Communism from a Family Perspective - Part 2: Personal Collections

A Collection of personal photos given from family and taken on my trip to Gdansk in 2014

Solidarity Rally approx 1979-80	Same Rally

For part 3 a I will be uploading a separate set of photos which will showcase the exhibition that was on at the Sala BHP during my visit. I thought about putting all my photos in one post but as I found incredibly engrossing and very studiously curated I felt the exhibition deserved it's own post.

I will also touch upon the European Centre for Solidarity (ECS) that was completed September 2014 but I didn't visit during that trip. I will be visiting the completed ECS in a few weeks time when I visit family and friends in Gdansk again. I'm very eager to see it as by all accounts it's meant to be an excellent world class museum built into an exemplary and unique architectural structure. This has me so very excited and my part 4 will focus on the inside of the ECS, all it's various exhibits and it's historical archives.

We are back in Gdańsk again. The link this city has through several generations of my family and the world-changing events that have occurred there over the decades and centuries is immutable. I am looking forward to returning to it again for a few weeks to explore and absorb it's vital history. Struggle, survival, always fluctuating between a state of burgeoning and a state of struggle against lethal external forces. This city with it's millenia of civilisation enthralls me and I cannot wait to delve into this profoundly historic, poetic and inspiring city!

Can you tell I am so incredibly excited to delve into the ECS that I expect it will take me at least two visits to explore and enjoy all it has to offer.

My Grandfather: The Shipyard Worker.

Since I am visiting Gdańsk in a few days I will be getting dates, places and people further illuminated to me and I will come back to edit this post to be concise and maintain accurate . My Grandfather has been deceased for over 35 years now, but my Grandmother still lives, aged 92, and I will endeavor to find out further facts from her.

Envelope Front	Inner Cover Seal

My paternal grandfather had retired after many decades of working at the Gdansk Shipyards in 1982. He was given this hand made card which is decorated on the front of the envelope, front of the card and inner page of card with imprinted copper panels. I was given this to me by my father when I was in Poland in 2014 and it’s an object I cherish immensely. My grandfather died a few years before I was born due to respiratory issues related to his work as a ship hull welder at Stocznia Gdansk (Gdansk Shipyards) which were called the Lenin Shipyards up until the fall of Communism and the election of the Solidarity party in late 1980’s.

Front of Card	Inside of Card

I will try my best to translate the text inside the card.

On the occaision of your retirement, for our friend (grandfather).
Your friends Wishing you lots of health
as well as the Faculty Commission of Solidarity

On the opposite page is a poem by Polish Poet Czesław Miłosz

You who wronged a simple man
Bursting into laughter at the crime,
Do not feel safe. The poet remembers.
You can kill one, but another is born.
The words are written down, the deed, the date.