Collapse of the Eastern Europe Regimes
Context
• Gorbachev indicated that there would be no a3empt to use military force to crush uprisings in satellite
states
• Soviet troops would not be used to defend the exis<ng regimes in Eastern Europe or to crush reform
and mass protests
• December 1988: Gorbachev’s UN Speech
- Announced the withdrawal of 500 000 troops
- Announced the revoca<on of the Brezhnev Doctrine
• Gorbachev encouraged Perestroika, Glasnot and Demokra<zatsiya
• People in satellite states began demanding capitalism and full democracy
• Soviet-dominated dictatorships in Eastern Europe were replaced by democra<cally-elected
governments i.e Soviet control came to an end
• The Iron Curtain disintegrated
The Influence of the Pope
• Roman Catholic Church had great influence in Poland with the Pope holding enormous moral authority
• 1978: The Polish Pope, John Paul II, was elected
• 1979: The Pope inspired Polish people to make demands for greater freedom and human rights - his
stature as a symbol of resistance strengthened patrio<sm in Eastern European countries
• The Pope’s prayer in which he claimed that God’s spirit would “renew the face of the land” was believed
to be his call for an end to communist rule
• Debate arose regarding no<ons of freedom in worship and subsequently spread to no<ons of
democracy
• People used their religious symbols to their advantage and as a result, the Pope’s image became a
symbol for the resistance
• 1980: The Pope’s portrait was plastered to the gates of a shipyard in Gdansk following strikes
• 1981: The Pope invited Lech Walesa (the leader of Solidarity) to the Va<can as a show of support for the
trade union
• It was evident that the Pope was far more popular than other poli<cal leaders in Poland and so, had far
greater influence
• Some historians view John Paul II as playing a crucial role in inspiring change within Poland and
therefore, as playing a crucial role in defea<ng Soviet control
The Rise of Solidarity
Uprisings
• 1979: A number of strikes in Gdansk and Silesia occurred wherein people demanded trade union rights
and safety for workers
, • May 1980: Large-scale protests were conducted against the ongoing price increases
• August 1980: Another strike Gdansk led by Lech Walesa resulted in the establishment of Solidarity
• Solidarity was the first free trade union in the Eastern Bloc
• 1981: Had 10 million members
Lack of ac<on by USSR
• The USSR were engaged in the Afghan War which served to drain the USSR’s economy of its remaining
capital and resources
• The lack of ac<on is a3ributed to the fact that all Soviet troops and funds were going to the Afghan War
• They could not sustain Soviet interven<on elsewhere
• As well as this, trade with Poland was needed to boost the USSR economy thus, they didn’t take ac<on
against Polish uprisings to maintain trade connec<ons
• The events in Poland were significant as they indicated the weakening of Soviet control over Eastern
Europe
• The power of Solidarity seemed to indicate that the communist hold over the Polish poli<cal system was
deteriora<ng, even though they s<ll formed part of the USSR’s sphere of influence
Solidarity Demands
• The right to form free trade unions
• The right to strike
• An end to censorship
• The right to broadcast Catholic church services
• Ini<ally, the Polish government acceded to some reforms
• They allowed wage increases, recognised Solidarity as a trade union, released some dissidents and
provided media access to the Catholic church (as the media was s<ll state-controlled)
• However, Solidarity was s<ll pressured to recognise and accept the authority of the Communist Party
and Poland’s ongoing alliance with the USSR
• Solidarity was not permi3ed to form a poli<cal party
• The Red Army began gathering at Poland’s borders to conduct ‘exercises’ i.e implying that the USSR was
threatened by Solidarity
• The Polish were fearful that the Warsaw Pact na<ons would invade as they had in Hungary (1956) and in
Czechoslovakia (1986) following certain reforms
State Changes
• General Jaruzelski became Prime Minister
• Jaruzelski did not want to introduce new reforms
• December 1981: Mar<al law (military government) was declared under a state of emergency
• Jaruzelski aimed to prevent Soviet-led invasion while also controlling the Polish people, who clearly
desired significant poli<cal changes
• Jaruzelski suppressed opposi<on
• 10 000 were arrested, including Lech Walesa
