Monument to the Victims of June 1956

The Monument to the Victims of June 1956, also called the Poznań Crosses, is one of the symbols of the city. Unveiled in 1981, the monument is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the first anti-communist protest in Poland. It also commemorates protests that took place in the following years.

In June 1956, protest of workers in the H.Cegielski Company outbroke in Poznań. The authorities sent the army to suppress them. About 60 people were killed and hundreds were wounded. On the 25th anniversary of the protests, the Poznań Independent Self-governing Labour Union "Solidarity" decided to build a monument to the victims of the protests. It was possible to build it despite the obstacles set by the authorities. The monument has stood on Adam Mickiewicz Square, the former Stalin Square, where participants of the protests had gathered. In this place had stood the monument of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, destroyed by the Germans, which had been the vote for regaining of the independence in 1918.

Monument to the Victims of June 1956 is comprised of two cross-connected crosses of 21 and 19.5 meters high. They symbolize death and resurrection. On the upper cross, the date 1956 and the slogan of protests: "For freedom, law and bread" were placed. On the lower the dates of the following strikes: 1968, 1970, 1976, 1980, 1981 were placed. Next to the crosses stands the head of an eagle rising from the plinth.