Polish People's Republic
Polish People's Republic was an official name of Poland from 1952 until 1989, when it was a Soviet satellite state. It was on the Stalinist model, ruled by the Polish United Workers' Party.
Polish People's Republic Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa (Polish) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947–1989 | |||||||||
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| Anthem: | |||||||||
 The Polish People's Republic in 1989 | |||||||||
| Status | Satellite state of the Soviet Union[a] | ||||||||
| Capital and largest city | Warsaw 52°13′N 21°02′E / 52.217°N 21.033°E | ||||||||
| Official languages | Polish | ||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism (de facto) State atheism (de jure) See Religion in Poland | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Pole, Polish | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary Marxist–Leninist de facto one-party socialist republic (1947–90) under a military junta (1981–83) | ||||||||
| First Secretary and Leader | |||||||||
• 1947–1956 (first) | Bolesław Bierut | ||||||||
• 1989–1990 (last) | Mieczysław Rakowski | ||||||||
| Head of Council | |||||||||
• 1947–1952 (first) | Bolesław Bierut | ||||||||
• 1985–1989 (last) | Wojciech Jaruzelski | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1944–1947 (first) | E. Osóbka-Morawski | ||||||||
• 1989 (last) | Tadeusz Mazowiecki | ||||||||
| Legislature | Sejm | ||||||||
| Historical era | Cold War | ||||||||
• | 19 February 1947 | ||||||||
• United Workers' Party established | 16–21 December 1948 | ||||||||
| 22 July 1952 | |||||||||
| 21 October 1956 | |||||||||
| 13 December 1981 | |||||||||
| 4 June – 30 December 1989 | |||||||||
| February 1990 | |||||||||
• | 9 December 1990 | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
• Total | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1850: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1989 estimate | 37,970,155 | ||||||||
| HDI (1989) | 0.910[1] very high | ||||||||
| Currency | Polish złoty (PLZ) | ||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||||||||
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||||||||
| Driving side | right | ||||||||
| Calling code | +48 | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | PL | ||||||||
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As with most Communist governments, the Polish government tolerated religious beliefs, but in 1950, Minister for Religious Affairs, Antoni Bida accused the Polish Church of hostility to the state. Conflict began and continued right up the collapse of the People's Republic of Poland, and with it communism in Poland, in 1989.
In June 1956, there was a workers strike, which was put down violently. 75 people were killed. On October 19, 1956 arrived leaders of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. There was a political breakthrough and new Communists became the leaders.
Year 1980 was one of heavier years in history of country. A lot of protests led to the creation of "Solidarność" independent labor union, which later led to the fall of communism in Poland in 1989.
Polish People's Republic Media
National anthem of the Polish People's Republic. This specific recording was played to the TV Journal in Poland and during the daily TV sign-off
(Green) Poland.*
(Green) Poland.*
Border changes of Poland after World War II. The eastern territories (Kresy) were annexed by the Soviet Union. The western territories, referred to as the "Recovered Territories", were granted as war reparations. Despite the western lands being more industrialized, Poland lost 77,035 km2 (29,743 sq mi) and major cities like Lviv and Vilnius.
The 1970 Polish protests were put down by the communist authorities and Milicja Obywatelska. The riots resulted in the deaths of 42 people and over 1,000 injured.
Queues waiting to enter grocery stores in Warsaw and other Polish cities and towns were typical in the late 1980s. The availability of food and goods varied at times, and the most sought-after basic item was toilet paper.
General Wojciech Jaruzelski served as the last leader of the Polish People's Republic from 1981 until 1989
The new Warszawa Centralna railway station in Warsaw had automatic doors and escalators. It was a flagship project during the 1970s economic boom and was dubbed the most modern station in Europe at the time of its completion in 1975.
Lech Wałęsa co-founded and headed the Solidarity movement which toppled the communist government. He later became the President of Poland.
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