Cold War Poland: Solidarność

Figure 1.-- Polish Communist authorities were reluctant to use the Army to supress workers--theoretically the bedrock of any Communist regime. Solidarność was founded (August 1980). The Soviets were not pleased with such concessions and it did not take them long to press for action. And at the same time Solidarność pressed for moreconcessions. Ultimately, Soviet officilas gave the Polish Communist Government a choice--either supress Solidarność or the Red Army would. Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski to prevent a Soviet military intrvention moved to crush Solidarność by declaring Martial Law (Stan Wojenny – State of War) (December 13, 1981).

Solidarność (Solidarity) had deep roots in Polish history. The Red Army and NKVD laid the foundations of a Communist police state as Soviet power drove out the NAZIs in the final year of World War II. It violation of commitments made to the Allies, Stalin not only refused to deal with the London-based Polish Government-in-exile, but actually arrested and executed their suporters in areas of Poland freed from the NAZIs. Communists stole the 1946 parlimentary elctions, putting the final touches on a Communist dictatorship, called euphmatically a People's Republic. It gradually became clear that backed with Soviet tanks, these Communist dictatorships could not be removed by force, although there were periodic violent outbreaks of resistance in Poland and elsewhere in the Soviet empire. Nonviolent action against Communist authorities began very early in the history of Communist Poland. At first they had little impact on the Government and were supressed with great violence by the authorities. Poland was different than the rest of Eastern Europe in that the Roman Catholic Church was so deeply ingrained in the lives of the people and the country's national ethos. Try as they may, the Communists were unable to destroy the Church or break that bond. This provided an organizational basis for passive resistance. It took some time for anti-Communists to develop tactics to confront the Communists. Here a nother factor was the gradual development of limitation on the use of force by the Communists. Under the Stalinist regime of the early 40s, even non-violent tactics would not have worked. And over time to the surprise of the Communists, there economic sytem as in the Soviet Union was proved not to work. This mean that people in the Soviet Empire could not live the same prosperous lives as in the West. So in addition to national and religious opposition, economic oposition developed among the very people that according to Marxist doctine was the bedrock of Communism--industrial workers. After three decades of Communist control and indoctination and basically ineffectual civil resistance -- Polish workers began to develop tactics through which Polish society could begin to challenge Communist authorities and their Soviet masters. Various Polish groups supported by the Church began organizing and consolidating itself in a broad coalition of social forces. The result was the founding of Solidarność (August 1980). This coincided with the election of Ronald Reagan in the United States (November 1980). This meant that from the beginnng Solidarność had strong international support as well domestic support. Solidarność at its core was rooted its in trade unionism which both confused and delegitimized the Soviet imposed Communist regime. It undermined the ideological but clearly dishonest claim that the Communit People's Republic was a free “workers’ state”. Solidarność undermined the Communist controlled unions which were in fact a mechanism for controlling workers. Solidarność created the independent political space which allowed for alternative institutions, activities, and open discussion could not only occur, but flourish. Solidarność leaders had learned that they could not win in a violent confrontation with the Communist authorities backed by the Soviets. Thus Solidarność carefully persued its political objectives using strict non-violent discipline as carefully calculated self-imposed limitations. It woulld not be an easy struggle again gepography, Poland's location between Germany and Russia, intervened to make this a mamouth challenge. Kremlin leaders could read a map. Poland separated the Soviet Union from Germany. And perhaps the highest priority of Soviet foreign policy was to prevent the unification of Germany, epeciallyunifcation undr a free, West German leadership. And there was no way to prevent unification once Poland'sCommunist regime was overhrown. And it ws not long after Solidarity was founded that the Soviet Union reacted.

Communist People's Republic Police State

The Red Army and NKVD laid the foundations of a Communist police state as Soviet power drove out the NAZIs in the final year of World War II. It violation of commitments made to the Allies, Stalin not only refused to deal with the London-based Polish Government-in-exile, but actually arrested and executed their suporters in areas of Poland freed from the NAZIs. Communists stole the 1946 parlimentary elctions, putting the final touches on a Communist dictatorship, called euphmatically a People's Republic. The Stalinisy years were brutal without any the sembkenst of restraint by the NKVD and their Polish protegees.

Violent Resistance

It gradually became clear that backed with Soviet tanks, these Communist dictatorships could not be removed by force, although there were periodic violent outbreaks of resistance in Poland and elsewhere in the Soviet empire. Nonviolent action against Communist authorities began very early in the history of Communist Poland. At first they had little impact on the Government and were supressed with great violence by the authorities.

