Poznan Rising Flashcards
When did the demonstrations begin?
June 28, 1956
What were the workers demanding at the Poznan’s Cegielski Factories?
- Lower prices
- Higher wages
- Reduction in work quotas
What were the protests met with?
Violent repression
How many people gathered in the city centre during the protest?
Around 100,000 people
What did the demonstration quickly escalate into?
Riots with local offices of the secret police and party functionaries being attacked.
A police security officer was even lynched
What were the protestors chanting?
‘Bread and Freedom’ and ‘Out with the Bolshevism’
Why did the protest take a violent turn?
- It was revealed that the team negotiating on behalf of the strikers in Warsaw had been arrested and detained by authorities
What happened to the Poznan prison
It was stored by protestors, 257 inmates were liberated, records were destroyed and armaments were seized
How did the communists react to the armed insurgents?
They sent:
- 10,300 soldiers
- 400 tanks
- 30 armored personnel carriers
What was the aftermath of the clash?
- 76 dead civilians
- 8 dead soldiers
Over 600 strikers injured
Was this a threat to Soviet Control?
No. The changes made were economic and did not threaten Soviet control over eastern Europe
What were some of the changes?
- Change in Leadership - Gomulka was appointed (who was seen as a moderate leader and his appointment was viewed as a move towards political liberalization)
- Installation of a less Soviet-controlled government
- Economic reforms and relaxation of censorship
