Preparations to the construction
The postulate of erecting a monument of June 1956 victims was formulated on October 10th 1980 at a meeting of the Inter-company Founding Committee of the Wielkopolska Independent Self-governing Trade Union Solidarity.
The pace of works on the monument was truly impressive - the 25th anniversary of the events was coming soon, and the construction initiators realized that the newly regained freedom was limited in scope. In order to activate the generosity of the society and to arouse the remembrance of June, public fund raising, as well as culture and sports events were organised.
The competition for constructing the monument was announced on November 22nd 1980, and in December that year a competition was organised as regards the wording of the caption to be placed on the monument and 4 commemorative plaques, which were to be attached in front of the gates of the Cegielski factories and other factories and plants, whose workers joined the protest.
After a number of discussions, on February 6th 1981, a design of Adam Graczyk, sculpturer and Włodzimierz Wojciechowski, architect, with a "Unity" sign was selected for execution."two marching crosses with one joint arm, with chains on it, and on their side an eagle watching them".
Another challenge was to find an appropriate location for the monument and obtain a consent from the authorities to erect it. Eventually, a decision was taken that the monument should be erected at Mickiewicz Square (former Stalin Square) - in the place where a crowd of thousands of protesters demanded their rights and freedom. The then authorities strived not to allow the monument on Mickiewicz Square. The final administrative decision was issued dated...June 26th 1981!
Construction
The monument execution was possible owing to great involvement of staff from many plants, and the main workload was at Cegielski factories. Other companies from Poznań, Wielkopolska and Poland participated in the execution works as well. Among problems experienced under way was, to start with, obtaining the materials, especially proper quality steel needed to construct the main monument elements.
The exceptional involvement of hundreds of people ended in success: on May 23rd the erection act was built in the foundation base, and on June 19th monument constituents were festively transported from HCP to Mickiewicz Square. The main elements of the monument were transported to the former Stalin Square accompanied by crowds of residents of Poznań along the similar route, which workers of the Cegielski factories took in 1956 to demand their dignity and rights.
From the very beginning the construction works were the source of great interest for the residents of Poznań. Journalists, photo reporters and ordinary residents all visited the construction site. The assembling works were completed on June 26th. The Monument of Poznań June 1956 was constructed in the record time of 41 days.
First official celebrations
The preparations for the first official celebrations of June 1956 anniversary proceeded along parallel lines with the monument construction. All circles and persons involved in the anniversary strived to make the most of the "carnival of freedom", which took place in the wake of August 1980, in order to bring back the remembrance of June 1956 and spread the knowledge of these events as much as possible. A large number of initiatives made at that time resulted in a unique quick course on modern history.
The preparations to the celebrations also included inscribing the remembrance of June into the city topography. By virtue of a decision of the city authorities, upon motion of NSZZ Solidarity of the Cegielski factories, the names of the following streets were changed: former F. Dzierżyńskiego street in Wilda - the route of the memorable march of Cegielski workers - was renamed to 28 Czerwca 1956, and a part of Mylna street in Jeżyce was renamed after Romek Strzałkowski - the boy killed on June 28th 1956.
Another lasting sign of remembrance are commemorative plaques unveiled in 1981 in places connected with the bloody events.
The unveiling ceremony of the monument took place on the 25th anniversary of the events on Mickiewicz Square and gathered about 200,000 people. The monument was unveiled jointly by the informal June leader Stanisław Matyja and Anna Strzałkowska - mother of the boy killed on Poznań Black Thursday.
Sign of remembrance and protest
Since its inauguration, the monument has gone on to become a very powerful symbol of remembrance about the painful events of the past. It not only recalled all the subsequent patriotic and social riots of Poles in the years 1956, 1968, 1970, 1976 and 1980, but also constituted a call to look after the freedom, first demanded by the Poznań workers.
The introduction of martial law on December 13th 1981 emphasised the significance of Poznań Crosses as a symbol of the struggle for freedom. For the residents of Poznań, Mickiewicz Square and the very Monument of Poznań June 1956 have become the main place of demonstrating their attachment to independence and struggle for their rights. With each subsequent anniversary of June or other events related to the struggle for freedom, the monument was attended with special "care" by the police force and secret agents. After the army pacified the Silesian mine "Wujek" and killed a few miners, somebody painted the date of 1981 on the cross pillar, and the authorities were fast to cover it with white paint - after 10 years, during monument renovation works, this date was placed there for good...
On days of important anniversaries and festive occasions the space of freedom defined by the monument would attract and gather all those who demanded dignity, freedom and independence, and above all - those who remembered...
Since we regained full independence in 1989, there have been no obstacles preventing us from commemorating all anniversaries of June 1956 in a proper manner. Poznań Crosses, which have settled in the city landscape for good, remind further generations of Poznań residents that freedom is not merely a gift - it is a task...