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Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Lech Walesa Biography and Timeline
Follow Lech Walesa through 75 dated historical records for Poland.
Lech Walesa, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
75Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1969–1988Years on this page
1969
1978
Solidarity
Foundation of illegal TU of shipyard workers
1980
Gdansk Agreement
Workers have the right to strike & organise independent unions
Solidarnosc
Workers have the right to strike & organise independent unions
Civil Rights
Led by electrician Lech Walesa, the workers take control of the shipyard and demand labor reform and greater civil rights including the freedom of expression and religion, and the release of political prisoners
Solidarnosc
16,000 strike for political freedom & lower food prices
Solidarnosc
Led by electrician Lech Walesa, the workers take control of the shipyard and demand labor reform and greater civil rights including the freedom of expression and religion, and the release of political prisoners
Solidarnosc
Solidarnosc, the independent trade union that emerged from the Lenin Shipyard strike, becomes a labor movement representing workers led by chairman Walesa
Strike
16,000 strike for political freedom & lower food prices
Strike
Led by electrician Lech Walesa, the workers take control of the shipyard and demand labor reform and greater civil rights including the freedom of expression and religion, and the release of political prisoners
Strike
Solidarnosc, the independent trade union that emerged from the Lenin Shipyard strike, becomes a labor movement representing workers led by chairman Walesa
Strike
The Communist Government authorizes the increase in food prices for the summer of 1980, a revival of labor disturbances erupts throughout Poland, workers in the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk go on strike
Lenin Shipyards
Solidarity was founded at the Lenin Shipyards, where Lech Walesa and others formed a broad anti-communist social movement ranging from people associated with the Catholic Church to members of the anti-communist Left
Solidarity
Solidarity was founded at the Lenin Shipyards, where Lech Walesa and others formed a broad anti-communist social movement ranging from people associated with the Catholic Church to members of the anti-communist Left
Congress of Solidarity
Solidaritys first national congress elect Lech Walesa as a president and adopts a republican program, the "Self-governing Republic"
Solidarity
Solidaritys first national congress elect Lech Walesa as a president and adopts a republican program, the "Self-governing Republic". Solidarity is organized as an industrial union, according to the One Big Union principle, along the lines of the Industrial Workers of the World and the Spanish Confederacion Nacional del Trabajo (workers in every trade was organized by region)
Solidarity
An independent & democratic trade union by the end of the year has over 10,000 members
1981
Demonstrations
Solidarity agree to a 3 month moratorium on strikes
Meeting with Lech Walesa at the Vatican
John Paul II meets Lech Walesa at the Vatican
Reform of Labour Law
Jaruzelski makes concessions to Solidarity including the right to strike
Strike
Solidarity holds a 4 hour national strike
Chairman
Appointed Chairman of Solidarity
Congress of Solidarity
Solidaritys 1st national congress
Martial Law
The Government attempts to destroy the union with the martial law of 1981 and several years of repression, but in the end it had to start negotiating with the union. Jaruzelski declares martial law
Arrest of Lech Walesa
Walesa is arrested by Jaruzelski, who fears Polish invasion
Solidarity
Solidarity goes underground. Jaruzelski bans Solidarity
Solidarity
Solidarity goes underground. Jaruzelski bans Solidarity. The Government attempts to destroy the union with the martial law of 1981 and several years of repression, but in the end it had to start negotiating with the union. Membership of Solidarity rises to 9 million
1982
Arrest of Lech Walesa
Walesa is released from prison
Martial Law
Martial Law is suspended
1983
Arrest of Lech Walesa
Walesa returns to work at the Lenin Shipyard
Demonstrations
Police break up the May Day demonstrations across Poland
May Day
Police break up the May Day demonstrations across Poland
Nobel Prize
The press criticises Walesas Nobel prize. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for campaigning for human rights
Politics
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for campaigning for human rights
1987
Solidarity
Outlawed Solidarity leadership forms the Citizens Committee. Negotiates with the Governments Central Committee
1988
Legislation
Solidarity is legalized
Solidarity
Solidarity is legalized
Arrest of Political prisoners
Political prisoners are released
Solidarity
Solidarity is legalized. Political prisoners are released
Strike
Solidarity strikes lead to negotiation with the Government
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.