Nowa Huta Cross

As Poland's first ideal socialist city, Nowa Huta was to remain thoroughly atheist. Nevertheless, on the crest of the wave of the Thaw of October 1956, Communist authorities agreed to build a church. Less than two years later, once the construction work had already begun, the permit was withdrawn and a decision was made that the church would be replaced by a school. As the authorities were frightened of removing the cross planted on the site of the would-be church, they brought in special forces and armoured cars from all southern Poland. Their fears proved justified: the protest that began on 27th April 1960 turned into regular street fights against the militia and special forces of the police, with the cross being defended by over 4000 people. Lasting for a few days, the defence of the cross achieved its intended result: the cross remained on its site. Although the first church in Nowa Huta was finally erected elsewhere, the Church of the Holiest Heart of Jesus with its intriguing openwork tower was erected on the site where the cross had stood in 1998-2002.