 matcrazy1's Gdansk Travelogues | | | |
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| Page Views: 876 Last Visit to Gdansk: August, 2005 | Road to Solidarity by matcrazy1 - last update: Feb 20, 2007 |
| URSZULA (matcrazy0) IN FRONT OF GDANSK SHIPYARD |
1939 - 1970 To understand Gdansk and Solidarity movement one have to know basic historical facts.WWII and afterPoland was occupied by Nazi Germany (western half including Gdansk) and the Soviet Union (eastern half) since September 1939. WWII ended with total defeat to Poland. Soviets started to rule the whole country in new (transferred to the West) borders in 1944, the eastern half of Poland was incorporated to the Soviet Union. Many of those who managed to come back to "free" country, both from the West and from the East, after WWII, were arrested, many were transported to Soviet comcentration camps in Siberia. Pro-Soviet, communist, anti-Polish in nature, authorities ruled till 1989. Armed fights against new, communist authorities ended with total defeat in early 1950'. The first anti-communist uprising took place in Poznan in June 1956, next one in 1968 in many university cities.December 1970 - coastal cities eventsDemonstrations against the price rises, announced by the government, broke out in the northern coastal cities of Gdansk, Gdynia, Elblag and Szczecin. Gomulka's (the first secretary of Polish communist party) right-hand man, Kliszko, made matters worse. He ordered the army to fire on the workers as they tried to return to their factories. Another leader, Kociolek, appealed to the workers to return to work. But in Gdynia the soldiers had orders to stop workers returning to work, and they fired into the crowd of workers emerging from their trains on December 17: hundreds of workers were killed and wounded. The protest movement then spread to other cities including Gdansk, leading to strikes and occupations. During street fights over 1000 people were wounded, 42 killed, 3 000 arrested.
With the consent of Leonid Brezhnev in Moscow, Gomulka, Kliszko and other leaders were forced to resign. Since Moscow would not accept Mieczyslaw Moczar, Edward Gierek was drafted as the new leader. The price rises were reversed, wage rises announced, and sweeping economic and political changes were promised.
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| 31 AUGUST 1980 IN GDANSK SHIPYARD |
August 1980 On 30 August 1980 the agreement between the leader of the Commitee of striking workers in Gdansk (almost all companies), Lech Walesa and communist authorities was signed in Gdansk shipyard. It soon led to registration Solidarity trade union in a court, the first free organisation behind the Iron Curtain which shortly became not only the world's largest trade union (10 mln members) but first of all strong anti-communist movement which demanded the right to strike, freedom of speech, the release of political prisoners, and economic reforms.
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| PICTURES OF SOLIDARITY MARCHES IN 1980' |
August 1980 - 13 December 1981 It was the period of very limited but unusual in Soviet bloc freedom. I remember the best great, heart-breaking over-activity of most Poles, young and old, to change Poland for better. "Solidarity" was solidarity. Despite the communist rules there were thousands of marches for or against something in which I always took part in Krakow. The censorship became a bit weaker. The economy as well, due to lack of any economic reforms which caused many strikes and shortage of food.
Communist authorities called the necessary reforms "anti-socialist" and constantly accused "Solidarity" for being anti-socialist which meant unacceptable in the Soviet bloc and not responsible in their opinion. Some leaders of "Solidarity" started to demand in public free polls to Polish parliament in spring 1982. Communist authorities started to frighten the nation that the White Bear (read the Soviet troops) may invide Poland to keep the country in order (read communist order). I was told that some people had started to prepare to a partisan war.
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| WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE IN POLAND, NOW? |
13 December 1981 Suddenly I was awaken by my brother early in the morning 13th December 1981. "Wake up immediatelly. We have a war," he was shouting.
It was freezing Sunday. We started to watch TV. We saw a TV journalist wearing military uniform with Polish flag and coat of arms behind him. He was very nervous. He was reading long rules of the martial law introduced at midnight 12/13. Solidarity leaders (a few thousands) were imprisoned, the union became illegal. Schools and universities, like all newspapers except one, were closed. Borders of Poland were closed, too. Shortly I noticed that our phone was out of work. There were hundreds bans. Ban on moving out of Krakow, ban on walking at night, ban on any meetings, on driving a car (there was no gas) etc., etc. Each of the bans was followed by strong punishment.
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Martial law I saw first tanks, numerous military vehicles, troops and heavy armed milicemen on Krakow's streets. People gathered in churches (free of troops) and couldn't believe in what had happened. All thought over real, incoming war or uprising against the martial law and Soviet government in Poland. The radio Voice of America and Free Europe were totally jammed. My mother came back from work on time and told that her company would go on strike the next day (illegal - up to 10 years in a prison, more for the leaders). My father didn't come back home. The following days and nights and Christmas 1981 were the worst in my life. We had no news except official lies. Terrible rumours, helplessness and fear ruled.
