1905-1982. Polish Communist politician, party
leader 1943-48 and 1956-70. He introduced
moderate reforms, including private farming
and tolerance for Roman Catholicism. Gomulka,
born in Krosno in SE Poland, was involved in
underground resistance to the Germans during
World War II, taking part in the defence of
Warsaw. Leader of the Communist Party in
Poland from 1943, he was ousted by the
Moscow-backed Boleslaw Bierut (1892-1956) in
1948, but was restored to the leadership in
1956, following riots in Poznan. Gomulka was
forced to resign in Dec 1970 after sudden
food-price rises induced a new wave of
strikes and riots.