When the semi-free elections in June 1989 heralded the end of one-party rule in Poland, the political future of the members of the Polish United Workers' Party seemed bleak. The camp of the former rulers prepared for at least 15 years of opposition work. However, by the mid-1990s, the post-communists had once again occupied the most important political offices in the country. How could such a rapid renaissance occur? And how can the subsequent decline and the current plight of the Polish post-communists be explained? Julia Walter describes the rise and fall of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) in Poland. She outlines the organizational political decisions as well as the substantive shifts and trends in membership development. Additionally, she examines the influence that various leaderships had.