Elbląg after October 1956. Selected problems related to the political life in the city between 1957 and 1958

The article deals with some selected problems related to the political life in the city between 1957 and 1958, with specific focus on the activities by the security service. These were extremely interesting years right after the political changes of 1956. This was the end of the Stalinist era and a significant make-over in the contemporary political, economic and cultural policies. Massive terror was no longer in place and other repression measures stopped while most of those imprisoned under Stalin were freed. Those who had earlier remained in hiding also felt a little safer. The new period however did not mean the new government rejected all the typically Stalinist methods which came under severe criticism during October 1956. The ruling party (United Polish Workers’ Party) kept on extending their network of secret agents who put the citizens under strict surveillance. The article presents concrete examples of their activities during the parliamentary elections in 1957 during which citizens of clearly critical opinions towards the government were particularly active. The security service paid utmost attention to the election campaign intruding whenever possible and supporting the party candidates. Also during the elections to the national councils in February 1958 the secret police got actively involved. The main objective proved to be the strengthening of the ruling party (United Polish Workers’ Party) and weakening of the Democratic Association in Elbląg. Also, the Catholic PAX Association was subject to this active police work. Between 1952 and 1959 major Józef Kuriata was in charge of the security service in Elbląg.

Religious beliefs constituted an interesting scope of the secret police activities. Although the official approach of the government was more relaxed, the police continued their disinformation campaign, both towards the church itself and its most active members. Even though religion classed were reinstituted in schools the authorities began to make them more problematic already during the 1957/1958 school year. Similar difficulties were created when it came to the organisation of religious events, e.g. processions. The authorities tried to hamper all kinds of church activities and rebuilding of religious sites not only towards the Catholic church but also other religions. Also, social associations like the Elbląg Scouts were subject to surveillance by the security service and resentment by the authorities. Some scouts wanted to revive the old traditions and ties with the church, which caused vehement counter-action from the communist government. Wit Kamiński, famous scout activist in Elbląg, came under attack.

Factories were of particular interest for the security service actions both in the Stalinist era and afterwards. The authorities tried to get hold of information on employees speaking critically of their policies. The police harassed such personnel and took anti-strike measures. Between 1957 and 1958 production plants in the town witnessed severe unrest and even strikes, like the one in the Great Proletariat furniture factory. These were caused mainly by economic reasons and the crews became increasingly irritated with the obvious unprofessionalism in the management of national economy. The so-called Workers Councils bothered the government as well. Between 1957 and 1958 migration changes began to exercise their impact on the political situation. Poles from the Soviet Union and the West came to Elbląg, and the indigenous  citizens left for Germany. In addition, tourists started coming into the town as well. The repatriates from the East and their stories of the misfortunes they had experienced from the hands of the Soviets contributed to deeper anti-Soviet resentment. The indigenous Germans were initially prevented from leaving as the government considered their departure the failure of the national policies implemented since after the war. Tourists in turn, created fears of espionage and greater risk of being infiltrated by the enemy’s ideology. The security service also scrutinised foreign correspondence. All these activities, both the authorities and the secret police indicated that the Iron Curtain remained in place although some if it had been left ajar. People who were involved in the independence fraction of the underground movement during World War II continued to be under the close watch, especially colonel Bolesław Nieczuja-Ostrowski (released from prison in 1956) and Bronisław Żeglin, former commander of Tarnopol Inspectorate of the Home Army and later the district commander of Freedom and Independence.

Undoubtedly, between 1957 and 1958 the community of Elbląg expected deepening of the political and economic changes initiated in 1956. The authorities, quite contrary, did not wish to weaken the position of the communist party. In effect, the level of popular dissatisfaction remained high and criticisms towards the government was evident. The security service was used extensively to infiltrate the society. The surveillance of the church and veterans of the independence fractions constituted a significant proportion of the infiltration. The end of the Stalinist era and the rejection of mass repression did not stop the government from collecting information and applying disinformation towards people they considered enemies of the People’s Republic.

In the light of the sources generated by the security service in Elbląg one can be quite sure that these two years of 1957 and 1958 witnessed two processes. On the one hand the October changes did not alter the authorities and the ruling party remained in power leaving secret police influential too. But the society changed significantly and people did not fear the authorities as they used to. On the other hand, the security service, although somewhat weaker, continued extensive measures in attempt to keep their powers. Some of these measures were effective but the secret police could not prevent a number of incidents showing independent spirits of the society and involving criticism of the government. The authorities could not stop church or veteran activities either. Without any doubt, October 1956 caused important changes in the social and political life of the town

M. Golon