1923 Kraków riot
Workers' demonstration turned violent in Kraków on 6 November 1923.
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The 1923 Kraków riot, also referred to as the 1923 Kraków uprising or Bloody Tuesday, occurred on 6 November 1923 in Kraków, Poland. It was a violent confrontation between demonstrating workers and government forces, sparked by the government's militarization of railways and suppression of strikes. The event is notable for workers briefly seizing control of the Main Market Square, disarming some troops, and capturing an armored car, before a ceasefire ended the fighting.
Background
The riot took place during a general strike called by the Polish Socialist Party (PPS) on 5 November 1923, in response to the government's militarization of railways and other restrictions. On 6 November, a large demonstration began when workers found the Worker's House locked and guarded by police.
A police officer fired into the crowd, igniting the crowd. Demonstrators disarmed police and, upon chanting 'Long live Józef Piłsudski!', persuaded soldiers to lay down their weapons and join them. Many workers were veterans of the Polish-Soviet War and quickly armed themselves.
Did You Know?
- Workers captured an armored car named Dziadek ('Grandpa') during the riot.
- Some soldiers refused to fire on the workers when ordered.
- All killed cavalrymen were buried at Kraków's Rakowicki Cemetery with a monument.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: 1923 Kraków riot (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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