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A further rise in food prices
Further rises in food prices insight more demonstrations, as what little Poland has is now much harder to acquire. -
Anna Walentynowicz is fired
Anna Walentynowicz was found to have particiated in an illegal trade union, and therefore was fired from her job in the Gdansk shipyard, only five months short of retirement. -
Protests in the Gdansk Shipyard
After an illegal strike in the Gdansk shipyard demanding Anna Walentynowicz's return, the solidarity movement emerges. -
Solidarity emerges
After the Polish government signed an agreement legalising trade unions, many unions combined to form the single Solidarity movement. -
Solidarity is formed
Solidarity, the worker's union, is officially formed. -
Martial Law is declared
Due to further pressure from the Soviets on the Polish government, they finally attempted to break down Solidarity. The new Prime Minister, Wojciech Jaruzelski, imposed martial law to control the party, and continued with years of political oppression following this.
Almost immediately after this, under orders from Jaruzelski, the Solidarity leadership and almost 5,000 members were arrested in the middle of the night, and Solidarity was under threat. -
Radio Solidarity begins broadcasting
Shortly after the leadership of Solidarity had been arrested, many underground organisations were formed. Radio Solidarity also began broadcasting whilst underground, to protests against the new high levels of censorship and campaign for civil rights. -
Political Prisoners are released
Lech Walesa was the first to be released, a key member of the Solidarity movement, and was shortly afterwards awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. More prisoners continue to be released. -
Solidarity's assets are transferred
The government, shortly after Walesa's release, suddenly transferred Solidarity's assets to the pro-government trade union, the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions. -
Martial Law Removed
After nearly two years, martial law was formally removed. -
Food prices are raised further.
Due to the extraordinarily bad economic situation that Poland was facing, the government was forced to raise food prices by 40%, causing more protests. -
Solidarity is legalised and an election campaign begins
Solidarity is legalised by the government, and membership soon rises to 1.5 million, and they soon brought on an election campaign.
Though polls had proved victory to the communists, it soon came as a surprise that Solidarity won almost every seat avaliable. The anti-communists won the election.