The creation of military Labor Battalions in Poland in 1949 was conditioned by economic needs, i.... more The creation of military Labor Battalions in Poland in 1949 was conditioned by economic needs, i.e. the deficit of employees in the mining industry. At the same time, however, because of the certain mode of conscripts’ selection, the Battalions became the part of the repressive system directed against individuals and circles who were deemed by the authorities to be hostile or opposed to communism. The Minister of National Defence Konstanty Rokossowski expressly indicated that “the basis to qualify a conscript to the replacement service [was] his social background, his political and moral persuasion and his political past”. That is how former Boy Scouts of “Szare Szeregi”, AK or NSZ soldiers, members of the Polish Armed Forces in the West and of Guard Companies in the American Army ended up in replacement military service. The soldiers of Labor Battalions were directed to coal mines and quarries. Two of those Battalions (no. X and XI – together they formed X Labor Brigade) found themselves mining uranium ore in Lower Silesia. Taken together, during one and the half years (June 1950–November 1951) around 4000 soldiers served in the Brigade. They were working after a very brief training, mostly as loaders or carriers, in dismal conditions, without proper ventilation, in excessive dust, endangered by radiation. The disregard for any health-andsafety measures caused them to be a group constantly threatened by accidents. After working hours, confi ned to their barracks, in bad hygienic conditions, guarded by members of the Internal Security Corps, they were subject to political indoctrination, invigilation, and drill by Military Information. In 1994 the Polish Parliament recognized forced labor in BPs as a special kind of repression.
Artykuł poświęcono polityce pamięci historycznej, która w ostatnich latach w coraz większym stopn... more Artykuł poświęcono polityce pamięci historycznej, która w ostatnich latach w coraz większym stopniu staje się narzędziem sprawowania władzy, na równi z działaniami gospodarczymi czy militarnymi. Na podstawie książki Zygmunta Baumana "Retrotopia" autor wskazuje, że zjawisko polityki pamięci historycznej, odwołujące się do przeszłości, buduje mityczną wizję świata przeszłego, który w rzeczywistości nigdy nie istniał. Projekt ten służy jednak władzy do budowania społeczeństwa podporządkowanego odgórnie przyjętej idei, zmierzającej do tworzenia świata jeżeli nie doskonałego, to przynajmniej – z założenia – lepszego. Poprzez cel, stosowanie narzędzi (media, techniki memoratywne, edukację) oraz stosunek do wspólnoty (paternalistyczny, nadopiekuńczy) polityka pamięci historycznej łączy się z utopią, co ma służyć polepszeniu życia ludzi we współczesności.
Nationalization and the introduction of state-controlled economy led to the emergence of abnormal... more Nationalization and the introduction of state-controlled economy led to the emergence of abnormal social phenomena, including system-specific crimes. Economic transformations were the foundation of the systemic revolution carried out in the first decade after the Second World War, therefore they were the subject of interest for the Ministry of Public Security. That is why financial crimes were treated just like political crimes, which was also justified by legal provisions, as no specific definition of this type of crime existed. This allowed the authorities (secret police, prosecutor’s office, courts, media) to interpret the events according to their will and current political needs, and, as a result, to administer various overt or covert repressions (death penalty, imprisonment, forced cooperation with the secret police).
The creation of military Labor Battalions in Poland in 1949 was conditioned by economic needs, i.... more The creation of military Labor Battalions in Poland in 1949 was conditioned by economic needs, i.e. the deficit of employees in the mining industry. At the same time, however, because of the certain mode of conscripts’ selection, the Battalions became the part of the repressive system directed against individuals and circles who were deemed by the authorities to be hostile or opposed to communism. The Minister of National Defence Konstanty Rokossowski expressly indicated that “the basis to qualify a conscript to the replacement service [was] his social background, his political and moral persuasion and his political past”. That is how former Boy Scouts of “Szare Szeregi”, AK or NSZ soldiers, members of the Polish Armed Forces in the West and of Guard Companies in the American Army ended up in replacement military service. The soldiers of Labor Battalions were directed to coal mines and quarries. Two of those Battalions (no. X and XI – together they formed X Labor Brigade) found themselves mining uranium ore in Lower Silesia. Taken together, during one and the half years (June 1950–November 1951) around 4000 soldiers served in the Brigade. They were working after a very brief training, mostly as loaders or carriers, in dismal conditions, without proper ventilation, in excessive dust, endangered by radiation. The disregard for any health-andsafety measures caused them to be a group constantly threatened by accidents. After working hours, confi ned to their barracks, in bad hygienic conditions, guarded by members of the Internal Security Corps, they were subject to political indoctrination, invigilation, and drill by Military Information. In 1994 the Polish Parliament recognized forced labor in BPs as a special kind of repression.
Artykuł poświęcono polityce pamięci historycznej, która w ostatnich latach w coraz większym stopn... more Artykuł poświęcono polityce pamięci historycznej, która w ostatnich latach w coraz większym stopniu staje się narzędziem sprawowania władzy, na równi z działaniami gospodarczymi czy militarnymi. Na podstawie książki Zygmunta Baumana "Retrotopia" autor wskazuje, że zjawisko polityki pamięci historycznej, odwołujące się do przeszłości, buduje mityczną wizję świata przeszłego, który w rzeczywistości nigdy nie istniał. Projekt ten służy jednak władzy do budowania społeczeństwa podporządkowanego odgórnie przyjętej idei, zmierzającej do tworzenia świata jeżeli nie doskonałego, to przynajmniej – z założenia – lepszego. Poprzez cel, stosowanie narzędzi (media, techniki memoratywne, edukację) oraz stosunek do wspólnoty (paternalistyczny, nadopiekuńczy) polityka pamięci historycznej łączy się z utopią, co ma służyć polepszeniu życia ludzi we współczesności.
Nationalization and the introduction of state-controlled economy led to the emergence of abnormal... more Nationalization and the introduction of state-controlled economy led to the emergence of abnormal social phenomena, including system-specific crimes. Economic transformations were the foundation of the systemic revolution carried out in the first decade after the Second World War, therefore they were the subject of interest for the Ministry of Public Security. That is why financial crimes were treated just like political crimes, which was also justified by legal provisions, as no specific definition of this type of crime existed. This allowed the authorities (secret police, prosecutor’s office, courts, media) to interpret the events according to their will and current political needs, and, as a result, to administer various overt or covert repressions (death penalty, imprisonment, forced cooperation with the secret police).
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