Where have you been?

The shipyards were important well before the founding of Solidarność. They had been the setting for peaceful protests against various Communist policies for over ten years before the Solidarity movement. In 1970, for example, there was a protest that was harshly put down by the Communist authorities which resulted in the death of at least 42 people and many, many injuries.



A monument was erected in 1980 to the fallen shipyard workers which was the first monument to Communist victims in a Communist country. Above top you can see three huge crosses for the victims. Above you can see list of some of the fallen. Please notice the age of the victims (listed on the right - "Lat32" for example) range from fifteen to sixty one.


There are markers in several languages explaining whats what about the monument. And of course there is something dedicated to the Solidarity movement (below) because of the prominent role they played in the whole saga.


It is interesting to note that Reagan took office in 1981, after the monument was constructed. It has been humbling for me to live in Europe (especially Poland) for the last four years and learn if not the "true history" at least another, fuller version of it. I don't think my mother or nephew fully understood why we visited the shipyards, in fact I think they thought it was odd considering the other places we visited. Perhaps upon reflection they will begin to grasp the pivotal role Poland has played in shaping modern Europe and appreciate the things they saw all the more.