"The Road to Freedom" on Polish Post stamps

Nine of the most important events in 20th-century Polish history are featured in the special edition of "Road to Freedom" postage stamps. These include the events of June 1956, the Millennium of Poland's Baptism, the 1970 workers' protests on the Coast, and John Paul II's first pilgrimage to his homeland.

The latest series was created by Maciej Jędrysik. The subdued color stamps depict photographs from selected events. The first, dedicated to the events of June 1956 in Poznań, features a photograph of conductors Stanisława Sobańska and Helena Przybyłek marching in the procession, as well as a photograph of a demonstration on Czerwonej Armii Street (now Świętego Marcina Street) in Poznań. The photograph was taken by security officers of the Polish People's Republic during operational activities and is currently held in the collection of the Institute of National Remembrance.

The second stamp features a photograph of the Jasna Góra Monastery and the crowd of believers who gathered in Częstochowa during the Millennium of the Baptism of Poland celebrations in 1966. Next to the photograph is a fragment of the "Act of Entrusting Poland to the Maternal Servitude of Mary, Mother of the Church, for the Freedom of the Church of Christ" and the inscription: TE DEUM LAUDAMUS.

The third stamp commemorates the March 1968 student demonstrations. It features a photograph depicting an attack by the Citizens' Militia (MO) and the Citizens' Militia (ORMO) on a crowd of demonstrators gathering around the University of Warsaw, on both sides of Krakowskie Przedmieście Street. The photograph was taken by Tadeusz Zagoździński. A poster from the National Theatre's performance of Adam Mickiewicz's "Forefathers' Eve" appears in the corner of the photograph.

The 1970 workers' protests on the Coast are another event in the series. They are illustrated by the most dramatic event of those days: the march of Gdynia residents carrying the body of "Janek Wiśniewski." The crowd of demonstrators marching down Czerwonech Kosynierów Street (now Morska Street) was captured by communist security officers during operational operations. Next to the photograph, the stamp's author included a photo of the viaduct at the Gdynia Stocznia SKM station, a confiscated piece of material. It is currently held in the collections of the Institute of National Remembrance.

Another stamp commemorates the workers' strikes of 1976. It features a photograph of demonstrators on Żeromskiego Street and a photograph taken in front of the Provincial Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR) building by Security Service officers to identify the demonstrators. Alongside the photographs from the collection of the Institute of National Remembrance, an excerpt from a newspaper article titled "The Trial in Radom" is published.

Three years after those events, John Paul II made his first pilgrimage to his homeland. During Mass celebrated in Victory Square (now Piłsudski Square) in Warsaw, he uttered the memorable words: "I cry, I, a son of the Polish land, and at the same time I, John Paul II, Pope. I cry from the depths of this Millennium, I cry on the eve of Pentecost, I cry with all of you: Let Your Spirit descend! Let Your Spirit descend and renew the face of the earth. This land!" These words became, among other things, a call to fight communism. The photo of the altar comes from Andrzej Boczoń's collection. Next to it is a fragment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' situation report No. 2, concerning John Paul II's visit to Poland, from the collection of the Institute of National Remembrance.

The seventh stamp features a photograph of a crowd gathering in front of the Gdańsk Shipyard gate in 1980. It was taken by Stanisław Składanowski. Next to the photograph is a list of 21 demands from the striking crews, drawn from the collections of the Historical Archives of the National Commission of NSZZ "Solidarity."

The eighth stamp commemorates the victims of the pacification of the Wujek mine in 1981. Among the miners killed were Józef Czekalski, Krzysztof Giza, Joachim Gnida, Ryszard Gzik, Bogusław Kopczak, Andrzej Pełka, Jan Stawisiński, Zbigniew Wilk, and Zenon Zając. The photo of the pacification was taken by Marek Janicki.

The series concludes with a ninth stamp dedicated to the largest street demonstrations of 1982. It depicts a photograph of a "street barricade" on Kopernika Street, near the intersection with Odrodzenia Street in Lubin, and a crowd of demonstrators in the Market Square (then Wolności Square) and the corner of Odrodzenia Street in Lubin. Both photographs were taken by Krzysztof Raczkowiak. Next to them is a fragment of the Resolution on the Commemoration of the Anniversary of August 31, 1980, from the collections of the Historical Archives of the National Commission of NSZZ "Solidarity."

In addition to the series of stamps as part of the "Road to Freedom" edition, Poczta Polska will issue a commemorative first day of circulation envelope (FDC).

Later this year, the Polish Post Office will issue stamps commemorating the Smolensk disaster, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Saint John Paul II, the beatification of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, the 500th anniversary of the birth of Sigismund II Augustus, the founder of the Polish postal service, and a stamp commemorating this year's Chopin Festival, as well as the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven.

About the stamp:

stamp design author: Maciej Jędrysik
number of stamps: 9
value: PLN 3.30 each
circulation: 135,000 pieces of each
printing technique: offset
stamp format: 43 x 31.25 mm
sales sheet: 9 stamps
paper: fluorescent
date of introduction into circulation: March 8, 2020

All philatelic publications can be purchased at selected post offices and in the online store: www.filatelistyka.poczta-polska.pl .