Poznań 1956: a revolt that shook the system

The strike started by workers at Poznań’s largest factory, the Joseph Stalin Metal Works, spread to the entire city, and became an anti-communist revolt. For the Stalinist regime, this was an earthquake. by Paweł Sasanka   At 6 am on 28 June 1956, when the workers of the W-3 division came to work, none of…


Zbigniew Herbert: The Poet of Burning Verses

He was one of the most important Polish poets and writers of the 20th century, with his works translated into dozens of languages. His nonconformist stance during the totalitarian regime in the Polish People’s Republic became a point of reference for independent circles. Despite his outstanding artistic achievements and international recognition, he remained very private….


Stefan Wyszyński: Interrex in handcuffs

When it comes to the relationship between the Bolsheviks and monarchs, the arrest and subsequent murder of Tsar Nicholas II and his family quickly come to mind. However, in other communist-occupied countries, such as Bulgaria and Romania, monarchs were allowed to abdicate and secretly go abroad. What was it like in Poland? by Wojciech Stanisławski…