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Poland commemorates the 1956 anti-communist protests' 69th anniversary

29.06.2025 11:38
Saturday marked the 69th breakout anniversary of the first anti-communist uprising in the Polish People's Republic, which started in western city of Poznań on June 28, 1956. On the occasion, in numerous ceremonies today's city residents paid tribute to the heroes of the so-called 'Poznań June' - and the commemorations are set to continue throughout the weekend and further.
People gathered at the Poznań June 1956 Saturdays main commemoration event.
People gathered at the 'Poznań June 1956' Saturday's main commemoration event.PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

Flowers were laid, among others, at the gate of the Rail Vehicle Factory - the former Stalin's Plant - where on June 28, 1956 began the strike that soon turned into a fully fledged - and bloodily suppressed - uprising.

Tribute was also paid to the employees of Poznań's Municipal Transport Company during a ceremony at the former depot on Gajowa Street. The city's Deputy Mayor, Mariusz Wiśniewski, noted that the tram drivers' participation shows the universal nature of the 1956 protests.

The ceremonies were also held at the Three Tram Women's Square, which commemorates Maria Kapturska, Helena Przybyłek and Stanisława Sobańska - female heroines of the protests, who endured brutal beatings and torture by the communist security apparatus following their apprehension, which left all three permanently disabled.

About 10,000 soldiers and 400 tanks were sent by the communist authorities to quench the 'Poznań June 1956' uprising. As per Poland's National Remembrance Institute findings - 58 people died in resulting shootouts, many more were injured, and hundreds of protesters suffered beatings and torture when imprisoned, as well as further reppressions.

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Source: PAP, IAR