May 3rd has been a special day in the history of the Polish nation.

At the end of the 18th century, the Polish state was in a serious internal crisis. Moreover, Poland was surrounded by hostile neighbours, including Russia with its thirst for conquests. Facing that difficult state of affairs, Polish people managed to carry internal reforms that culminated in the acclamation of the first Polish constitution on May 3rd, 1791. This act reformed the Polish political system and opened the way for creation of a strong and modern state.

Russia intended to make it impossible to proclaim of May 3rd Constitution. The large Russian army entered the territory of Poland and started the persecution of the reformers. The masterpiece of state reforms were broken down.

The eastern neighbour's intention to suppress the struggle for independence, keep in Polish nation memory, revived with particular strength among the Polish people in the aftermath of World War II.

May 3rd Constitution became therefore, a symbol of Polish struggle for freedom. While commemorating the anniversary of its proclamation, Polish people demonstrated their disagreement with the Russian domination over their country and expressed their devotion to sovereignty.

Certainly, such patriotic feelings were met by an antagonistic and brutal reaction of the communist authorities. For those who governed in Poland only and exclusively because of the Russian support, nothing was more hateful and dangerous than independence.

During the 1980s, every May 3rd, people started to organise manifestations that often resulted in serious street fights with the communist police forces.

These photos come from the resources of the Ministry of the Interior and are being published for the first time.

Below we are presenting photographs confiscated from people who were later charged with criminal lawsuits for distribution of illegal materials. We are presenting an original description of those photographs made by employees of the communist security police.

Here, we would like to make a petition to anyone who is in the possession of the unknown documents on the history of Poland from 1939 to 1990 and to make them available to the Institute of National Remembrance.