You are cordially invited to a lecture entitled
Polish Solidarity: A Historical and Contemporary Viewpoint
with
Mr. Andrzej Kolodziej
President, Pomorska Inicjatywa Historyczna Foundation
Friday, July 12
4:30 PM
Light reception to follow
The Institute of World Politics
1521 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Parking map
Registration for this event is now closed.
This event is sponsored by the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies.
Andrzej Kolodziej is one of the most recognized people linked to anti-communist activity in Pomeranian region. Currently, he is a student at the Naval Academy in Trojmiastomajoring in national security affairs.
In 1977, he graduated from vocational school, and at the age of 18, went to Gdansk where he attended vocational high school specializing in building ships. On August 15, 1980, he was co-organizer of a strike at the Shipyard in Gdynia (his first day of work at the shipyard) and became a chairman of Strike Committee there. Between 1980 and 1981, Mr. Kolodziej was vice-chair of Solidarity Foundation Committee.
On October 19, 1981, he was arrested in Czechoslovakia, and in February 1982, he was sentenced to 21 months in prison, first in Prague and later in Litomierzycach. In July 1983, he was released and handed over to communistic authorities in Poland. In 2000, he was rehabilitated by the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic.
He has received many honors for his activism, including the Knights Cross of the Virtuti Militari Order by President of Poland Kazimierz Sabbat, Grand Cross of the Virtuti Militari Order, the Fighting Solidarity cross, and the Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski Medal. He currently resides in Gdynia.
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