Wladyslaw Gomulka (
1905-
1982) was a Polish
communist leader. He was a member of the communist party starting with
1926. In the years
1951-
1954 he was imprisoned and removed from the
Polish United Worker's Party[?] (post-war communists). In 1956 he was rehabilitated and chosen the leader of the party. Initially very popular for his reforms, gradually softened his opposition to Soviet pressures. In the 1960s he supported struggle against the church and some party intellectuals (e.g.
Kolakowski[?]). He supported
Warsaw Pact intervention in
Czechoslovakia (
1968). At that time he was also responsible for persecution of students,
anti-semitic propaganda and tougher
censorship of the media. In
December 1970, bloody clash with shipyard workers forced his resignation. New young dynamic well-spoken and energetic leader,
Edward Gierek took over the party leadership. Gomulka was forced to retire. After his death, in 1982 his name was partly cleared and his constructive contributions recognized.