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WW2-Poland-2015

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during the Yalta Conference, Danzig (now under its Polish name Gdańsk again) was annexed by <strong>Poland</strong>. The city's<br />

ethnic German majority were expelled at the war's conclusion, leaving the city open to Polish resettlement.<br />

Under communism, Gdańsk became a major shipbuilding centre and port for the Eastern Bloc. Dissatisfaction with<br />

the regime was particularly strong in the city and elsewhere inPomerania, manifesting itself visibly with popular<br />

protests against severe price hikes in 1970. In Gdańsk, shipyard workers were gunned down by police and army units.<br />

Despite the clampdown, mass protests against price spikes surfaced again in 1976. In 1980, responding to the Lenin<br />

Shipyard's firing of worker Anna Walentynowicz for participating in a non-governmental worker's union, Solidarity<br />

(Solidarność) was organized to protest the regime. Led by electrician Lech Wałęsa, the Catholic-inspired labour union<br />

quickly spread across the country, forcing the Polish government to enact martial law in 1981. Despite efforts to<br />

contain the movement through police and military means, Solidarity grew only more emboldened by the draconian<br />

response, forcing the government into negotiations by 1989 which eventually led to the peaceful downfall of the<br />

regime later that year.<br />

Following the end of communism, Gdańsk opened its doors to the world, and has in recent decades become a growing<br />

tourist attraction. While remaining one of the Baltic's most important port cities, Gdańsk has benefited highly from<br />

its charming historic old town streets, many museums, and its excellent access to the popular coastline of the Baltic.<br />

Tourist information<br />

Get in<br />

The terminal of Lech Wałęsa Airport.<br />

Transport from airport to city<br />

Bus 110 connects passengers from the airport to Wrzeszcz train station. Bus 210 & N3 connect passengers from the<br />

airport to Gdańsk Główny train station (the main station and closer to the centre). All buses are local buses and can<br />

take 35-50 minutes depending on traffic. The fare is PLN3 if a ticket is bought from a ticket machine, news stand<br />

or Bilety shop, and PLN3.40 if the ticket is bought from the driver. Although the ticket has a picture of a tram on it,<br />

it's also valid for the bus. Make sure to get on in the right direction at the airport, because the bus goes in two<br />

directions from there.<br />

On the way to the airport, the bus picks up on the other side of the road, near the front of the Scandic hotel (look for<br />

the signs that have the 110 on them). From the tourist office in the tunnel, turn left, walk until you are outside and<br />

head right, go up the stairs, turn right, and the bus shelters will be in front of you.<br />

Taxis[edit]<br />

Avoid the unofficial rip off taxis who will pounce on you as soon as you have cleared security, unless you know how<br />

to deal with them. A taxi to or from the airport and the city centre should cost around PLN50-60 but will cost more<br />

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