The August Strike
In the summer of 1980, a wave of strikes swept through Poland. The culmination was the strike at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, which began on August 14. Lech Wałęsa became the head of the Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee.
The strikers formulated 21 demands, the most important of which was the demand for free trade unions. On August 31, the August Agreements were signed, enabling the creation of “Solidarity.”
The Carnival of Solidarity
The period from August 1980 to December 1981 went down in history as the “Carnival of Solidarity.” At its peak, the union had about 10 million members — one-third of Poland’s adult population.
“Solidarity” was more than a trade union. It was a social movement that demanded:
- Freedom of speech and association
- Reduction of censorship
- Reform of the economic system
- Respect for human dignity
Martial Law
On December 13, 1981, General Wojciech Jaruzelski imposed martial law. “Solidarity” was outlawed, and thousands of activists were interned. The movement went underground, continuing its activities despite repression.
The Round Table and Victory
In 1989, facing a growing crisis, the communist authorities agreed to talks at the Round Table. The result was a compromise: partially free elections and the return of “Solidarity” to legal activity.
On June 4, 1989, Poles went to the polls. The victory of “Solidarity” was overwhelming. This day marked the beginning of the end of communism in Europe — within a few months, the Berlin Wall fell, followed by regimes throughout the Eastern Bloc.
Legacy
Today, “Solidarity” remains a symbol of peaceful struggle for freedom. The logo with red letters, designed by Jerzy Janiszewski, is recognized worldwide as an icon of resistance against tyranny.