29 września 1982 roku internowanego w Arłamowie przewodniczącego NSZZ „Solidarność” Lecha Wałęsę odwiedził jego brat Stanisław. Pretekstem do tej wizyty były kolejne urodziny Lecha, a prawdziwym celem nagranie – oczywiście po kryjomu – krótkiego wywiadu dla mediów zachodnich. Bracia celebrowali 39. urodziny Lecha, spożywając przy okazji alkohol i tocząc „dysputę”. Została ona zarejestrowana przez funkcjonariuszy SB, co było początkiem jednej z najgłośniejszych akcji przeciwko „Solidarności” i jej przewodniczącemu Lechowi Wałęsie w latach osiemdziesiątych. Sama rozmowa – początkowo jej „stenogramy”, a następnie zmontowane nagranie – była wykorzystywana kilkukrotnie. Stopniowo również rozszerzano krąg odbiorców. Po raz pierwszy „stenogram” rozmowy wykorzystano jeszcze przed zwolnieniem Wałęsy z internowania, przedstawiając go ks. Alojzemu Orszulikowi, który odwiedzał go w tym czasie jako przedstawiciel Episkopatu Polski. 27 września 1983 roku na antenie TVP (w porze największej oglądalności) wyemitowano zaś materiał, któremu nadano tytuł Pieniądze. Cała operacja nie przyniosła oczekiwanych skutków – nie udało się skompromitować Lecha Wałęsy. 

“Brothers’ conversation” – the backstage of the recording of Stanisław and Lech Wałęsa’s conversation and its use by the authorities of PRL

On 29th September 1982 Stanisław Wałęsa visited his brother Lech Wałęsa (the leader od NSZZ Solidarność) who was interneed in Arłamów. The excuse of this visit was Lech’s birthday, but the real aim was the recording of a short interview for the western media. It was very top secret. Both brothers were celebrating Lech’s 39th birthday, drinking alcohol and having a dispute. It was registered by the SB officers; what is more, it was the beginning of one of the loudest actions in the 1980s against “Solidarność” and its leader – Lech Wałęsa. The conversation itself, initially its “transcripts” and then the edited recording was used several times. The circle of recipients was also gradually expanded. For the first time, the transcript of the interview was used even before the leader of “Solidarność” was released from internment. He was introduced to the priest Alojzy Orszulik who at that time was visiting Wałęsa as the representative of the Polish Episcopate. At last on 27th September 1983, the prepared material was emitted on TVP at prime-time. It was titled Pieniądze. The entire operation did not bring the expected results – it was not possible to compromise Lech Wałęsa.

Keywords: Lech Wałęsa, Stanisław Wałęsa, Arłamów, internment, Security Service

On 29th September 1982 Stanisław Wałęsa visited his brother Lech Wałęsa (the leader od NSZZ Solidarność) who was interneed in Arłamów. The excuse of this visit was Lech’s birthday, but the real aim was the recording of a short interview for the western media. It was very top secret. Both brothers were celebrating Lech’s 39th birthday, drinking alcohol and having a dispute. It was registered by the SB officers; what is more, it was the beginning of one of the loudest actions in the 1980s against “Solidarność” and its leader – Lech Wałęsa. The conversation itself, initially its “transcripts” and then the edited recording was used several times. The circle of recipients was also gradually expanded. For the first time, the transcript of the interview was used even before the leader of “Solidarność” was released from internment. He was introduced to the priest Alojzy Orszulik who at that time was visiting Wałęsa as the representative of the Polish Episcopate. At last on 27th September 1983, the prepared material was emitted on TVP at prime-time. It was titled Pieniądze. The entire operation did not bring the expected results – it was not possible to compromise Lech Wałęsa.