Identity Statement

Reference Code

HU OSA 300-55-15

Title

Democratic Opposition Reports and Solidarity Telexes

Date(s)

1979 - 1982

Description Level

Series

Extent and medium (processed)

6 Archival boxes, 0.75 linear meters

Context

Name of creator(s)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc - Research Institute

Archival history

The series was not originally a part of the legacy data. It used to belong to the HU OSA 300-55 subfonds. However, due to its special thematic focus, OSA archivists decided to transfer it to its present place.

Content and Structure

Scope and Content (Abstract)

The series contains three types of material: transcripts of communiqués by the democratic opposition, the telexes from the First Solidarity Congress and the sessions of the National Commission, and telexes from the regional Polish United Workers' Party's offices.

The transcripts of audio recordings consist mostly of reports of the Workers’ Defense Committee (KOR), the Confederation of Independent Poland, (KPN) and other groups of the democratic opposition, transmitted via telephone to their representatives abroad and from them to RFE.

The content of the reports is quite diverse. It includes KOR’s and KPN’s own communiqués, declarations, manifestos and other documents by various groups within the democratic opposition, information about arrests and other means of state repression, as well as opposition-related commemorations and other public events. Particularly noteworthy are the ad hoc clarifications and commentaries about the presented content, as well as suggestions to RFE's Polish Unit. Especially interesting are the files concerning the August 1980 strikes, as the number of RFE informants multiplies, and expressions of solidarity with the strikers are recorded in various European countries.

Most of the telexes reporting about the Solidarity Congress as well as the sessions of the National Commission were issued by Solidarity’s Press Bureau (BIPS), some by the press bulletin of the Mazowsze chapter. They document day by day the proceedings of both bodies, including the day of the imposition of Martial Law on December 13, 1981.

Finally, the telexes intercepted from the regional committees of the Party document the post-Martial Law efforts at “normalization” and resistance to it.

Accruals

Not Expected

System of arrangement

The series is arranged chronologically.

Conditions of Access and Use

Conditions governing access

Unknown

Languages

English, Polish

Description Control

Archivist's note

Processed by Piotr Wciślik, May, 2011; revised by Csaba Szilágyi, July, 2012.