• Solidarity was banned
Context
• Gorbachev indicated that there would be no a3empt to use military force to crush uprisings in satellite
states
• Soviet troops would not be used to defend the exis<ng regimes in Eastern Europe or to crush reform
and mass protests
• December 1988: Gorbachev’s UN Speech
- Announced the withdrawal of 500 000 troops
- Announced the revoca<on of the Brezhnev Doctrine
• Gorbachev encouraged Perestroika, Glasnot and Demokra<zatsiya
• People in satellite states began demanding capitalism and full democracy
• Soviet-dominated dictatorships in Eastern Europe were replaced by democra<cally-elected
governments i.e Soviet control came to an end
• The Iron Curtain disintegrated
The Influence of the Pope
• Roman Catholic Church had great influence in Poland with the Pope holding enormous moral authority
• 1978: The Polish Pope, John Paul II, was elected
• 1979: The Pope inspired Polish people to make demands for greater freedom and human rights - his
stature as a symbol of resistance strengthened patrio<sm in Eastern European countries
• The Pope’s prayer in which he claimed that God’s spirit would “renew the face of the land” was believed
to be his call for an end to communist rule
• Debate arose regarding no<ons of freedom in worship and subsequently spread to no<ons of
democracy
• People used their religious symbols to their advantage and as a result, the Pope’s image became a
symbol for the resistance
• 1980: The Pope’s portrait was plastered to the gates of a shipyard in Gdansk following strikes
• 1981: The Pope invited Lech Walesa (the leader of Solidarity) to the Va<can as a show of support for the
trade union
• It was evident that the Pope was far more popular than other poli<cal leaders in Poland and so, had far
greater influence
• Some historians view John Paul II as playing a crucial role in inspiring change within Poland and
therefore, as playing a crucial role in defea<ng Soviet control
The Rise of Solidarity
Uprisings
• 1979: A number of strikes in Gdansk and Silesia occurred wherein people demanded trade union rights
and safety for workers
, • May 1980: Large-scale protests were conducted against the ongoing price increases
• August 1980: Another strike Gdansk led by Lech Walesa resulted in the establishment of Solidarity
• Solidarity was the first free trade union in the Eastern Bloc
• 1981: Had 10 million members
Lack of ac<on by USSR
• The USSR were engaged in the Afghan War which served to drain the USSR’s economy of its remaining
capital and resources
• The lack of ac<on is a3ributed to the fact that all Soviet troops and funds were going to the Afghan War
• They could not sustain Soviet interven<on elsewhere
• As well as this, trade with Poland was needed to boost the USSR economy thus, they didn’t take ac<on
against Polish uprisings to maintain trade connec<ons
• The events in Poland were significant as they indicated the weakening of Soviet control over Eastern
Europe
• The power of Solidarity seemed to indicate that the communist hold over the Polish poli<cal system was
deteriora<ng, even though they s<ll formed part of the USSR’s sphere of influence
Solidarity Demands
• The right to form free trade unions
• The right to strike
• An end to censorship
• The right to broadcast Catholic church services
• Ini<ally, the Polish government acceded to some reforms
• They allowed wage increases, recognised Solidarity as a trade union, released some dissidents and
provided media access to the Catholic church (as the media was s<ll state-controlled)
• However, Solidarity was s<ll pressured to recognise and accept the authority of the Communist Party
and Poland’s ongoing alliance with the USSR
• Solidarity was not permi3ed to form a poli<cal party
• The Red Army began gathering at Poland’s borders to conduct ‘exercises’ i.e implying that the USSR was
threatened by Solidarity
• The Polish were fearful that the Warsaw Pact na<ons would invade as they had in Hungary (1956) and in
Czechoslovakia (1986) following certain reforms
State Changes
• General Jaruzelski became Prime Minister
• Jaruzelski did not want to introduce new reforms
• December 1981: Mar<al law (military government) was declared under a state of emergency
• Jaruzelski aimed to prevent Soviet-led invasion while also controlling the Polish people, who clearly
desired significant poli<cal changes
• Jaruzelski suppressed opposi<on
• 10 000 were arrested, including Lech Walesa
• Solidarity was banned
