Wojciech Jaruzelski

Profession: General and 1st President of Poland

Nationality:

Biography: Wojciech Jaruzelski is a former Polish military and political leader who served as the last communist leader of the Polish People's Republic from 1981 to 1989.

Jaruzelski served in the Polish Army for over 30 years and was promoted to the rank of general in 1968. In 1981, Jaruzelski declared martial law in an attempt to control the Solidarity movement and prevent a Soviet invasion. His decision was widely criticized, but it prevented a civil war.

In 1989, he organized the first partially free elections in post-war Poland and allowed the Solidarity party to take power. Jaruzelski then briefly served as first President of Poland, before retiring from politics in 1990 after which he spent the rest of his life writing his memoirs.

Born: July 6, 1923
Birthplace: Kurów, Poland

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Pig
Star Sign: Cancer

Died: May 25, 2014 (aged 90)