Lech Wałęsa is the legendary leader of the “Solidarity” movement and the author of its victory in 1989 over the communist regime in Poland. His life in inseparably connected with the Polish history and Poland’s way to freedom.

Lech Wałęsa was born on 29th October 1943. First mention about his activity in the anti-communist opposition originates from 1968 when Wałęsa, then a young electrician in the Gdansk shipyard, tried to persuade his colleagues not to take part in the mass meetings organized by the Polish government to condemn student’s strikes during the March 1968 events. Since then he became actively engaged in public affairs, taking part in the work of the Strike Committee in December 1970. He was even offered leadership in the Committee.

After the tragic events and the death of many protesters, shot by the police forces suppressing the strikes in December 1970, Wałęsa, realising that he cannot allow this situation to repeat itself, engaged himself in the activity of the Free Trade Unions. He was responsible for organising workers, distributing oppositional leaflets and, together with other activists, educating labourers on their rights.