Poland's Anti-Communism Organization (22 Feb 1970 Jahr – 4 Mai 1990 Jahr)

Beschreibung:

In 1970, a severe food shortage provoked riots in the city of Gdansk. A witness to those riots was a young electrician named Lech Walesa (worked in the huge Lenin Shipyard at Gdansk). Walesa became involved in anti-Communist union organizing and lost his job after helping to lead a protest in 1976.

When shipyard workers at Gdansk launched a strike in 1980, Walesa climbed over the fence of the facility and joined them, becoming head of a movement that grew with great speed. The government gave in to workers' demands for the right to form a free and independent trade union.

Union activity spread throughout Poland, forming an alliance called Solidarity.

The Communist government launched a crackdown in 1981, banning Solidarity and jailing its leaders, including Walesa.

In 1988, further economic collapse in Poland sparked a new round of protests and strikes. The Communist-led government agreed to meet with Solidarity and together they scheduled free elections for June 1989.

In June 1889, Soldiatry, Poland's anti-communist reform party swept into power. Its leader, Lech Walesa, was elected President in 1990.