Polish People's Republic Facts for Kids

The Polish People's Republic was the official name for Poland from 1952 to 1989. During this time, Poland was a satellite state of the Soviet Union. This meant the Soviet Union had a lot of influence over Poland's government and daily life.

Quick facts for kids

Republic of Poland (1944–52)
Rzeczpospolita Polska

Polish People's Republic (1952–89)

Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa

1944–1989

Flag (1944–80)

Coat of arms

Anthem: Mazurek Dąbrowskiego
Poland Is Not Yet Lost

Location of the People's Republic of Poland in Europe.

Status

Satellite state of the Soviet Union
Member of the Warsaw Pact

Capital

Warsaw
Lublin (1944–45)
Łódź (1945–48)

Common languages

Polish

Government

Marxist–Leninist single-party state (after 1952)

Head of State

• President
1944–1952

Bolesław Bierut (first)

• 1989

Wojciech Jaruzelski (last)

• Chairman of the Council of State
1952–1964

Aleksander Zawadzki (first)

Prime Minister

• 1944–1947

Edward Osóbka-Morawski (first)

• 1989

Tadeusz Mazowiecki (last)

Historical era

World War II, Cold War

• Provisional government

1944

• Workers' Party established

December 16–21, 1948

• Constitution

July 22, 1952

• Democracy restored

December 30 1989

Area

1990

312,685 km² (120,728 sq mi)

Population

• 1946

23930000

• 1990

37970155

Currency

Polish złoty

ISO 3166 code

Preceded by

Succeeded by

	Nazi Germany
	General Government
	Soviet Union

Poland

Poland's History as a People's Republic
Images for kids
See also

Poland's History as a People's Republic

How Poland Got Its Name

The name "People's Republic of Poland" was first suggested in a draft of the country's constitution. This plan was created by Bolesław Bierut, who was a key leader at the time. The idea for the name came from the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. He even made changes to the draft constitution himself.

Challenges with the Catholic Church

The Polish government generally allowed people to have religious beliefs. However, in 1950, a conflict started with the Catholic Church. The Minister for Religious Affairs, Antoni Bida, claimed the Church was against the state. This disagreement continued until the end of the People's Republic of Poland in 1989.

The Poznań Uprising of 1956

In June 1956, workers in the city of Poznań went on strike. This protest ended sadly with the deaths of 75 people. It showed the growing unhappiness among the Polish people.

The Polish October: A Political Shift

On October 19, 1956, leaders of the Soviet Union's Communist Party came to Poland. This visit marked a big political change. It led to a period known as "Odwilż gomułkowska," or the Gomułka Thaw.

Images for kids

Poland's future was a major topic at the Yalta Conference in February 1945. Joseph Stalin, whose Red Army controlled Poland, suggested changes. Poland gained new industrial lands in the west. However, the Red Army also took Polish lands in the east. This meant Poland lost over 20% of its pre-war size. After the war, Stalin put a communist government in charge. This brought Poland into the Soviet sphere of influence.
Border changes of Poland after World War II. The eastern lands (Kresy) were taken by the Soviets. The western lands, called the "Recovered Territories", were given to Poland as war payments. Even though the western lands were more industrial, Poland lost 77,035 square kilometers (29,743 sq mi). It also lost major cities like Lviv and Vilnius.
Queues waiting to enter grocery stores in Warsaw and other Polish cities were common in the late 1980s. The amount of food and goods available changed often. Toilet paper was one of the most difficult items to find.
The new Warszawa Centralna railway station in Warsaw had automatic doors and escalators. It was a very important project during the economic boom of the 1970s. When it was finished in 1975, it was called the most modern station in Europe.
Lech Wałęsa helped start and led the Solidarity movement. This movement played a big part in ending Communism in Poland. He later became the President of Poland.
The 1980 Gdańsk Shipyard Strike and the Summer 1981 Hunger Demonstrations were very important. They helped make the Solidarity movement stronger.
An abandoned State Agricultural Farm in south-eastern Poland. State farms were a type of collective farming created in 1949.
Łódź was Poland's largest city after Warsaw was destroyed during World War II. It was also a big industrial center in Europe. It served as the temporary capital in the 1940s because of its economic importance.
Female textile workers in a state-run factory, Łódź, 1950s.
Supersam Warsaw, the first self-serve shopping center in Poland, 1969.
Pewex, a chain of stores that sold hard-to-find Western goods and items.
Ration cards for sugar, 1977. These cards were used to control how much people could buy.
Bar mleczny, a former milk bar in Gdynia. These canteens offered affordable meals to people throughout Communist Poland.
Trybuna Ludu (People's Tribune) was a government-sponsored newspaper. It was used to spread government messages.
Andrzej Wajda was a very important person in Polish filmmaking. He worked during and after the fall of communism.
This image shows communist censorship in Poland, 1989. Newspapers from Eastern Bloc countries like East Germany, the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia are visible.
The 237-meter Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, built in 1955. When it was finished, it was one of the tallest buildings in Europe.
Smyk Department Store, 1960s.
Polish university students during a lecture, 1964.
One of many schools built in central Warsaw in the 1960s.
Jerzy Popiełuszko was a Roman Catholic priest. He supported those who were against the communist government. He was sadly murdered by the Security Services "SB".
A typical socialist apartment building in Warsaw. It shows the functionalism style. These buildings were built because the population was growing fast.
Konstantin Rokossovsky, shown in a Polish uniform. He was a Marshal of the Soviet Union and Marshal of Poland. He was removed from his position during the Polish October in 1956.
Poland's old and new borders, 1945.