The President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda awarded Prof. Dariusz Król, vice-dean for general affairs of our Faculty, with Cross of Freedom and Solidarity for his activities as an oppositionist in the years 1982–1985. Congratulations!

The Cross of Freedom and Solidarity is awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland to people working to regain independence in the years 1956–1989. One of the Lower Silesian oppositionists whose activity during the communist regime was recognized with this distinction is Prof. Dariusz Król, vice-dean for general affairs at our Faculty.

As we read on the website of the Institute of National Remembrance: “In 1983, Dariusz Zdzisław Król started cooperation with youth opposition organizations in Wrocław. His activity consisted in the collecting and forwarding to the distribution centre in Wałbrzych of such underground magazines as: "Z Dnia na Dzień", "Wyrostek", "Młodzież", as well as the publications of Fighting Solidarity. He was involved in the organization and expansion of the underground distribution network until 1985.

– After the introduction of martial law, I had no doubts that it was necessary to oppose and take action to help Poland regain its independence and sovereignty and respect human rights,”says Prof. Dariusz Król, vice-dean for general affairs of our Faculty, recalling his participation in street demonstrations and subsequent activities as a distributor of independent press. – From September 1982, I started to regularly collect leaflets from a friend from a sports club. First, I distributed them myself around the neighbourhood at Grabiszyńska Street. They were various, often small in size, with information about the protest and a radio broadcast, mainly signed by Fighting Solidarity or regional Solidarity.

A year later, he established contact in Wałbrzych and he transported underground publications collected in Wrocław by train, hiding them, among others, in vinyl record covers.

– In the summer of 1984, the needs were so great that I decided to hold a direct meeting of my liaisons. From that moment on, distribution took place directly between them. My role as a courier was over – says Prof. Dariusz Król. – We then adopted the principle of knowing as little as possible and not meeting other couriers. It was so ingrained in us that our first meeting together took place only in 2023, almost after 40 years.

The report from the award ceremony can be found here and here.