Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03

Edward Gierek Biography and Timeline

Follow Edward Gierek through 19 dated historical records for Poland.

Edward Gierek, historical timeline

A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.

19Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1913–2001Years on this page

1913

Birth of Edward Gierek

Porabka · Politics / PUWP

Birth of Edward Gierek

1931

Communist Party

Member Communist Party · Politics / PUWP

Appointed Member of French Communist Party

Deportation

Member Communist Party · Politics / PUWP

Deported from France for organizing a strike

1956

Politburo

Member of Politburo · Politics / PUWP

Appointed Member of Politburo

1957

First Secretary

First Secretary · Katowice · Politics / PUWP

Appointed First Secretary of the Katowice City Party

Role range: 1957-1970

Election

Member Communist Party · Politics / PUWP

Elected to the Polish Parliament

1970

Economy of Poland

First Secretary · Politics / PUWP

With the aid of foreign loans promises to rejuvenate Polish industry

Role range: 1970-1980

First Secretary

First Secretary · Politics / PUWP

Appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party

Role range: 1970-1980

1971

Economy of Poland

First Secretary · Politics / PUWP

Promises lower food prices & higher wages

Role range: 1970-1980

1976

Strike

First Secretary · Politics / PUWP

Widespread strikes over price increases & broken promises

Role range: 1970-1980

1980

Gdansk Agreement

First Secretary · Gdansk · Politics / PUWP

The Government is forced to negotiate the Gdansk Agreement

Role range: 1970-1980

Reform of Political System

First Secretary · Gdansk · Politics / PUWP

The Government is forced to negotiate the Gdansk Agreement

Role range: 1970-1980

Strike

First Secretary · Gdansk · Politics / PUWP

The Government is forced to negotiate the Gdansk Agreement

Role range: 1970-1980

Legislation

First Secretary · Government / Government of Poland

Forced to grant legal status to Solidarity

Role range: 1970-1980

Solidarity

First Secretary · Government / Government of Poland

Forced to grant legal status to Solidarity

Role range: 1970-1980

Dismissal

First Secretary · Politics / PUWP

Dismissed & replaced by Kania

Role range: 1970-1980

Economy of Poland

First Secretary · Politics / PUWP

Price rises, food shortages & debt force Poland to reform the economy

Role range: 1970-1980

Solidarity

First Secretary · Politics / PUWP

Forced to grant legal status to Solidarity

Role range: 1970-1980

2001

Death of Edward Gierek

Politics / PUWP

Death of Edward Gierek

Records, sources and methodology

These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.