On August 3, 1980, Polish workers at the Gdansk Shipyard began a strike that would lead to the formation of the Solidarity trade union. The movement was a response to rising food prices, harsh working conditions, and political repression under the communist regime. The strike was a pivotal moment in the decline of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. Solidarity grew into a massive political force, eventually leading to the peaceful overthrow of the Polish government. The movement remains a symbol of resistance against totalitarian regimes.