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History of Krakow Early middleages 966 - 1370 Krakow is capital of Poland The Golden Age 1386 - 1572 the times of the Renaissance Electing Kings and Dividing the country 1572 - 1795 Poland disappears from the map K&K Monarchy 1795 - 1918 The Habsburg's Reich third largest city First and Second World War 1914 - 1945 A short period of democray, then the terror of the Nazis Socialism 1945 - 1989 Years of stagnation before the final upheaval After the Iron Curtain 1989 until today Difficulties with a new economy

Socialism "Communist rule fits Poland like a saddle a mule" Stalin alledgedly said. And probably - true - the Polish workers' movement Solidarnosc was responsible for the end of Sowjet rule over eastern Europe. From the side of the Russian communist, Krakow had to take the blame of being bourgois and decadent, and what is more, faithfully religious. As a proletarian adversary, Stalin had a gigantic steel plant erected, only 10 miles west of Krakow, after the population of Krakow had dared to vote against the socialists at the occacion of a an election. Still today, the atmospheric emissions of the plant cost damage to the city's buildings. However, Krakovians remain opponents of the socialist regime. The catholic church becomes a stronghold against the dictatorship of the Sowjets. The bishop of Krakow, Karel Wojtila, who a few years later is elected pope, has close ties with the opposition. When the new pope after his inauguration in 1979 visits Poland, more than a million people gather near Krakow. "Don't be afraid!", the pope calls out to the masses. What follows is a massive wave of protests and strikes. Solidarnosc comes into being. In May 1988 the Polish government takes to arms to stiffle a workers's riot in Nowa Huta. But the military government has to compromise. In1989 the first free elections are held, won by Solidarnosc. This meant that socialism had ended..

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