Repressions directed against members of youth independence organizations in the Silesian/Katowice and Krakow provinces in the years 1945–1956 (selected aspects)
Communists had ambitious plans with regard to young people. They intended to educate them in such a way that they would ultimately become the builders of the “new system”. Yet this plan turned out to be impossible to implement in Poland where young people were strongly attached to tradition, religion and most importantly, where they were inculcated with patriotic values in their family homes.
The communists, who knew that controlling young people would be a diffi cult process, issued a number of instructions to the security apparatus. The latter concerned among others the ways in which one ought to control the young generation. Young people had to bear the consequences of their independence activities. Following their arrest, they were usually subjected to a brutal investigation which lasted many hours; during these investigations the Intelligence Service (UB) officers usually bullied and harassed the detained. In most cases the investigation ended with drawing up charges and bringing a case to the Military District Court. As a rule, the military courts issued verdicts of a few years imprisonment. After the verdict had been passed, the young people could lodge an appeal to the Supreme Military Court in Warsaw; the latter could lower the sentence, but it could also refer the case for reconsideration with the recommendation that the defendants should obtain the highest possible punishment. After the passing of the sentence, members of youth independence organizations were for instance sent to forced labor camps.
When having served their prison terms, they left the detention centers, the security apparatus continued to gather information about them, fearing that the young people will begin to set up independence organizations yet again. Sometimes, the invigilation continued for years.
