About Gdansk Solidarity School Tour

This tour is able to introduce you rich history of Gdansk - city which is indissoluble connected with Freedom. Gdansk was changing Polish, Prussian and later also German hands, but the important times were a period between 1807-1814 when Gdansk was independent Free City. When Poland get back independence after partition, from 1920 to 1939 in was another time when Gdansk has been considered as Free City.

Unfortunately Gdansk is also a place, where we loose our freedom once again. In 1939 after 21 years from retrieval independence exactly in this coastal city World War II has began. We were under German jurisdiction for 6 years and later we came into Soviet hands to stay there from 1945 to 1990, when we at least get back our freedom for good. The greatest breakthrough during communism era were an events in Gdansk Shipyard in August 1980.

• We are a licensed tour operator
• 9 years of experience and over 80 000 satisfied clients
• References from many groups for which we have organized: STUDY TOURS, CONFERENCES & INCENTIVE TRIPS
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• We are focused on Poland Individual & Group Trips so we are the one organizing the trip and responsible for its quality

	12 +	17 +	20 +	25 +	30 +	40 +	50 +
City centre accommodation
Hotel with breakfast
Airport transfers
Solidarity Tour
24 assistance
Private guided tour
Private transportation
Our guide's assistance on the day of your tour
Krakow Sightseeing Walk after your main town
1 FREE place for a teacher (triple room)
Krakow Sightseeing Walk at any time + Jewish district
A delicious packed lunch for the group during or after the main tour

Free City Part - Main City with City Hall
History of Gdansk is much longer than the times of Free City. First information about settlement in this area is from 997. The biggest time of Gdansk is in medieval, when almost all important monuments of Main City has been erected. In the area of Long Market we can find such places like Artus Court, Royal Chapel and the most important for us, amazing City Hall.

City Hall it’s a place with a key meaning for Gdansk Free City. It’s a place where proclamation of Free City has been signed in 1807. Hall is a very important monument, amazing example of architecture from the time between Gothic and Renaissance. It’s worth to pay attention on one of a kind carrilon - historical musical instrument made with several bells which is placed in the City Hall’s tower.

World War II Part - Westerplatte and Polish Post Office
Westerplatte is considered for a place, where World War II has began. In 1st September 1939 about 4.45 am German battleship Schleswig-Holstein for a signal shot from the lighthouse in Gdansk district New Port, started a bombardment of Military Repository in Westerplatte. This moment is a contractual beginning of the biggest military conflict in history.

In Westerplatte we can admire original World War II tank T-34, probably the best tank of that period. The main point here is giant monument of Coast’s Defenders, which is 25 meters high and it brings to mind bayonet thrust into the ground. It commemorates those who died during defending Westerplatte.

Another important place connected with the beginning of World War II in Gdansk is a Seat of Polish Post in Gdansk. German attack on the post office started in exactly same time as a bombardment of Westerplatte. Defending of post office is one of the most glorious moments in Polish World War II history. 56 post workers was repulsing thrice bigger enemy forces for about six hours. Except of majority, Germans had also better weapon, including panzer vehicles and flame-throwers, when Poles has only a several riffles, short pistols and few grenades.

Nowadays in the historical post office there’s a Polish Post Museum. We can admire there exhibition about glorious events of World War II beginning as also exhibits connected with the history of post in Poland.

“Solidarity” Part - Monument of Fallen Shipyard Workers and visit in European Solidarity Center
After German defeat and the end of World War II, Poland became one of the east European countries under Soviet jurisdiction. From 1945 to 1990 communistic authorities have been ruling in Poland and destroying our tradition, culture and economy. Soviet Security Services have been arousing fear in Polish citizens. We were depend of Moscow and our situation was becoming really tragic.

Before August 1980 events, there was few other strikes, but they hadn’t important results. Newly strike in Gdansk Shipyard had big influence for the changes which happened later. Thank to strike of shipyard workers who were commanded by later president of Poland and Nobel price winner, Lech Walesa, soviet authorities have agreed for creation first free trade union in Poland “Solidarity”. In next years “Solidarity” has turned from small trade union into national organization with over million members and it was a first step on the way to Polish freedom and democracy.

Events of August 1980 started similar liberation movements in whole eastern Europe, so shipyard workers strike in Gdansk was the main reason of fall of communism era in Europe.

Unfortunately Gdansk Shipyard isn’t allowed for sightseeing, because of works there, but we can see other important place, The Monument of Fallen Shipyard Workers which is commemorating earlier tragic events from December 1970, when Security Services used fire-arms against striking workers. Monument is 42 meters high and it’s the one of the most important Polish freedom’s symbols.

After admiring of monument we can go to the near European Solidarity Center to admire exhibition “Polish Way to Freedom”. It includes all important information about liberation movements in Poland, its reasons and results.

Accommodation and Transfer
You’ll be accommodated in one of the Gdansk 3 stars hotels. We also assure necessary transfer between every point of tour. For more information about accommodation and transfer check appropriate section on our site, or contact us!