Students of the Wrocław University of Technology will reconstruct the historic Jelcz 043 bus, called the “cucumber”. A multimedia museum will be created there to show the latest history and the creation of Wrocław’s “Solidarity”.

On August 26, 1980, at 4.30 a.m., Tomasz Surowiec blocked a bus leaving the depot. It was the beginning of the strike, which was an expression of solidarity with other Polish workers. He put a portrait of John Paul II, bunch of red and white flowers on the windshield and the inscription “21 times YES”. There were 21 postulates of striking workers, including the creation of free trade unions, compliance with the constitution, civil rights and freedoms, and the improvement of society.

The Jelcz 043 bus, colloquially called the “cucumber” because of its round appearance, was produced in the years 1959-1986 and was a variation of the Czechoslovakian Skoda bus. The Jelcz bus was driven in Wrocław for some time and it was painted in white and red colors and the museum bus will also be restored in such colors.
More: https://pwr.edu.pl/uczelnia/aktualnosci/wyremontujemy-historowego-ogorka–11391.html