Evan McGilvray has written a number of books on Poland as well as biographies. He is well versed in Poland and Polish society and away from the usual locations of Krakow and Warsaw.

Evan first visited Poland in 1986, 5 years after the declaration of martial law which triggered the suppression of the free trade union Solidarity in December 1981. He visited some friends he had made via correspondence, who lived in the city of Łódź. He provides us with a great insight away from the intelligentsia as his friends were workers. We hear in some detail how the communist party was perceived, life as a worker, as well as views on Lech Walesa and Solidarity.

In the 1990s Evan interviewed General Jaruzelski, who as First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party (aka the communist party) gave the martial law order in 1981 and remained head of state until 1989. 

Extra info, and videos are here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode191/

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Peter Ryan is our host today and I am delighted to welcome Evan McGilvray to our Cold War conversation…

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook.

0:00 Introduction

3:00 Interview with Evan McGilvray: His interest in Poland and first impressions

16:45 Life in Poland: The average worker, shopping, self-sufficiency, and popular culture

26:16 Surveillance and influence of the Catholic church in Poland

29:07 Impressions and interactions with the communist regime in Poland

33:05 Impressions of the Soviet Union and Russian forces in Poland

36:21 Impressions of Lech Walesa in Poland and his transition to mainstream

40:19 Contacts with solidarity in Poland and encounters with General Jaruzelski

44:56 General Jaruzelski's efforts to correct the record

49:33 Reminder to check out extra information and videos

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