East European History

Table of Contents

Courses

History 0200

• Topic 1
• Topic 2
• Topic 3
• Topic 4
• Topic 5
• Midterm Review
• Final Exam Options
• Final Review

Historical Timelines

• 1998-1953

• 1953-1998

History 1270

• Outline
• Questions

Useful Links

Maps

Related Sites

News Sources

Library Resources

Topic Three - Lecture Three

Polish Socialism to the Solidarity Movement

I. Introduction

II. National communism v. Stalinism (Gomulka, then Bierut)

• slow collectivization
• Catholic Church
• mild purges

III. After 1953 a Very Slow Thaw

• 1955 Gomulka released
• intellectual ferment

IV. 1956 Brings Real Change

• Khrushchev's Secret Speech
• June Poznan workers' revolt October: Gomulka back in power

V. Disappointing normalcy

VI. 1968 Student unrest suppressed

• anti-Semitism
• workers' indifference

VII. Economic nosedive:

• 1970-71Gdansk workers' protests bring Gomulka down & Gierek in. Intellectuals sit out
• 1976 new price rises, new unrest
• national debt $17 million 1979

VIII. 1976 KOR (Workers' Defense Committee) brings intellectuals & workers together setting scene for "Solidarity"

IX. 1978 Polish Pope John Paul II (Cardinal Woytila)

• 1979 visits Poland in triumph

X. 1980: Solidarity