Patriotic Movement for National Rebirth

Patriotyczny Ruch Odrodzenia Narodowego (PRON, translated as Patriotic Movement for National Rebirth or National Renaissance Patriotic Movement) was a Polish communist organization. It was created in the aftermath of the martial law in Poland (1982). Gathering various pro-communist and pro-government organizations it was supposed to show unity and support for the government and Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR). PRON was created in July 1982 and dissolved in November 1989.

It initial member organizations included:

• Polish United Workers Party (PZPR)
• Zjednoczone Stronnictwo Ludowe (ZSL)
• Stronnictwo Demokratyczne (SD)
• Stowarzyszenie PAX (Pax)
• Chrześcijańskie Stowarzyszenie Społeczne (ChSS)
• Polski Związek Katolicko-Społeczny (PZKS)

It was later joined by many other organizations, such as All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions, Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego and Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Dzieci. Few members of those organizations were aware of their membership in PRON, as PRON members included organizations, not individuals. PRON membership was required by communist propaganda, and necessary for any organization that wanted to exist on political scene with support of the government.

PRON's chairman was the writer Jan Dobraczyński. The foundation committee included in addition to Dobraczyński: Marian Orzechowski, Janusz Reykowski, Andrzej Przypkowski, Edmund Męclewski, Jan Majewski, Andrzej Elbanowski, Józef Chlebowczyk, Władysław Ogrodziński, Walenty Milenuszkin, Wiesław Nowicki, Jerzy Stencel, Elżbieta Ciborowska, Jerzy Kejna, Piotr Perkowski, Józef Kiełb, Jerzy Ozdowski, Stanisław Rostworowski, Gizela Pawłowska, Zbigniew Gertych, Klemens Krzyżagórski, Anatola Klajna and Zbigniew Siatkowski.

PRON was mentioned in the amended Polish communist constitution, where it replaced the Front of National Unity.

References

• Patriotyczny Ruch Odrodzenia Narodowego entry at PWN Encyklopedia
• [1] and [2] - entries at WIEM Encyklopedia