Spasowski served as an officer in the Polish Army division formed in the Soviet Union under General Zygmunt Berling.

He kept a low profile during the Cold War with the exception his annual appearances at observances marking the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943.

Wanda Spasowska's influence and religious views helped undermine her husband's belief in Communism.

For years, Spasowski's faith in the Polish Communist regime had been wavering, but the ascension of a Pole to the papacy in 1978 provided the impetus for a clear break.

The day Karol Cardinal Wojtyła became Pope John Paul II, Spasowski attended a special Mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C., taking a place of honor in the first pew.

He is said to have privately voiced support for Solidarity's leader, Lech Wałęsa, and the labor movement's goals.

Spasowski's daughter and son-in-law, supporters of Solidarity, fled to the United States early in 1981 and received asylum.

On December 13, 1981, Polish government leader General Wojciech Jaruzelski started a crack-down on Solidarity, declaring martial law.

On the afternoon of December 19, 1981, Spasowski telephoned the U.S. State Department to announce that he was defecting and requesting asylum.

The next day he told a worldwide radio audience that he had defected to show support for Solidarity and Lech Wałęsa.