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The Birth of Solidarity in Poland

Bridget Kendall on the strike in Gdansk that began the Solidarity movement in Poland.

Bridget Kendall explores the major turning points in the later decades of the Cold War.

In August 1980 an out of work shipyard worker from Gdansk turned a local strike into a nationwide campaign. Lech Walesa, as leader of the strike in Gdansk, has earned his place in the history books. It began with the sacking of a crane driver called Anna Walentynowicz and would end up toppling Communism in Poland. But the very first day of the strike was more haphazard.

With Jerzy Borowczak, Bogdan Borousewicz and Jacqueline Hayden.

Readings by Philip Fox and John Norton.

Producer: Martin Williams.

10 days left to listen

15 minutes

Broadcast

  • Fri 14 Jul 2017 13:45

Podcast