Abstract
There is a distinct division in judgements on W. Jaruzelski between people who regard
him as a defender of socialism, and those who treat him as a traitor. In fact, Jaruzelski
was nether of them. The analysis of his government policy indicates that he upholded
the interests of the privilidged ruling group, that had developed into exploitative social
class during the period of „real socialism” and perceived the further realisation of its
interests only through systemic transformation towards capitalism. The Martial Law was
not a form of securing socialism but a move to prepare conditions for overtly capitalist
transformation.
