Polish People's Republic
Polish People's Republic Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa (Polish) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947–1989 | |||||||||
| Anthem: Mazurek Dąbrowskiego "Poland Is Not Yet Lost" | |||||||||
 The Polish People's Republic in 1989 | |||||||||
| Status | Satellite state of the Soviet Union[a] | ||||||||
| Capital and largest city | Warsaw 52°13′N 21°02′E / 52.217°N 21.033°E | ||||||||
| Official languages | Polish | ||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism (de facto) State atheism (de jure) See Religion in Poland | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Pole, Polish | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary Marxist–Leninist de facto one-party socialist republic (1947–90) under a military junta (1981–83) | ||||||||
| First Secretary and Leader | |||||||||
• 1947–1956 (first) | Bolesław Bierut | ||||||||
• 1989–1990 (last) | Mieczysław Rakowski | ||||||||
| Head of Council | |||||||||
• 1947–1952 (first) | Bolesław Bierut | ||||||||
• 1985–1989 (last) | Wojciech Jaruzelski | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1944–1947 (first) | E. Osóbka-Morawski | ||||||||
• 1989 (last) | Tadeusz Mazowiecki | ||||||||
| Legislature | Sejm | ||||||||
| Historical era | Cold War | ||||||||
| 19 February 1947 | |||||||||
• United Workers' Party established | 16–21 December 1948 | ||||||||
| 22 July 1952 | |||||||||
| 21 October 1956 | |||||||||
| 13 December 1981 | |||||||||
| 4 June – 30 December 1989 | |||||||||
| February 1990 | |||||||||
| 9 December 1990 | |||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
• Total | 312,685 km2 (120,728 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1989 estimate | 37,970,155 | ||||||||
| HDI (1989) | 0.910[1] very high | ||||||||
| Currency | Polish złoty (PLZ) | ||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||||||||
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||||||||
| Driving side | right | ||||||||
| Calling code | +48 | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | PL | ||||||||
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Polish People's Republic was an official name of Poland from 1952 until 1989, when it was a Soviet satellite state. It was on the Stalinist model, ruled by the Polish United Workers' Party.
As with most Communist governments, the Polish government tolerated religious beliefs, but in 1950, Minister for Religious Affairs, Antoni Bida accused the Polish Church of hostility to the state. Conflict began and continued right up the collapse of the People's Republic of Poland, and with it communism in Poland, in 1989.
In June 1956, there was a workers strike, which was put down violently. 75 people were killed. On October 19, 1956 arrived leaders of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. There was a political breakthrough and new Communists became the leaders.
Year 1980 was one of heavier years in history of country. A lot of protests led to the creation of "Solidarność" independent labor union, which later led to the fall of communism in Poland in 1989.
