NIEPOKORNA NOWA HUTA - Manifestacje i walki uliczne w latach 1982-1983
UNYELDING NOWA HUTA - Manifestations and street fights in years 1982-1983

Summary/Abstract: The fight for the restoration of legal activity of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarity” and a democratisation of life in the People’s Republic of Poland was based on the passive resistance method, without turning to violence, in accordance to the teachings of the Pope John Paul II. One of such forms of bloodless resistance was peaceful street manifestations. The manifestations were, however, met with brutal pacifi cation by the Militia and ZOMO, which especially in case of the first manifestations in Krakow, taking place on the Market Square, after the Holly Masses in St. Mary’s Church, was resulting in raids in the narrow streets surrounding the Market Square and mass beatings of the participants. The Steelworkers’ March, organised on the 30th of April 1982 by the “Solidarity” Restoration Committee, however, was a success: it started at the main gate of Vladimir Lenin Steelworks and proceeded towards the Central Square. This march did not cause any ZOMO intervention, and was attended by tens of thousands of people. The success of that manifestation and the characteristic layout of Nowa Huta, with its broad streets and alleys, densely populated, surrounded by a high number of building estates, added to moving street manifestation to this youngest district of Krakow. The centre of such manifestation was the Church of The Mother of God Queen of Poland, also called, due to the characteristic shape of its roof, “The Arc of Lord”. Manifestations in Nowa Huta, in spite of their peaceful character, did not usually end in peace, as the participants, faced with brutal attempts of their pacifi cation by the Militia and ZOMO, were often attempting resistance and fought with the armed prevention forces. The specific character of Nowa Huta was giving protesters a chance and usually was prolonging the fights in the district to late nigh hours, forcing the Communist government to look for reinforcement troops from around the country. The fights were often bloody and led to casualties. During the demonstration on the 13th of October 1982, a 20 year old steelworker Bogdan Włosik had been shot by an SB officer. This murder caused the fights to be prolonged for a few days. Over half a year later, on the 1st of May 1983, another inhabitant of Nowa Hura, Ryszard Smagur, was killed by an unknown Militia officer. The visit of the Pope John Paul II in Poland and the appeal of the underground management of “Solidarity” cooled down the atmosphere for a couple of months, but even the suspension of the State of War on the 22nd of July 1983, with the legal preservation of its rigours, did not stop further street protests.

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