JUNE EVENTS IN POZNAN (1956)
After the second world war all public institutions, economy and culture
were subordinated to PZPR party. In 1955, after Stalin's death, part of
the Ministry of Public Security was deprived of the authority, some of
the communist leaders required Wladyslaw Gomulka's return. In the meantime,
Boleslaw Bierut died in Moscow. It caused an increase of tension in PZPR.
The part of the communists, so-called - "pulawianie", wanted to carry out
a program of social reform. They announced liberal slogans, were against
excessive press censorship, wanted to introduce transformations in politics,
economic and social life. This group realized that terror led to deep division
between the authorities and people. "Pulawianie" were supported by youth
from ZMP and educated people. Their opponents, who wanted no changes, so-called
- "natolinczycy", carried out the commands from Moscow. They wanted to
keep contact with USSR and continue their politics, which is more, very
often anti-Semitic. Besides they were against the liberalization.
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| Poznan - 1966 |
The newspapers published at that time were not so severely censored.
According to the act of amnesty, prisoners - people, who served Poland,
were let out of jails. However the economy crisis was developing. Instead
of fear, people had great hopes of improving their conditions of life.
The slogans, which referred to the independence of Poland, came back
and they were announced at demonstrations. In June 1956 workmen went out
into the streets, requiring better payments. However it changed into a
large patriotic and anti governmental demonstration. The demonstrators
broke into the jail, set the prisoners free, stole the weapons and went
straight to the centre of WUBP. There they started to shoot. The government
used tanks.
On June 18-19th 1956 75 people were killed and 900 people were injured.
The demonstration was suppressed. June events caused increase of hatred
to the system, which was based on lawlessness. In the factories workmen
councils started to function, teachers introduced new scholarly programs.
The communist government was in crisis. There was possibility that
it would move out into other countries of Central Europe.