Solidarity (Solidarność) was a Polish trade union founded in 1980 at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk.

It was the first independent trade union in a Warsaw Pact country.

The movement was founded and led by the charismatic electrician, Lech Wałęsa.

It began as a response to economic hardship and rising food prices but quickly grew into a broad social movement calling for greater freedom.

At its peak, Solidarity had nearly 10 million members, representing about one-third of the country's working-age population.

The movement was strongly supported by the Polish Catholic Church and Pope John Paul II.

Fearing a Soviet invasion, the Polish communist government declared martial law in 1981, banned Solidarity, and arrested its leaders.

Solidarity continued to operate as an underground movement throughout the 1980s.

In 1989, the weakening communist government entered into 'Round Table Talks' with Solidarity.

These talks led to semi-free elections, which Solidarity won by a landslide, paving the way for the peaceful end of communist rule in Poland.