Polish People's Republic

Republic of Poland
(1947–1952)
Rzeczpospolita Polska (Polish)

Polish People's Republic
(1952–1989)
Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa (Polish)
1947–1989
Anthem: Mazurek Dąbrowskiego
"Poland Is Not Yet Lost"
Location of the Polish People's Republic (dark green) in Europe (dark grey)
Location of the Polish People's Republic (dark green)

in Europe (dark grey)

StatusWarsaw Pact and Comecon member
Satellite state of the Soviet Union (de facto)
Capital
and largest city
Warsaw
52°13′N 21°02′E / 52.217°N 21.033°E / 52.217; 21.033
Official languagesPolish
Religion
Roman Catholicism (de facto)
State Atheism (de jure)
Demonym(s)Polish, Pole
Government1947–1989:
Unitary Marxist–Leninist one-party socialist republic
First Secretary and Leader 
• 1947–1956 (first)
Bolesław Bierut
• 1989 (last)
Mieczysław Rakowski
Head of Council 
• 1947–1952 (first)
Bolesław Bierut
• 1985–1989 (last)
Wojciech Jaruzelski
Prime Minister 
• 1944–1947 (first)
E. Osóbka-Morawski
• 1989 (last)
Tadeusz Mazowiecki
LegislatureSejm
Historical eraCold War
19 February 1947
22 July 1952
21 October 1956
13 December 1981
4 June 1989
9 December 1989
Area
• Total
312,685 km2 (120,728 sq mi)
Population
• 1989 estimate
37,970,155
CurrencyZłoty (PLZ)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+2 (CEST)
Driving sideright
Calling code+48
ISO 3166 codePL
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Provisional Government of National Unity
Third Polish Republic

The Polish People's Republic (Polish: Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa, PRL) was a country in Central Europe that existed from 1947 to 1989 as the predecessor of the modern-day Republic of Poland. From 1947 to 1952 it was known as the Republic of Poland (Polish: Rzeczpospolita Polska, RP), and it was also often simply known as Poland (Polish: Polska). With a population of approximately 37.9 million near the end of its existence, it was the second most-populous communist and Eastern Bloc country in Europe.[1] A unitary state with a Marxist–Leninist government, it was also one of the main signatories of the Warsaw Pact alliance. The largest city and official capital since 1947 was Warsaw, followed by the industrial city of Łódź and cultural city of Kraków. The country was bordered by the Baltic Sea to the north, the Soviet Union to the east, Czechoslovakia to the south, and East Germany to the west.

A communist government was established in the country after the Red Army's takeover of Polish territory from German occupation in World War II. Communist control was strengthened through electoral fraud in the 1946 Polish people's referendum and the 1947 Polish parliamentary election. The Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR) became the dominant political faction under a one-party state but the country had more liberal policies than other socialist states due to its strategic location in the Cold War and internal opposition. The state's official name was the "Republic of Poland" (Rzeczpospolita Polska) between 1947 and 1952 in accordance with the temporary Small Constitution of 1947.[2] The name "People's Republic" was introduced and defined by the Constitution of 1952.

Despite the numerous economic hardships, some major achievements were established during this period, including improved living conditions, rapid industrialization, and urbanization. Access to universal health care, abortion and free education were made available, and the population almost doubled between 1947 and 1989. Poland also maintained a large standing army, known as the Polish People's Army. In addition, units of the Soviet Armed Forces were also stationed in Poland as in all other Warsaw Pact countries.[3]

The Ministry of Public Security (UB) and later the Security Service (SB) were the chief intelligence agencies that acted as the secret police. The official police organization, Milicja Obywatelska (MO), along with its ZOMO squads, conducted mass surveillance and violent suppression of protests. The various crimes committed in order to maintain the PZPR in power, especially after the Cold War intensified, included the harsh treatment of protesters, arrest of opposition leaders and in extreme cases, executions,[4] with an estimated 22,000 people killed or disappeared from 1947 to 1989.[5]

The Polish People's Republic was dissolved following the Revolutions of 1989 and the 1990 Polish presidential election, but the post-communist Third Polish Republic retained the 1952 constitution, with amendments, until the introduction of the current constitution on 17 October 1997, abolishing the socialist structure entirely and replacing with a parliamentary system that has remained in place to the present-day.

  1. ^ "What Was the Eastern Bloc?". Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  2. ^ Internetowy System Aktów Prawnych (2013). "Small Constitution of 1947" [Mała Konstytucja z 1947]. Original text at the Sejm website. Kancelaria Sejmu RP. Archived from the original (PDF direct download) on 3 June 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  3. ^ Rao, B. V. (2006), History of Modern Europe Ad 1789-2002: A.D. 1789-2002, Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
  4. ^ "Urząd Bezpieczeństwa Publicznego - Virtual Shtetl". sztetl.org.pl. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  5. ^ Rummel, R. J. (1997). Statistics of democide: genocide and mass murder since 1900. Charlottesville, Virginia: Transaction Publishers.