1 & 3 May leaflets – Collection of materials, reports and leaflets related to the opposition, strikes and repressive measures in the Polish Peoples’ Republic, No. 76/44
Since it is May, as a continuation of our presentation of archival materials from the Collection of materials, reports and leaflets related to the opposition, strikes and repressive measures in the Polish Peoples’ Republic (No. 76) we have chosen leaflets issued to celebrate Labour Day (May 1) and the anniversary of the Constitution of May 3.
The attached leaflets were printed in Gdańsk, Lublin, Łódź and Warsaw by Federation of Fighting Youth (Polish: Federacja Młodzieży Walczącej), Social Resistance Committee (Polish: Komitet Oporu Społecznego), Liberal Democratic Party ”Independence” (Polish: Liberalno-Demokratyczna Partia „Niepodległość”), Solidarity Trade Union (Polish: NSZZ „Solidarność”), Young Poland Movement (Polish: Ruch Młodej Polski), Fighting Solidarity (Polish: Solidarność Walcząca), students from the Three Cities (Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia), Free Trade Unions (Polish: Wolne Związki Zawodowe) in the 1980s.
1 May leaflets usually appeal for boycotting official demonstrations, marches, rallies, ceremonies and similar celebrations. Leaflets commemorating the Constitution of May 3 contain announcements of Holy Masses e.g. in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk, Christ the King Church in Gdynia, and St. Alexander Church at the Three Crosses Square in Warsaw. Others include information on plans to place flowers under the Jan III Sobieski monument in Gdańsk and the Constitution of May 3 monument at the Lithuanian Square in Lublin. The most unconventional is the leaflet from Łódź calling for 15-minute-long general strike on May 13, 1982 (12:00 to 12:15).
Visit us at the in the Archives of the National Commission of the Solidarity Trade Union
If you are interested in the attached documents and in our other archival material please contact us by email: .
/Łukasz Grochowski, the Archives of the National Commission of the Solidarity Trade Union,
Iwona Flis, Stanisław Flis Foundation “Pomerania Archives”/