Catholic Church

Poland was different than the rest of Eastern Europe in that the Roman Catholic Church was so deeply ingrained in the lives of the people and the country's national ethos. Try as they may, the Communists were unable to destroy the Church or break that bond. This provided an organizational basis for passive resistance.

Non-Violent Resistance

It took some time for anti-Communists to develop tactics to confront the Communists. Here a nother factor was the gradual development of limitation on the use of force by the Communists. Under the Stalinist regime of the early 40s, even non-violent tactics would not have worked.

Economic Failure

Over time to the surprise of the Communists, there economic sytem as in the Soviet Union was proved not to work. This mean that people in the Soviet Empire could not live the same prosperous lives as in the West. So in addition to national and religious opposition, economic oposition developed among the very people that according to Marxist doctine was the bedrock of Communism--industrial workers. The Communist Government could control the press and supress discent. It like the Sviet Government could not control the iron laws of economics. Inefficent factories and illconceived economic planning did not create wealth.

Founding Solidarity (1980)

After three decades of Communist control and indoctination and basically ineffectual civil resistance -- Polish workers began to develop tactics through which Polish society could begin to challenge Communist authorities and their Soviet masters. Various Polish groups supported by the Church began organizing and consolidating itself in a broad coalition of social forces. The result was the founding of Solidarność (August 1980).

Gdansk

Declining living conditions result in strikes and riots (1980). The center of the unrest was of all places the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk (former Danzig). Communist authoritie hesitated to supress the workers with the Army reluctantly reached an agreement with the workers, allowing them to organize into an independent trade union--anetma in thec Soviet empire. The new union was Solidarnosc (Solidarity). Independent labor unions were unheard of in the Soviet Empire. Solidarity elects strike leader Lech Walesa is elected as the head of Solidarnosc, and quickly 60 percent of the Polish workforce was organized (Novembr 1980). Solidarnosc was organized by workers with still limited politicl skills, but aided by the Church developed into a sophisticated non-violent, sociopolitical movement that Polish Communist authorities proved unable to control without a much greater resort to violence than they were willing to contence. A step learning curvem, however, was needed. The Soviets were not as willing to compromise.

International Support

The foundtion of Solidarnosc coincided with the election of Ronald Reagan in the United States (November 1980). and it was not just the Reagan Administration. The free trade movement in the United States also came to the support of Solidarność. This meant that from the beginnng Solidarność had strong international support as well domestic support.

Marrxist Ideology

Solidarność at its core was rooted its in trade unionism which both confused and delegitimized the Soviet imposed Communist regime. It undermined the ideological but clearly dishonest claim that the Communit People's Republic was a free “workers’ state”. Solidarność undermined the Communist controlled unions which were in fact a mechanism for controlling workers.

Independent Political Space

Solidarność created the independent political space which allowed for alternative institutions, activities, and open discussion could not only occur, but flourish. This was a major goal of a Communist police state, to prevent any such independent political space from developing. It is one reason that Communist authorities attacked the Churchwith such vigor from the inception of Communist control.

Tactics

Solidarność leaders had learned that they could not win in a violent confrntation with the Communist authorities backed by the Soviets. Thus Solidarność carefully persued its political objectives using strict non-violent discipline as carefully calculated self-imposed limitations.

Soviet Policy

It woulld not be an easy struggle again gepography, Poland's location between Germany and Russia, intervened to make this a mamouth challenge. Kremlin leaders could read a map. Poland separated the Soviet Union from Germany. And perhaps the highest priority of Soviet foreign policy was to prevent the unification of Germany, epecially unifcation undr a free, West German leadership. And there was no way to prevent unification once Poland'sCommunist regime was overhrown. And it was not long after Solidarity was founded that the Soviet Union reacted. Khtisvchechev's anti-talinist campaign (196 signicantly changed the dynmic in he Soviet Unon, but as shoen in Hngary,the Soviets wre still cpable of inleaing extrer brutality. And the stakes of the gae in Poland were enormous--esentially the entireSoviet Eastern Europen Empire, nit to mention the ability to keep Germany iidd.

Martial Law (1981)

The Soviets sensing that Solodarity is gaining the upperhand in Poland, threatens to invade. Polish authorities to avoid Soviet intervention declare martial law and arrest Solidarity leaders (December 1981). Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski was the Polish Army commander who precided over the crack down on LechWalesa's Solidarity Movement (1981). The Polish Government officially disbanded Solidarity, but a underground resistance continues (1982). And the economy continues to spiral downward. The cost of living rose over 100 percent during 1982 alone.

Created: 12:49 PM 4/16/2015
Last updated: 12:49 PM 4/16/2015