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History Cold War > Chapter 23 - The Collapse of Communism in Eastern European Satellite States > Flashcards

Chapter 23 - The Collapse of Communism in Eastern European Satellite States Flashcards

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1
Q

How did circumstances in Eastern Europe change?

A
  • Traditionally, states were unable to:
  • Challenge authority of Communist party
  • Leave Warsaw Pact
  • USSR wouldn’t crush anti-communist rebellions in satellite states = communists lacked authority to enforce their will so public opinion prevailed
  • End of 1989 = Only Albania remained communist among Eastern European countries
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1
Q

What were the reactions of satellite states to G’s reforms?

A
  • Reforms not welcome as worry their regimes wouldn’t continue
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2
Q

How did Jaruzelski reconcile with Solidarity?

A
  • Solidarity had been suppressed 1981
  • 1986 = Jaruzelski issues general amnesty for all political prisoners
  • J ended martial law and made reconstitution of Solidarity legal (as sure its populated had declined)
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3
Q

How did the situation in Poland deteriorate?

A
  • Feb 1988 = Gov raised food prices to cope with economic downturn
  • Caused strikes and demands for changes
  • With no Soviet support, gov had to work with dissenters, not suppress them
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4
Q

How did Polish government work with Solidarity?

A
  • Feb 1989 = gov talked to leader of Solidarity and other opposition groups to maintain power over Poland
  • Led to 3 major reforms:
  • Legalisation of non-gov trade unions
  • Creation of position of President
  • Formation of Senate
  • 35% seats freely elected, rest reserved for Communist party
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5
Q

What were the consequences of Poland’s compromise with Solidarity?

A
  • June elections, Solidarity won:
  • 92/100 Senate seats
  • 160/161 it was allowed to compete for in parliament
  • August 1989 = Leader of Solidarity demanded government, led by Solidarity
  • Within 2 weeks (with USSR approval) new pro-Solidarity gov formed (key positions still with communists)
  • End of 1989 = Poland a multi-party state w/ gov dominated by Solidarity
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6
Q

Why did the situation change in Hungary?

A
  • Hungarian Socialist Workers (communist party) initiated reforms
  • Hungary leader, Kadar, had overseen brutal suppression of 1956 uprising and refused reforms
  • Worsening economic conditions = general dissatisfaction
  • Economic advisors interested trade with Western Europe
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7
Q

How did Nemeth instigate changes in Hungary?

A
  • Nemeth negotiated 1 billion Deutsch Mark loan from West German banks
  • SO Nemeth named Prime Minister
  • Gov adopted basic freedoms, civil rights and electoral reforms
  • June 1989 = HSWP leader agreed for free elections to take place in 1990
    = (peaceful move from communism to democracy)
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8
Q

How did the USSR react to Nemeth’s actions in Hungary?

A
  • April 1989 = USSR agreed to withdraw all military forces from Hungary
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9
Q

What crucial decision did Hungary make in September 1989?

A
  • To open their frontier with Austria and allow East Germans to travel freely into Western Germany
  • Led directly to crisis in East Germany Nov 1989
  • BUT Hungary’s move away from communism was peaceful
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10
Q

What did Honecker (leader of East Germany) think about the reform?

A
  • Ignored calls for Perestroika reform
  • Remained firmly loyal to Communist Party
  • Determined to keep East Germany as single party state
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11
Q

How did events in Hungary cause a crisis in East Germany?

A
  • May 1989 = Hungary gov removed fence on border with East Germany = anyone could cross border (technically not legal)
  • September 1989 = 60,000 East Germans had left for Hungary to seek asylum in West German embassies there
  • Budapest crowded because of refugees
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12
Q

How did East Germany react to East Germans leaving for Hungary?

A
  • Temporarily allowed citizens to travel to West Germany if they promised to return
  • Many agreed as homes and families in East
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13
Q

How did opposition to Honecker increase?

A
  • By October 1989, opposition in every street of East Germany
  • Encouraged by actions in other East European states
  • Protested lack of reforms by Honecker and the repression he embodied
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14
Q

How did the Politburo respond to opposition to Honecker?

A
  • Forced Honecker’s resignation
  • Party member Krenz became General Secretary of the Party and Chairman of the Council of State
  • Krenz immediately announced East Germany was going to implement democratic reforms ad endorsed Perestroika and Glasnost
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15
Q

How did the USSR respond to Krenz’ changes in East Germany?

A
  • Nov 1989 = Krenz visited G on economic mission
  • G didn’t offer economic aid to East Germany
16
Q

How did Krenz try to deal with poor economic situation?

A
  • November 1989 = relaxed travel laws to calm public
  • Attracted criticism for being too limited changes
  • Gov lost control of public
  • Entire Politburo resigned = left Krenz and his gov to respond to population
  • 9 Nov = Krenz announced travel laws allowing free transit through borders into West Germany
17
Q

What was the significance of Krenz allowing travel into West Germany?

A
  • Hoped to increase East German leadership’s credibility and popularity
  • BUT led to its collapse
  • 1 Dec = gov changed eliminated clause that gave Communist party dominant role in gov
  • 2 days later, Krenz and Central Committee resigned
  • Coalition gov put into place = only provisional
18
Q

Why was the revolution in East Germany significant?

A
  • Communism collapsed in East Germany
  • East Germany ceased to exist
  • East Germany incorporated into Federal Republic of Germany 3 October 1990
19
Q

What was the effect of G’s reforms in Czechoslovakia?

A
  • Opened country to opposition to regime
  • Soviet troops remained BUT G said USST wouldn’t intervene
20
Q

How did the Czechoslovakia gov try and deal with opposition?

A
  • July 1989, announced programme of limited economic reforms = insufficient
21
Q

How did opposition to the Czechoslovakia regime develop?

A
  • Jan 1989 = demonstration in Wenceslas Square
  • Further encouraged by collapse of Berlin Wall
  • 17 Nov 1989 = Another demonstration (police attacked and beat students)
  • 19 Nov = Civic Forum formed = larger demonstrations as days progressed
22
Q

In Czechoslovakia, what was the Civic Forum?

A
  • Put together ‘Programmatic Principles of the Civic Forum’ = states goals:
  • State of law
  • Free elections
  • Social justice
  • Clean environment
  • Educated people
  • Return to Europe
  • Prosperity
23
Q

How did leadership change in Czechoslovakia?

A
  • Communist party suggested coalition government
    = Civic Forum rejected it
    = Communist leadership resigned
  • 28 Dec - Havel elected President
  • Emergence of democratic, multi-party state in Central Europe
  • 1989 Events = Velvet Revolution (peaceful)
24
Q

What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?

A
  • Reaffirmed Communist dominance through unity of Warsaw Pact
  • USSR’s declaration of its right to intervene in any communist country that showed wavering commitment to Eastern Bloc
25
Q

Why was the Brezhnev Doctrine abandoned?

A
  • G abandoned it when he took office in 1985
  • G believed communism could only survive if people CHOSE to accept it
  • Brezhnev Doctrine also undermined the winding down of the Cold War
  • G’s decision = to show people they no longer had to fear influx of Moscow troops if they rose against their governments

History Cold War (19 decks)

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