1956 anti-communist uprising commemoration takes place in Poznan

President Lech Kaczynski was joined by counterparts Horst Koehler of Germany, Laszlo Solyom of Hungary, and Vaclav Klaus of Czech Republic to remember clashes that broke out between workers and communist militia in June 1956 in the western Polish city.

Photo: 1956 anti-communist uprising commemoration takes place in Poznan

With a military band playing, Kaczynski gave a red-carpet welcome to his fellow presidents in the picturesque old town square. Later, they were to take part in a Mass and then wreath-laying ceremony at a monument to the victims of the uprising.

An estimated 74 people died in the clashes with workers who rioted with the cry "Bread and Freedom!" - an uprising that set in motion events leading to the revolt in Hungary later in the year, according to the AP.

The revolt has also been credited with inspiring a spirit of resistance to the communist regime that eventually resulted in Solidarity, the trade union and democratic movement that helped bring down communism in 1989-1990.