Nieformalny rezonans społeczny tzw. Kongresu Zjednoczeniowego PPR i PPS w grudniu 1948 roku
Informal Social Resonance of the so-called Polish Workers’ Party and Polish Socialist Party Unifying Congress in December 1948

Summary/Abstract: Historiography is not able to give a clear answer to the question concerning the issue of the complete and adequate picture of the public’s opinion on the Unification Congress. The majority of preserved historical sources were subjective and created under the influence of ideology and therefore often not consistent with the actual situation. As a result of it, private journals and letters shall constitute the most accurate source of knowledge of the above-said issue. All we can do is try and indicate certain tendencies of behaviour or else some partial attitudes and opinions. In fact, we can differentiate three groups of opinions: Persons who are satisfied with the consolidation of the Polish Workers’ Party (PPR) and the Polish Socialist Party (PPS), the majority of persons discontented with this and inconsiderable number of persons not interested in this subject matter. People’s interest in the congress resulted not in accepting the activities undertaken by the authorities and supporting the political system, but actually in fear of the family as well as personal future. There was a common depression. People were frequently afraid of making any opinions therefore they chose to talk only when accompanied by the closed family and reliable persons. Any resistance took rather a symbolic form. People complained about the splendour of decorations within cities, as well as, about the lack of emblems and national colours. It was widely believed, that the congress was the final proof of the communisation of Poland and its subordination towards the Soviet Union. Any incidents of putting anticommunist inscriptions on walls or tearing off communist posters were very rare. Within rural environment people were afraid of collectivisation and the Catholics expected that the churches would be closed. The majority of people expected deterioration of working and living conditions. Some anticipations concerning the future were rather fantastical and based only on unverified rumours. The possible ways for people to escape the present situation included irony, faith, as well as, wishful thinking.

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