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MARCH EVENTS (1968)

The group of the "guerillas" which had existed for a few years in PZPR wanted to take the authority over. However it was not easy because the first secretary of KC PZPR was supported by the USSR. Moreover, he had the influences in party, government and army. In spite of that, it the security forces had been occupied by its opponents, who created "country in country". On June 19th during VI Congress, Gomulka made a speech, which was produced by Moczar. Probably it was a trick - somebody gave him these materials and Gomulka did not notice it. He referred to Arabia-Israel war, pointing at unsuitable attitude to this event on the part of Jews and Polish citizens. Also he claimed that each citizen could have only one homeland and it had to be People's Poland. The speech was very useful in the plans of the group led by Moczar, who wanted to govern Poland, spreading the anti-Semitic propaganda.
 
Scene from "Dziady" produced in The National Theatre in Warsaw by Kazimierz Dejmka.
On January 16th 1968 the political management decided to stop a play called "Dziady" by Adam Mickiewicz in the National Theatre. The drama could be compared to contemporaneity. The view of 19th century students with chains created a patriotic atmosphere among the audience and showed its need to being free. There were a lot of people, particularly students and writers opposed to the governmental decision, which caused a large number of manifestations. On January 30th there was a great demonstration near Mickiewcz's monument. Some people were arrested. The Dziady's case caused many protests. And that was exactly what Moczar's group wanted.

In the meantime the case of arrested students was in progress. On March 4th the Minister of Education suspended two students. That day Gomulka was in Sofia, taking part in a conference of communist parties' leaders.

On March 8th 1968 all students of Warsaw University got together and required the change of decision in case of arrested students. The secret agents and Militia arrived there but eventually they had to withdraw. When students started to disperse, Militia attacked them. Many of them were arrested. That only made the protest spread. Many demonstrations were organized during which people required to set students free and "Dziady" back. Official propaganda announced that the fight is against the Zionism, not Jews. It was not the truth because the reprisals were taken against Jews, whose names had been written in the card-index in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. People were laid off from work. During those events a great many of persecuted (about 8 thousands people) emigrated to the West. The government arranged meetings of workmen teams and condemned students and writers.

In March and April 1968 in Warsaw there were made 164 personal decisions, repealed 80 ministers, vice-ministers, departments' directors, 97 people were dismissed from the communist party.

At the beginning of these events nobody stood up to speak from the party management. On March 19th the first secretary presented his version of March events, announced the necessity of changes in university educational system.

After June events the Gomulka's position and his team became weaker. Then in July 1968 in VII meeting of KC PZPR Gomulka made an attempt to limit the fight with Zionism. In the same time the censorship was re-introduced. There were brought political actions against people, who were accused of causing the coup d'etat in 1968.

In November 1968 during the meeting of PZPR Moczar was chosen as a deputy member of "Political Office" and the secretary of KC but he had to leave the position of minister in the government. However there were still a lot of his adherents there. The economic situation got worse, the border between society and authority became deeper.