1955 in the second half of the year, about 75% of the workers' wages fell due to the change of the wage system by the Polish government. At the same time, the government levied excessive bonus income tax on advanced workers, which was later corrected, but it was delayed to return it.
On June 8th, 1956, Cegerski Locomotive and Rolling Stock Factory in Poznan16,000 workers demanded a salary increase and tax reduction for the first time. The workers of the locomotive and rolling stock factory held a general meeting and decided to send 30 representatives to Warsaw to present their opinions to the Ministry of Machinery Industry. But two weeks later, negotiations between workers and factories failed. The factory delayed the time on the grounds that there was no authorization. To this end, the workers decided to start a strike, and employees of the railway garage and the city transportation company supported the strike.
The strike coincided with the opening of the 25th Poznan International Expo. Therefore, Klosiewicz, chairman of the Central Committee of the trade union, rushed to Poznan, but ignored the demands of the strikers, further worsening the workers' mood.
1on June 25th, 956, the locomotive and rolling stock factory sent workers and factory representatives to Warsaw to negotiate with Faidel, Minister of Machinery Industry, and Klosjevich, Chairman of the Trade Union.
At the negotiating table, the minister accepted the workers' demands and promised to continue the negotiations in Poznan. However, after Feider arrived in Poznan, he broke his word immediately. He said to the workers in the following commanding tone: "The situation is not so bad, let's go to work quickly!" " The government wants to solve this problem after the World Expo. The workers in the railway garage went on strike again, and the representatives of the factory decided to organize a general strike and demonstrate in the streets the next day.
At 6: 30am on June 28th, 1956, about 80% employees of Segsky Locomotive & Rolling Stock Factory began to take to the streets, marching from dzerzhinsky Street to the center of Poznan. The marchers held high the slogan of "bread and freedom" and shouted slogans such as "Russians go home", "Release prisoners" and "Down with the secret police". Along the way, more people and railway garage workers joined the parade.
When the parade arrived at Mitzkiewicz Square (Stalin Square) and reached the provincial party committee and the municipal government building, about 654.38+ten thousand people gathered. The representatives sent by the parade met with Frackowiak, chairman of the Municipal People's Congress, but did not meet stasiak, first secretary of the provincial party committee. The workers generally demanded that Prime Minister Cyrankiewicz come to Poznan.
The stalemate between the two sides led to rumors in the parade. The news that the workers' representatives were arrested circulated in the parade. Some demonstrators shouted slogans and flocked to Mwinska Street Prison to occupy it. The marchers disarmed the prison guards, confiscated weapons and released 257 prisoners.
The crowd flocked to the provincial public security department. The authorities used high-pressure hoses to try to disperse the demonstrators, who attacked the provincial public security bureau with stones. Then gunfire rang out, and the crowd began to retreat. Some people were injured, some people died and some people built roadblocks. At this time, armed demonstrators came from Mwinska, and they shot back.
The crowd began to attack the provincial public security department, and the two sides confronted each other and shot at each other. Armored Military Academy personnel carriers and several tanks entered the scene. As the soldiers carried out the order prohibiting the use of weapons, they were quickly disarmed by the demonstrators, and the soldiers lived in peace with the masses. An hour later, the troops of the 10 th Internal Security Regiment rushed to the scene with the order to shoot.
When the news of Poznan workers marching in the streets reached Warsaw, the Politburo of Poland held a meeting to study and decided to send troops to suppress it. Prime Minister Cyrankiewicz, Secretary of the Central Committee Gierek and General Grokhov Popovavsky flew to Poznan. Poland's 10 armored division, 19 armored division, 4 th infantry division and 5 th infantry division, about 10300 troops and Polish national security forces were ordered to enter Poznan. The troops were equipped with tanks, armored vehicles and field guns. The gunfire lasted all night until the morning.
The army withdrew from the city. Poznan restored order. According to official statistics, the Poznan incident killed 74 people (including 8 policemen), injured 800 people, arrested 658 people, and caused direct material losses of 35 billion PLN.