How did Poland challenge the Soviet Authority?

Poland challenged Soviet authority primarily through the Solidarity movement, which emerged in the early 1980s as a trade union and social movement advocating for workers' rights and political reform. Led by figures like Lech Wałęsa, Solidarity gained popular support and became a symbol of resistance against communist rule, culminating in a series of strikes and protests. The Polish government's imposition of martial law in 1981 attempted to suppress the movement, but Solidarity persisted underground, ultimately contributing to the broader decline of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. This grassroots resistance played a crucial role in paving the way for the eventual fall of communism in Poland and the rest of the region.