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| ROAD TO FREEDOM EXPOSITION, LOGO |
Struggle I remember illegal, peaceful and fantastic demonstrations against the martial law which took place on each 13th day a month (on 13th Dec. 1981 the martial law was introduced), on 1 May (Labour Day), on 3 May (Constitution Day), on 30 August (anniversary of Gdansk agreement), on 11 Nov. (Independance Day). Tenths of thousands people gathered together, some with Polish and Solidarity flags to protest against communist rulers although it was a felony that tme (even 10 years in a prison). But after 16 months of legal Solidarity and limited but great freedom, people needed it like fish needs water.
The demonstrators were always attacked by heavy milice forses which used tire gases and water cannons and hungers. Once they shot to death a young demonstrator. My parents strongly forbide me to take part in any demonstrations but... I had to (they, too). So, I left our appartment just after them and I always came back home before them. Hearing loud explosions and shots and feeling tire gas at home I was worrying about them and my older (a student that time) brother. Luckily they always came back home safely.
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So called Stabilisation The communist authorities started to stop the bans of martial law in 1982 and 1983 and the situation started to stabilize in opinion of the authorities. But the Solidarity union was still illegal, many political prisoners were not released, the censorship was still hard, any strikes or unregistered meetings were illegal etc. etc.
The Solidarity lived and acted underground. The nation regarded the authorities as an enemy and constantly demanded relegalisation of the Solidarity. Later on there were strikes in Gdansk and Krakow (Nowa Huta) not to mention many demonstrations for Solidarity.
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| ON MONUMENT TO THE FALLEN SHIPYARD WORKERS |
Talks and victory The worsening economic situation (yearly inflation rate over 2,000 %), the constant resistance and demandings of the nation, strong support and help for the Solidarity from the USA and other Western states, weakening of Soviet communism in the Soviet Union (Gorbatsov), strong and wise support of John Paul II, these all factors and many others, eventually led to the Talks of the Round Table between leaders of the Solidarity and communist regime. They lasted a few months in the early 1989.
Poland was surrounded by communist countries that time. Thus the final agreement couldn't be a victory over communism. However, the Solidarity union was born again and, the most important and unbelievable in the Soviet Bloc the first not fake polls to a parliament took place on 4th June 1989. The deal said that 35% seats in a lower chamber must be reserved to communists. The polls to the higher chamber (Senate) were fully free. The results were shocking for communists: 99 seats for 100 won the Solidarity in the Senate and they won 65% seats (maximum possible) in the lower chamber. It was a very special day and my first ever vote. I remember great satisfaction and joy the next day when I saw the results. People released from prisons and "enemies of socialist Poland" became members of Polish parliament.
In September 1989, the first anti-communist Prime Minister Mazowiecki in still officially communist country, started to rule. He was so moved that he had to stop his inauguration speech to take a break and relax. On 1st January 1990 shocking economic therapy started. Surprisingly I saw for the first time in my life shelves full of various goods (never available before) in my own country. I saw the first unemployed, too. And the surrounding countries following Poland in the way to freedom from the Soviet regime, the fall of Berlin Wall, the Soviet Union, Lech Walesa chosen a president of Poland etc. etc.
It all started in Gdansk!
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 Comments for matcrazy1 about Gdansk | | | | |
807Wheaton Fri Jul 18, 2008 18:36 UTC
We visited Gdansk in September 2007 on our Princess Cruise. I'm still trying to get the cities we visited on VT - WOW! Your Gdansk page is great - and a great help. Thanks. Marcia | flyingscot4 Fri Jun 22, 2007 14:23 UTC
Wonderful personal history. While the outcome was great, the struggle was brutal. Thank God for John Paul II, whose personal courage gave the people strength; and Ronald Reagan, who outspent the Soviet Union; and the Polish people. | Ekaterinburg Sat Apr 28, 2007 21:50 UTC
You must have explored every inch of Gdansk and I am enjoying accompanying you through the back streets and unvisited corners. Lech Walesa's house ?? Wow ! :)) | isailthe7seas Sun Apr 8, 2007 17:43 UTC
just wanted to say thanks for the tower listings... We are in Gdansk 1 day as we are on a Princess cruise itinerary (we have every intention of returning by land in the future) We love get a birds eye view... Also, thanks for the tip on Artus Court. |
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