The fall of Communism
Poland: The uprising of December 1970
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The uprising in Poland's northern cities at the end of 1970 was the first widespread demonstration of growing the anti-Communist sentiment that eventually led to the birth of the Solidarity opposition movement.
Just before Christmas, the government announced it was stopping food subsidies. Ordinary people, already struggling in harsh economic conditions, saw food prices rocket by up to 60%. For the first time workers in Gdańsk, Gdynia, Elbląg and Szczecin organized strike committees and marched on the local Communist Party headquarters in protest.
Chaos ensued as the army were sent in and given orders to stop workers returning to the factories in Gdynia, because the government feared attempts at mass sabotage. Demonstrations and violence then spread to nearby cities and the special forces were sent in to deal put down the unrest using force.
Dozens of civilians lost their lives and hundreds were wounded. At the time the authorities reported just six deaths.
Although the government prevented the unrest from spreading, the uprising forced them to reverse the price rises and led to the removal of Communist party leader Władysław Gomułka. The use of force turned many of the residents of these cities against the Communist Party, preparing the ground for the rise of Solidarity opposition movement. Also, many of the movement's leading figures, including Gdansk strike committee member Lech Walesa, gained their first experience of resistance during December 1970.
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