Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy
Encyclopedia
The Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy was an official Polish
state-controlled veterans association in the People's Republic
. Initially headed by Franciszek Jóźwiak, it was formed on September 2, 1949 out of 11 pre-existing veterans associations. In the early period, and especially during the stalinist
years, the organization was formed mostly of former veterans of the Soviet-sponsored Polish People's Army, communist partisans and former concentration camp inmates. However, with the advent of partial political thaw of 1960s it also started accepting the veterans of other Polish formations fighting in World War II
.
Directly subordinate to the party
, the society held an important place within the Polish governmental structure: it was the only authority certifying the veteran's and combatant's rights and privileges in Poland. In 1970 the ZBoWiD had roughly 330,000 members, in 1986 - almost 800,000. Among its leaders were Mieczysław Moczar and Włodzimierz Sokorski
.
In April 1990 ZBoWiD was reformed into the Związek Kombatantów RP i Byłych Więźniów Politycznych (Society of Veterans of the Republic of Poland and Former Political Prisoners) for members of all Polish military formations including partisan, self-defence units, and Polish Underground State.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
state-controlled veterans association in the People's Republic
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
. Initially headed by Franciszek Jóźwiak, it was formed on September 2, 1949 out of 11 pre-existing veterans associations. In the early period, and especially during the stalinist
Stalinism
Stalinism refers to the ideology that Joseph Stalin conceived and implemented in the Soviet Union, and is generally considered a branch of Marxist–Leninist ideology but considered by some historians to be a significant deviation from this philosophy...
years, the organization was formed mostly of former veterans of the Soviet-sponsored Polish People's Army, communist partisans and former concentration camp inmates. However, with the advent of partial political thaw of 1960s it also started accepting the veterans of other Polish formations fighting in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Directly subordinate to the party
Polish United Workers' Party
The Polish United Workers' Party was the Communist party which governed the People's Republic of Poland from 1948 to 1989. Ideologically it was based on the theories of Marxism-Leninism.- The Party's Program and Goals :...
, the society held an important place within the Polish governmental structure: it was the only authority certifying the veteran's and combatant's rights and privileges in Poland. In 1970 the ZBoWiD had roughly 330,000 members, in 1986 - almost 800,000. Among its leaders were Mieczysław Moczar and Włodzimierz Sokorski
Włodzimierz Sokorski
Włodzimierz Sokorski was a Polish communist official, writer, military journalist and eventually a Brigadier General in the Soviet-dominated People's Republic of Poland...
.
In April 1990 ZBoWiD was reformed into the Związek Kombatantów RP i Byłych Więźniów Politycznych (Society of Veterans of the Republic of Poland and Former Political Prisoners) for members of all Polish military formations including partisan, self-defence units, and Polish Underground State.