The Polish Solidarity Movement

The Polish Solidarity Movement began in 1980 as a wide-scale trade union and social movement advocating for workers' rights, political reform, and greater freedoms under Communist rule. It was led by Lech Wałęsa and quickly gained massive support across Poland, challenging the authoritarian government. Solidarity's peaceful protests and demands for democratic change contributed to increased political pressure, inspiring broader resistance to Communist control in Eastern Europe. Although it was temporarily suppressed in 1981, the movement's persistence helped pave the way for the eventual end of Communist rule in Poland and contributed to the broader collapse of Eastern European communism in the late 1980s.