The Solidarity movement was a social and political movement in Poland that emerged in the early 1980s. It began as a trade union for workers at the Gdańsk Shipyard, led by Lech Wałęsa. The movement aimed to promote workers' rights and challenge the communist government, advocating for political reform and greater freedoms. Solidarity gained widespread support and became a symbol of resistance against oppression in Eastern Europe. It played a crucial role in the eventual fall of communism in Poland, leading to semi-free elections in 1989. The movement inspired similar efforts in other countries, contributing to the broader collapse of communist regimes across the region.