Is Edward Gierek A-List?

Returns to Poland from Belgium

Returns to Poland from France and Belgium, beginning his rise in the Communist Party.

Becomes First Secretary of PZPR

Replaces Gomułka, promising economic improvements.

Peak of Power and Influence

Gierek's economic policies lead to a temporary rise in living standards.

Removed from Power

Mounting debt and social unrest lead to his removal as First Secretary.

Expelled from the PZPR

Gierek is formally expelled from the party he once led.

Edward Gierek Dies

Gierek dies, remembered for his economic policies and their consequences.

Legacy of Economic Experiment

Gierek's legacy is marked by the ambitious attempt to modernize Poland, but also by the debt crisis.