Poland remembers victims of communist-era massacre 50 years on

A Polish history institute has commemorated the victims of a communist-era massacre of workers in the north of the country a half-century ago.

An outdoor exhibition in the northern port city of Gdynia commemorates the December 1970 massacre of Polish workers at the hands of the communist police and army.

Photo: PAP/Adam Warżawa

The state-run Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) on Monday posted an archive video documenting tragic events 50 years ago when Poland’s former communist rulers in December 1970 ordered the army and police to open fire on protesting workers on the country’s Baltic coast.

In December 1970, drastic price rises gave rise to massive, more than weeklong protests in Gdynia as well as Gdańsk and Szczecin in northern Poland, triggering one of the most brutal crackdowns of the communist era.

At least 45 people were killed and more than 1,100 injured after police and soldiers opened fire on protesters, who were also demanding a change of government and freedom of speech.

December 17, 1970, so-called "Black Thursday," marked the worst day of the crackdown.

(gs/pk)

Source: PAP