INTERNMENT CAMPS DURING MARTIAL LAW
INTERNMENT CAMPS DURING MARTIAL LAW

Summary/Abstract: The internment of Solidarity and opposition activists had been prepared since the fall of 1980 as part of the secret police's "Summer 80" operation, including by compiling and updating lists of individuals to be detained. The initial list was compiled on October 28, 1980. Subsequent lists of internees were compiled in December 1980 and throughout 1981. The internment of opposition and Solidarity activists, codenamed "Jodła," was scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. In many cases, it even began several hours earlier. Officers who set out on December 12, 1981, to carry out the internments were provided with internment decisions signed by provincial commanders of the Citizens' Militia. Those detained for internment were first transported to militia headquarters and then to assembly points (in Toruń, this was the airport), from which they were transported to internment camps. In total, by 10:00 PM on December 14, 1981, 3,392 of the 4,318 scheduled for internment had been interned. By February 26, 1982, 6,647 people had been interned, of whom 4,095 were in internment camps on February 26, 1982. Internment continued throughout almost all of 1982, with increased intensity at certain times (e.g., in early May). In total, during the martial law period, 9,736 people were interned, with the number of internees never exceeding 5,300 at any one time. The last internees were released from the camps in early December 1982. Fifty-two internment camps were established, most often in separate prison blocks, sometimes in buildings on military grounds. Living conditions were appalling, and the food was abysmal. A few camps were set up in holiday resorts (e.g., the women's demonstration camp in Gołdap), where conditions were better. Initially, strict prison rules were enforced on the internees: their cells were locked, lights were turned off at 9 p.m., and a wake-up call was at 5 a.m., with searches also conducted. In the evenings, roll calls were held, and they were required to fold their clothes in front of their cells. However, internees were allowed to watch "Dziennik Telewizyjny" (Television News) at 7:30 p.m. They were harassed by regular visits from "SB officers," who urged them to sign loyalty declarations and even collaborate with the Security Service, and tried to extract various information.

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