Gomulka, Wladyslaw (b. 6 Feb. 1905, d. 1 Sept. 1982). First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party (and Polish leader) 1956–70 Born in Krosno (Austrian
Silesia), he became an active
trade unionist and joined the Polish Communist Party on its foundation in 1918. He was member of the party's central committee from 1931. He was gaoled for his party activities (1932–4, 1936–9), and spent World War II working for the Polish underground resistance. In 1943, he became First Secretary of the Polish Workers' Party, and in 1945 was
Bierut's deputy, responsible for the German territories under Polish administration. Unlike Bierut, he advocated the adaptation of
Marxism-Leninism to Polish conditions rather than the blind implementation of
Stalinism. This took him out of favour with Stalin and Bierut in 1948, when he was dismissed, but enhanced his credibility to succeed Bierut once Stalinism was discredited in Moscow. His ‘Polish way’ to
Communism entailed a relatively free agricultural sector, toleration of the independence of the Roman
Catholic Church, and relatively great personal freedom (e.g. foreign travel). While emphasizing Poland's autonomy against the USSR, he was happy to send troops to suppress the
Prague Spring in 1968. In the end, however, the economy remained stifled and inefficient through economic mismanagement and lack of incentive. His increase of the price of foodstuffs in 1970 caused widespread riots, leading to his replacement by
Gierek.
