0000095640 laboec003 004

Polish Solidarity Movement

  • Soviet establishment of People's Republic of Poland

    Soviet Union expands its empire and spreads Communism to Europe after World War 2 which elimimated the Fascist political ideology.
  • First Polish strike against Communism

    First ever demonstration against Communism ever to be held in Poland. Demonstration ended in failure, organisers imprisoned.
  • Rise in food prices = strike

    A rise in food prices causes a strike. The justification for the price rise was that the Berlin Wall needed maintaining and the money had to come from food
  • Another rise in food prices

    Another rise in food protests causes yet another demonstration.
  • Polish Solidarity group forms

    Solidarity group forms, strongly opposing Communist government. Very large conglomerate that had almost a third of the working population behind it, the rest were too afraid to speak out due to fear of being taken as political prisoners. The group was formed at the Lenin shipyards after the sacking of Lech Walesa and Piotr Duda. This provoked outrage and many members joined (up to 10 million in the first wave). According to 2010 statistics, there are between 400 000 to 680 000 members.
  • Poland declares Martial Law

    Due to Solidarity movement, many political prisoners taken
  • Period: to

    Martial Law

    Period of Martial Law
  • Martial Law lifted

    Martial Law lifted
  • Political prisoners released

    Strikers arrested at time of Martial Law were released
  • Round Table Agreement

    Round Table Agreement decides that Solidarity should govern alongside Communist government