Demonstrations
700,000 students & workers go on strike against Party priveleges
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1981 in Poland
Explore 44 historical events and records for Poland in 1981.
Historical records for Poland in 1981
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 44 unique records.
44Unique records
1 of 2Page
20Named events on this page
7Named people on this page
5Places on this page
January
Demonstrations
Visits Brezhnev & gives assurances he will end "anarchy & disarray" in Poland
Demonstrations
Solidarity agree to a 3 month moratorium on strikes
Demonstrations
Dismissed as Prime Minister after the Warsaw demonstrations & replaced by Jaruzelski
Demonstrations
Solidarity agree to a 3 month moratorium on strikes
Dismissal
Dismissed as Prime Minister after the Warsaw demonstrations & replaced by Jaruzelski
Meeting with Lech Walesa at the Vatican
John Paul II meets Lech Walesa at the Vatican
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
Reform of Labour Law
Jaruzelski makes concessions to Solidarity including the right to strike
Solidarity
Solidarity agree to a 3 month moratorium on strikes. Jaruzelski makes concessions to Solidarity including the right to strike
February
Resignation of Josef Pinkowski
Forced to resign after 5 months of unrest
March
Solidarity
Solidarity holds a 4 hour national strike
Strike
Solidarity holds a 4 hour national strike
Strike
Solidarity holds a 4 hour national strike
Solidarity
The militia beats up Solidarity borough council members & provokes a strike
Strike
The militia beats up Solidarity borough council members & provokes a strike
April
Reform of Trade
Polish farmers win the right to form an independent trades union
May
KGB (Committee for State Security)
Mehmet Ali Agca claims he was working for the KGB
Plot
Shot in the Vatican Sqr by a Turk, Mehmet Ali Agca. Mehmet Ali Agca claims he was working for the KGB
Plot
John Paul II visits Mehmet Ali Agca & forgives him
June
Prime Minister of Poland
Appointed Prime Minister of Poland
Constitution of Poland
Proposes a major reconstruction of the Government to tackle economic problems
Dismissal
Dismisses 5 cabinet ministers
July
Dismissal
Dismisses 8 cabinet ministers
September
Chairman
Appointed Chairman of Solidarity
Congress of Solidarity
Solidaritys 1st national congress
December
Arrest of Solidarity leadership
Arrests 3/4 of the Solidarity leadership
Martial Law
The Council of National Salvation comes to power & declares martial law. The borders are sealed, a curfew imposed, broadcasting controlled. Strikes & assemblies are banned
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
Solidarity
Jaruzelski bans Solidarity. Arrests 3/4 of the Solidarity leadership
Strike
Strikes are banned
Arrest of Lech Walesa
Walesa is arrested by Jaruzelski, who fears Polish invasion
Arrest of Lech Walesa
Walesa is arrested by Jaruzelski, who fears Polish invasion
Solidarity
Solidarity goes underground. Jaruzelski bans Solidarity
Other events (month unknown)
Death of Stefan Wyszynski
Death of Stefan Wyszynski
Dismissal
Dismissed after the crisis caused by Solidarity
Economy of Poland
Food is rationed
Editor
Appointed Editor of the ITD
Editor
Appointed Editor of the ITD
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.