Who Is Wojciech Jaruzelski? Age, Biography, and Wiki
As of 2025, Wojciech Jaruzelski would have celebrated his 102nd birthday if he were still alive, having passed away on May 25, 2014. Jaruzelski was not only a military leader and politician but also served as the last communist head of state of Poland. His tenure was marked by martial law and efforts to suppress dissent against the regime, leading to significant historical repercussions in Poland and beyond.
For more detailed information about his life and legacy, you can visit his Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Prime Ministers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 6, 1923 |
| Age | 90 Years |
| Birth Place | Kurów, Poland |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | Poland |
| Date of death | 25 May, 2014 |
| Died Place | Warsaw, Poland |
Popularity
Wojciech Jaruzelski's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Wojciech Jaruzelski stood at approximately 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall. His weight during his later years fluctuated but was generally around 180 pounds (82 kg). While detailed measurements of his body stats are not extensively documented, his persona conveyed a robust figure reflective of his military background.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Wojciech Jaruzelski was married to Barbara Jaruzelska for several decades, and they had two daughters together. His family life was often distinctly private, though it was clear that the sociopolitical atmosphere of his leadership affected familial dynamics. Following the dissolution of the communist regime, he faced various challenges, including estrangement from sections of Polish society, which also impacted family interactions.
In June 1941, they were stripped of their valuable possessions and deported. At the railway station, Jaruzelski was separated from his father, who was sent directly to a gulag. Jaruzelski and his mother were sent on a month-long journey to Biysk, Altai Krai.
After that, Jaruzelski walked for 180 km to Turochak where he was responsible for forest cleaning. During his labour work, he was stricken with snow blindness, suffering permanent damage to his eyes as well as to his back. His eye condition forced him to wear dark sunglasses most of the time for the rest of his life, which became his trademark.
Jaruzelski's father died on 4 June 1942 from dysentery; his mother and sister survived the war (she died in 1966).
Net Worth and Salary
During his lifetime, Wojciech Jaruzelski's net worth was not publicly disclosed in detail. However, estimates suggest that his wealth at the peak of his political influence could have amounted to millions, primarily from his government salary, state benefits, and residuals from his political career. After his resignation in 1989, he faced economic challenges, which diminished his financial standing.
Subsequent years saw his government and its internal security forces censor, persecute, and jail thousands of journalists and opposition activists without charge.
The socio-economic crisis deepened even more than in the late 1970s and rationing of basic foods such as sugar, milk, and meat, as well as materials such as gasoline and consumer products, continued while the median income of the population fell by as much as 10 percent.
During Jaruzelski's rule from 1981 to 1989, between 100,000 and 300,000 people left the country.
Career, Business and Investments
Jaruzelski's career spanned military and political domains, starting in the Polish Army and advancing through various ranks until he became the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces. In 1981, he declared martial law to suppress the Solidarity movement, an action heavily criticized both domestically and internationally.
Post-politics, Jaruzelski was involved in various public speaking engagements and reflected on his controversial role in a transformed Poland. His investments and business ventures were limited due to his past controversies, but he did participate in several interviews and discussions that offered him a form of income.
In August 1968, Jaruzelski, as the defence minister, ordered the 2nd Army under General Florian Siwicki (of the "LWP") to invade Czechoslovakia, resulting in military occupation of northern Czechoslovakia until 11 November 1968 when under his orders and agreements with the Soviet Union his Polish troops were withdrawn and replaced by the Soviet Arm
y.
In 1970, he was involved in the successful plot against Władysław Gomułka, which led to the appointment of Edward Gierek as General Secretary of the Polish United Workers Party.
There is some question whether he took part in organising the brutal suppression of striking workers; or whether his orders to the Communist military led to massacres in the coastal cities of Gdańsk, Gdynia, Elbląg and Szczecin. As Minister of Defense, General Jaruzelski was ultimately responsible for 27,000 troops used against unarmed civilians.
He claims that he was circumvented, which is why he never apologised for his involvement. Jaruzelski became a candidate member for the Politburo of the Polish United Workers' Party, the chief executive body of the party, obtaining full membership the following year.
Social Network
While Wojciech Jaruzelski wasn't extensively active on social media platforms, his legacy continues to be a point of discussion among historians and political analysts. News articles, documentaries, and books focused on his political influence keep his presence alive in both academic and public spheres.
After the end of the war, Jaruzelski graduated from the Polish Higher Infantry School and then from the General Staff Academy. He joined Poland's Communist party, the Polish United Workers' Party, in 1948 and became an informant for the Soviet supervised Main Directorate of Information of the Polish Army using the cover name Wolski.
In the initial post-war years, he was among those who fought the Polish anti-Communists ("cursed soldiers") in the Świętokrzyskie region.
A BBC News profile of Jaruzelski states that his career "took off after the departure [from Poland] in 1956 of Polish-born Soviet Marshal, Konstantin Rokossovsky", who had been Poland's Commander in Chief and Minister of Defence.
Jaruzelski was elected to be a member of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party and became the Chief Political Officer of the Polish armed forces in 1960, its chief of staff in 1964; and Polish Minister of Defence in 1968, succeeding in the latter post Marshal Marian Spychalski persecuted in the years 1948-1956, albeit without th
e rank.
Education
Wojciech Jaruzelski graduated from the Warsaw Military Academy and later attended the Command and General Staff College in the United States. His education laid the groundwork for his military career and shaped his strategic thinking during his political reign. His academic background reflects the complexities of military and state leadership that he later embodied.
He was the son of Wanda (née Zaremba) and Władysław Mieczysław Jaruzelski, a Czech-educated agronomist and volunteered soldier who fought in the war against Soviet Russia in 1920 and was raised on the family estate near Wysokie (in the vicinity of Białystok). From 1933 until September 1939, he was educated in a Catholic school in Warsaw where he received strict religious education.
Conclusion
In summary, Wojciech Jaruzelski's life and career offered a profound narrative of political leadership during one of Poland's most critical eras. While exploring his age, physical stats, relationships, and career achievements, it becomes clear that his impact on Poland's history remains significant even decades after his passing.
