RIOTS CRUSHED IN POZNAN

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28009, 2 July 1956, Page 11

RIOTS CRUSHED IN POZNAN

Premier Accepts Part Of Blame (A’.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) WARSAW, June 30. Troops and tanks patrolled the streets of Poznan in western Poland today, to prevent more outbreaks of the rioting and violence which hat e terrorised the city for two days. Life in the city was reported normal today, with trams running and trains back on schedule. But some observers described the peace as an “artificial calm." Warsaw Radio revealed that hand grenades and "inflammable materials" were among the weapons used by rioting steelworkers on Thursday. It said that armed groups also tried to plunder shops in the city, at present the scene of a big international fair, but these groups were “speedily liquidated.” It added that a hunt for “individual diversionists” was still going on. The radio’s accounts of the riots, during which 36 persons were killed and 270 injured, followed a broadcast last night to the Polish people by Mr Josef Cyrankiewicz, the Polish Premier.

Mr Cyrankiewicz said that some of the rioters mounted machine-guns on the city’s rooftops. He blamed “foreign imperialist centres” for the riots, but admitted that economic troubles lay behind the disturbances and promised that the Communist Party and Government would continue their efforts to “eradicate the shortcomings and evils still bedevilling the life of the country.”

Warsaw Radio, in its account of the rioting. said “organised assault groups” toured Poznan factories and institutions, leading people out into the street and in some cases using threats.

“Armed assault groups clearly bent on provoking bloodshed launched an attak on the security office, firing on it and hurling inflammable materials at it,” the radio said.

“The building came under machinegun fire from several points, and was attacked with grenades.” The radio said that armed groups simultaneously began to overturn tram cars and motor vehicles in an attempt to erect barricades. Other assault groups forced their way into the prison and freed criminals, who joined in the riots. Some groups attacked the offices of the military prosecutor and the radio station, and also attempted to seize the railway station, the bank, and the post office.

“Tanks did not Fire” Attempts to seize these points failed, however, as did attempts by other groups to seize the power station, the waterworks and the gasworks. ine radio added that tanks intervened, “but in accordance with their orders they did not open fire.” The West German news agency, D.P.A.. reported that more clashes were expected tomorrow at the military funeral of Communist officials. State security men and militiamen killed in the* riots. Dead resistance fighters were buried singly and quietly today. The agency reported that some resistance fighters were still holding out with machine-guns on rooftops. They had settled down to fight to the last bullet, knowing that they faced the death penalty if they were caught armed.

The city’s trade fair was virtually deserted today as exhibitors packed to leave. Visitors to the fair told the agency that shooting broke out yesterday in the exhibition building and grounds. There was still shooting going on late last night, they said. Plea by Social Democrats

The West German Social Democrat Party said the riots were caused by food shortages and urged the Polish Government not to meet the strikers with martial law and police terror. Western businessmen said Polish security forces still were shooting down defiant rebels when they left Poznan early this morning for West Berlin, the United Press reported. One British businessman said the rebels were “holding out in isolated buildings and on roof-tops. The firing was terrific.”

But the businessmen said that the Communists had command of the situation.

Two West German businessmen said they saw Communist troops carting off at gunpoints truckloads of captured rebels who defiantly shouted: “Death to communism, Poland will be free.”

“Poznan looks like Berlin did on the last day of the war,” one businessman said. “Tanks roared through the city, fighter planes zoomed overhead, and jeeps full of soldiers patrolled the streets. There was sporadic firing as the Communists tracked down resistance fighters. The rebels held out on roof-tops and fired down into the streets at the troops.”

speaker to a crowd of 5000 outside, became “almost riotous,” the reports said.

Mr Rakosi was absent —he is believed to be in Moscow, seeking new instructions. The demonstration on the night of June 22 was the biggest yet against Mr Rakosi. Great applause was drawn during the demonstration by Marton Horvat. editor of the “Szabad Nep,” the mam Communist newspaper, when he said: “The application to Hungary of the 20th Soviet Communist Party's congress policy must be decided in Hungary, not in Moscow and not in Belgrade.”