communism

Fascinating photos documenting life under communism revealed after museum staff use lockdown to sift through 15,000 negatives

Often mundane when taken at face value, no topic was deemed too prosaic for Władysław Orłowski’s lens as this picture of a jolly woman riding through town on a horse-drawn carriage shows. Muzeum Dawnego Kupiectwa/Władysław Orłowski

The photos by prolific photojournalist Władysław Orłowski covering a wide breadth of everyday topics, depicting everything from children playing to fashionable locals quenching their thirst at summertime refreshment stalls, offer a captivating snapshot of everyday life during the PRL period.

US ambassador praises Poland's role in collapse of communism

US Ambassador to Poland Georgette Mosbacher tweeted on Thursday, the anniversary of the first partially free elections in post-war Poland, that the anniversary was a reminder of Poland's historic role in the collapse of communism in Europe.

Iconic 1980’s satire ‘Miś’ premiered 39 years ago today

Depicting the absurdity of life under communism, the film by director Stansiław Bareja premiered on 4th May 1981 and remains a part of popular culture up to today.

Poland’s most outstanding WWII flying ace sentenced to death by Stalinist kangaroo court 70 years ago today

Dubbed ‘Flying Death’ by the Germans, Stanisław Skalski saw action in Poland following the outbreak of war, later becoming the first Pole to command an RAF squadron. Miraculously avoiding death twice, after the war it seemed his luck had run out when he was arrested by the secret police on trumped up charges of espionage, tortured for over a year and then sentenced to be executed. But again, he survived.

Beautiful Christmas cards of yesteryear tell fascinating story of defiance to communist-era censorship

The beautiful cards depict what today we would consider fairly traditional seasonal scenes. But within the context of their times, depicting religious themes and symbols was revolutionary.

Warsaw honours anti-communist dissidents, communism victims

Poland's onetime anti-communist opposition and the communist era's political victims were honoured in a Saturday ceremony at Warsaw's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Letters on the occasion were sent by President Andrzej Duda and PM Mateusz Morawiecki.

Poland receives declassified CIA documents on fall of communism

Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński, during a visit to the United States, was given declassified Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) materials on the fall of communism in Central European countries.

Meet the English-Canadian Historian who fell in love with Poland

Historian Alexandra Richie visited Poland for the first time in 1985. The spirit of open defiance of communism blew her away. Discover the personal story of one of Poland's best English-language historians, author of the book on the Warsaw Uprising, 'Warsaw 1944.'

Mass burial in Warsaw for 22 soldiers murdered by the communists

The funerals follow years of painstaking work, including exhumations and DNA testing to identify the remains.

Poland’s Pocket Rocket: The Incredible Sue Ryder

Sue Ryder was one of Poland’s best friends during the communist period. Her incredibly energy and dynamism was born from a love of giving and a love for Poland - which started off after her work with Polish secret agents during World War 2.

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