Wybory do rad narodowych w 1954 r. w województwie zielonogórskim
Elections to national councils in 1954 in the Zielona Góra province

Summary/Abstract: During the communist dictatorship in Poland, the national councils served as local authorities. There were councils at the levels of province, county, city and commune. Officially, councils were elected by universal suffrage. In fact, the composition of the national councils was determined by units of the communist party (Polish United Workers’ Party). There was only one election list during the elections. Citizens’ participation in the elections was interpreted as an expression of support for the communist authorities. The article presents the first election to national councils that took place in 1954 on the example of the Zielona Góra province. As a source, the documentation of the Provincial Committee of the Polish United Workers’ Party in Zielona Góra and articles from the local daily “Gazeta Zielonogórska” were used. The communist authorities conducted a huge propaganda campaign before the election. People were urged to take part in the election. People were convinced that in this way they decided about the fate of the region. In fact, the composition of the national councils had already been established in October 1954, although the election was not held until December. According to official data, 96% of eligible people took part in the election.

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