Proclamation on the surrender of weapons

In Poland during the 1960s, wartime remnants still posed a serious threat to public safety. Many people kept weapons as wartime souvenirs or out of fear of political instability. Unfortunately, such practices often led to tragic accidents, particularly among children, who unknowingly gained access to dangerous objects. To counter these risks, the authorities of the Polish People's Republic launched an information campaign aimed at raising awareness of the dangers associated with storing weapons, ammunition, and explosives. Citizens were encouraged to voluntarily hand them over to local units of the Citizen’s Militia (Milicja Obywatelska). At the same time, amnesty and full discretion were guaranteed to build public trust and reduce resistance to the initiative. A poster calling on the residents of Western Pomerania to surrender weapons—one of 3,000 printed copies – was purchased by the National Museum in Szczecin for its permanent exhibition "Hans Stettiner – Jan Szczeciński. Everyday Life in Szczecin in the 20th Century." This poster serves as a valuable historical record, documenting the realities of daily life in post-war and post-Stalinist Poland. It is particularly significant when examined in the context of the nationwide socio-political crisis of 1967–1968, reflecting the authorities’ approach to pressing security concerns. Anna Lew-Machniak