I thank you very much for your kind words bookworm_020.
Unfortunaly the way to freedom was not totally peaceful. A lot of people haven't heard about the small uprising in Poznań in the 50'ies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pozna%C5%84_1956_protests
My father who was shipyard worker and involved in the Solidarność movment has also many violent stories to tell. If anyone is interested I could write about some of them.
Once again I thank you for your words, they moved me alot, it so rare to find a westerner who knows a bit of Polish history.