In 1981, the communist government of Poland declared martial law in an attempt to suppress rising protests and strikes.

The civil unrest had been sparked by Solidarity, a trade union which became a social movement.

Tanks and soldiers appeared on the street, Solidarity members were rounded up, and TV and radio stations shut down.

For a devoutly Catholic country – Christmas was a sacred time, but under martial law there would be very little to celebrate this festive season.

Johnny I’Anson hears from Solidarity member and activist Maciek Romejko about a bleak Christmas in Poland.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Martial law in Poland. Credit: Getty Images)

Poland's bleak Christmas

Witness History

Poland's bleak Christmas