The role of "Solidarity" in the fall of communism in Poland

Doru 1 | 3

15 Dec 2008 / #1

Hello everybody! I am studying the history of Poland and I'm interested in the role that Trade Union "Solidarity" had in fall of communism in Poland. Can anyone help me in this matter?

I need to find as much information, works and articles as I can on this subject (in english). Aren't there in Poland any historians who wrote about "Solidarity"? Their works were translated in english? I need to find them!

Any help would be apreciated.

SeanBM 35 | 5,797

15 Dec 2008 / #2

Hello Doru,
And welcome to the Polish Forum.
You can use the search box in the top right of the page.
Type things associated with Lech Walesa and Solidarity.

This is a very important part of Poland's history, I am sure you will find lots of interesting things on it.

Best of luck.

OP Doru 1 | 3

15 Dec 2008 / #3

I used the search box in the top right of the page and the only topic about Solidarity was the one I have just created. The other about Lech Walesa is

'Thoughts on present day Lech Walesa'
That's all! Nothing more about Solidarity or Lech Walesa!

SeanBM 35 | 5,797

15 Dec 2008 / #4

Sorry about that Doru,
I should have checked myself before offering advise.

Check Solidarnosc

And here: walesa

And here 13 December anniversary martial law

I am studying the history of Poland and I'm interested in the role that Trade Union "Solidarity" had in fall of communism in Poland.

There does seem to be a lack of threads about it.
Perhaps this thread could be the answer.

Krzysztof 2 | 973

15 Dec 2008 / #5

Check Wikipedia, there are some sources indicated:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Solidarity#References

History of Solidary - References about Poland

celinski 31 | 1,258

15 Dec 2008 / #6

fall of communism in Poland. Can anyone help me in this matter?

I thought you might find this of interesting.

Polish Spy Was Secret CIA Hero

Faced with a growing dissident movement in 1981, the communist government in Poland declared martial law. The U.S knew it was coming, because a Polish army officer named Ryszard Kuklinski had secretly leaked the plan to the CIA. For nearly ten years, Kuklinski was the CIA's top spy in the Soviet bloc.

This week, the agency marked the anniversary of Polish martial law with a program in Kuklinski's honor.

Babinich 1 | 455

15 Dec 2008 / #7

Doru,

Do you take into account the Papacy and its impact on the fall of communism?

"W zimie jest twoje, wiosną będzie nasze."

Krzysztof 2 | 973

15 Dec 2008 / #8

"W zimie jest twoje, wiosną będzie nasze."

Myabe you meant "Zima wasza, wiosna nasza." ?

Babinich 1 | 455

15 Dec 2008 / #9

Yeah, I'll defer to you; I am trying to learn...

Celinski,

If you have not already read the book A Secret Life: The Polish Colonel, His Covert Mission, And The Price He Paid To Save His Country by Benjamin Weiser may I suggest that you put it on your reading list? This book is wonderful and is an illustration of one man's love for his country.

plk123 8 | 4,138

15 Dec 2008 / #10

yes, solidarność had way more to do with fall of the commies then the cowboy actor ever dreamed of. :)

OP Doru 1 | 3

16 Dec 2008 / #11

Thank you all.
Actually I have to write a paper on Solidarity movement ~ about 60 pages. Most of the information I found on wikipedia: History of Solidarity. What about historians from Poland? Are there any polish books written by polish authors translated in english?

PS: Greetings from Moldova !

celinski 31 | 1,258

16 Dec 2008 / #12

A Secret Life: The Polish Colonel, His Covert Mission, And The Price He Paid To Save His Country

Thanks it looks very good, I'll read it and let you know what I think.

HWPiel 1 | 64

18 Dec 2008 / #13

Try to get a copy of Potkin's text "Armageddon Averted: the Fall of the Soviet Union 1973-2000".

While there is a strong correlation between the strikes of 1970 and 1980 at Gdańsk to the fall of communism; Potkin asserts that the fall of the steel industry (world-wide) had a greater impact to the "general maliase being felt in the USSR" while western Consumerism was rising and USSR's declining due to lack of quality products, access and money/salary. Poland was the first to fall, but not the sole or even major reason why communism fell; remember there are multiple layers of problems here like politics (Warsaw Pact vs NATO) and economical models.

Wikipedia.com will point you in a good direction, but use it carefully... for background edification and references/citations.

Henry

PS I've heard many reasons, theories and notions of why communism fell in the USSR, obviously many are pro-Polish. The best one to-date is, "... when I came to Warsaw, the communists left" - Bobby Vinton.

Doru,

Another text you may want to pick up and read is Timothy Garton Ash's "The Polish Revolution" what makes this an interesting read is that he was there, real time, as the strikes were going on.

Norman Davies', "God;s Playground: A History of Poland" Volume 2 also has a well written and factual detail of what happened.

Henry

OP Doru 1 | 3

24 Jun 2009 / #14

Merged: What methods were used by "Solidarity" to destroy communism in Poland?

Yesterday a professor from university gave me a question: what if a school student
asks you a simple question "what methods were used by Solidarity to destroy the communism"? what should I tell them?
Being polish, can you list the methods being used by Solidarity to destroy the communism in Europe?

SeanBM 35 | 5,797

24 Jun 2009 / #15

Passive resistance in the form of strikes was common.

Here is a very interesting thread about communism made by pawian Poland communism. That should help you.

Also use the search box at the top right habd side of this page and type in key words to help you find relevant info.

Good luck.