On June 28, 1956, at 6 a.m., workers at the H. Cegielski-Poznań factories (then known as Stalin Works) initiated a general strike and a mass street demonstration. This bold move, born from frustration and desperation, marked the start of the Poznań June ’56 protests. The demonstrators, demanding fair wages and civic freedoms, were met with brutal repression by the militia and military, resulting in the tragic deaths of 58 people.
President Duda’s Tribute to the Heroes
During the 68th anniversary commemorations, Stanisław Żaryn, advisor to the President of Poland, read a letter from President Andrzej Duda. The President praised the bravery of the protesters who stood against the communist regime. He likened the struggle to the Greater Poland Uprising of 1918, emphasizing the continuous fight for dignity and freedom by the people of Poznań. Duda highlighted the significant impact of the protests, which hastened political and economic reforms in Poland.
President Duda underlined that although the regime violently crushed the protests, the sacrifice of the participants was not in vain. The bloodshed resonated across Poland, undermining the regime’s credibility and leading to the October Thaw, which ended the Stalinist era. The courage of the Poznań workers laid the groundwork for future uprisings and ultimately contributed to the collapse of the communist system and the restoration of Poland’s sovereignty.