Lublin Commemorations of the Anniversary of the Introduction of Martial Law with Immersive Historical Education

On 12 December in Lublin, educational activities were held—using mobile immersive historical education crates—organized in connection with the 44th anniversary of the introduction of martial law in Poland and the National Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Martial Law.

Learning Through Experience at the IPN Branch in Lublin

The program was carried out in three time blocks, tailored to different target groups. The core of the program was historical education delivered through a variety of media. Participants watched a screening of the IPN educational film “Martial Law in the Polish People’s Republic – History Stop” as well as the film “The Youngest Victim of Martial Law – Emil Barchański (1965–1982)”. An important complement to the screenings were meetings with witnesses to history, which allowed young people to have direct contact with individuals who lived through the period of martial law.

A significant part of the program also included educational tours on historic MPK Lublin buses—Jelcz 272 MEX. The routes led, among other places, along Królewska Street past the historic headquarters of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarity,” to the gate of the former Truck Factory in Lublin, and to the Cross of Gratitude monument on the Road of the Martyrs of Majdanek. The tours were accompanied by historical commentary and moments of reflection.

Workshops and Immersive Activities Using Mobile chests

An integral part of the event were workshop-based and immersive activities. Participants became familiar with the screen-printing technique and took part in producing leaflets referring to opposition activities of the 1980s.

Another attraction were the mobile chests, which provide access to all games and applications developed by the New Technology Division. The activities primarily used the VR (virtual reality) application “Szybowcowa ’87,” which allows users to explore an apartment in a PRL-era apartment block in Wrocław that served as the headquarters of a clandestine printing house of “Fighting Solidarity.” Thanks to this application, participants gain a better understanding of the realities in which the underground anti-communist organization operated.

Using the application makes it possible to explore a meticulously reconstructed location where underground press and other materials distributed by members of “Fighting Solidarity” were printed. Among the interactive objects available to the user are, among others, the Julia radio with the option of calibration to intercept messages from the Security Service (SB); a television displaying an episode of the Television News; and a printing frame along with other props used in the printing process.