The Global War, 1955–1963: Khrushchev and East-West Relations - The Polish Uprising

Question 1

When did the Polish Uprising occur?

Answer 1

• June-October 1956

Question 2

What are the key dates and events of the Polish Uprising?

Answer 2

• 1956 - Polish communist leader, Boleslaw Beirut, dies and replaced with Edward Ochab for de-Stalinisation
• 28 June 1956 - workers go on strike in protest of wage cuts and poor working conditions
• October 1956 - Wladyslaw Gomulka was elected as First Secretary of the Polish United Workers’ Party (the Polish Communist Party)
• 19-20 October 1956 - Khrushchev sends delegation to Warsaw and orders Red Army units in Poland to advance to Warsaw to stop Gomulka’s election
• Khrushchev withdraws

Question 3

Who was the Polish communist leader that died in 1956 and who was he replaced by?

Answer 3

• Boleslaw Beirut died

- Replaced by Edward Ochab

Question 4

When did workers go on strike?

Answer 4

• 28 June 1956

- Riots broke out in Poznan

Question 5

Why did workers go on strike?

Answer 5

• Inspired by Secret Speech to demand more political freedom and national sovereignty as Khrushchev says there are many routes to communism
• Protesting wage cuts and poor working conditions

Question 6

How many civilian deaths and casualties were there from the Poznan protests?

Answer 6

• 57-100 killed

- 600 wounded

Question 7

Describe the election of Wladyslaw Gomulka including the date, his new position and the reasons behind his election

Answer 7

• October 1956
• Elected as First Secretary of the Polish United Workers’ Party (the Polish Communist Party)
• Gomulka was elected to overcome bitterness from the Poznan protests

Question 8

When does Khrushchev send a delegation and orders Red Army units to advance to Warsaw to stop Gomulka’s election?

Answer 8

• 19-20 October 1956

Question 9

What agreements did Khrushchev and Gomulka make?

Answer 9

• Khrushchev withdraws troops (partly due to focus on Hungarian Uprising)
• Poland would remain a member of the Warsaw Pact
• Gomulka agrees to not carry out reforms that might threaten local communist rule, or unity of Soviet Bloc

Question 10

Why did Khrushchev not use military intervention?

Answer 10

• Primarily because China supported the Polish Communist Party and were not too keen on de-stalinisation
• Trusted Gomulka that Poland would remain loyal and would stay in Warsaw Pact
• Focus needed on Hungarian Uprising

Question 11

What impact did the Polish Uprising have on Poland?

Answer 11

• Granted more autonomy and independence but still a satellite state in the Warsaw Pact
• Reformist, less oppressive and nationalist leader elected (Gomulka)
• More freedom for citizens - less censorship of books and films, freedom of religion (Poland is a very Catholic country)
• Gomulka balanced need for Polish security with presence of Soviet troops and freedom - protected from potential revanchism (revenge) from West Germany