentment toward both the Polish regime and its Soviet supporters. Roger Kanet notes in his paper "Poland and the Soviet Union: The post-communist relationship" that by the mid-1980s, mounting economic crisis, persistent unrest, and unrelenting international scrutiny made continued repression unsustainable. Under Mikhail Gorbachev’s leadership, the USSR began loosening its grip. Policies like glasnost and perestroika indirectly empowered reform movements throughout the Eastern Bloc, including Solidarity’s re-emergence in 1988.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail GORBACHEV (L) and former Polish President and co-founder of the Solidarnosc (Solidarity) trade union, Lech WALESA, attend a ceremony on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall during a ceremony of the land Berlin in the concert hall at the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin on November 09, 2014.

Conclusion

Poland’s resistance during martial law proved that brute force alone could not crush a people’s demand for freedom. With help from the Church and support from the West, Solidarity survived the harshest period of repression. This persistence paved the way for Poland’s first semi-free elections in 1989. It also triggered a wave of democratic change that would soon sweep across Eastern Europe.

Sources

Andrzej Paczkowski and Inessa S. Yazhborovskaya, “THE SOVIETS AND THE POLISH CRISIS: THE ROAD TO MARTIAL LAW, 1980–1981.” In White Spots—Black Spots: Difficult Matters in Polish-Russian Relations, 1918–2008, edited by ADAM DANIEL ROTFELD and ANATOLY V. TORKUNOV, (2015): 431-466. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt166grd4.14.

Roger E. Kanet, "Poland and the Soviet Union: The post-communist relationship." in ACDIS Occasional Paper (1991).

Vladislav M. Zubok, “REVOLUTIONS.” in Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union, (2021): 70–97.

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