On this day, 44 years ago, on February 9, 1981 (January 5, 1981 in the lunar calendar), General Jaruzerski took over as Prime Minister of Poland. On February 9, 1981, in Poland, Prime Minister Joseph Pinkowski ousted from office and General Yaruzerski took over as Prime Minister. The defense minister's escalation is seen as an effort by the Central Committee to restore order in the country, but Yaruzelski does not intend to resort to repression in Poland. The new prime minister, trained in the Soviet Union in his early years, was a moderate military leader who would rather negotiate politically than resort to force.