Powstanie poznańskie 1956 r. i jego następstwa

Poland, destroyed by war and occupation, was in the USSR area of influence due to the great superpowers’ decision. As a result of the Cold War between the Eastern Block and the Western world of democracy, military needs grew on the both sides of the Iron Curtain. Therefore, the Eastern Block developed a programme of massive industrialisation in the conditions of centrally planned order and distribution system. It was expressed in the Six - Year Plan. The speed of industrialisation, the scope of investments, harmful collectivisation of agriculture, elimination of private property exceeded the economic borders and resulted in negative social effects through the growth of prices, limiting the consumption and finally sudden deterioration of social moods causing, in consequence, the June outbreak in Poznań. In spite of the failure, the Poznań outburst had far-reaching consequences. It undoubtedly played a key role to prepare the Polish October. After suppressing the revolt in Poznan on 28th June, various strikes and protests took place on the whole territory of Wielkopolska. Apart from workers, intelligentsia and veterans having fought for independence who were set free due to the amnesty, also peasants started to express their dissatisfaction. They began to leave the collective farms, protested against the lack of coal and compulsory deliveries, demanded the increase of fertilisers and construction materials, reminded of the local relations démocratisation and condemned the local party or Public Security Office barons. The Uprising in Poznań also influenced the revitalisation of contestation moods in other regions of Poland. In Silesia it multiplied the activity of workers and intelligentsia environments. However, people calling for political-economic demonstrations and strikes were swiftly arrested. The picture of the Poznań Uprising and its consequences in the social-political life was widely reflected on the radio and the press. The Uprising was also discussed in Europe and the world as it was eye-witnessed by thousands of foreign visitors who arrived to attend the International Fair in Poznań. The further polarisation of attitudes took place in Poland. The outrage of the society and the mood of protests put pressure on party organisations, particularly in large plants. This caused reformative attitudes within the governing party, maintaining the political system principles. In conclusion, the Polish People’s Republic after 28th June 1956 became a different country where both the authorities and the governed people realised that the continuation was not possible. Maintaining the status quo would lead to unpredictable consequences which the communists in the USSR and at home feared most. Therefore they adopted the policy of relieving the social tensions with simultaneous maintaining the political system principles.