Chapter 23 - The Collapse of Communism in Eastern European Satellite States Flashcards
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
1
Q
What were the reactions of satellite states to G’s reforms?
A
- Reforms not welcome as worry their regimes wouldn’t continue
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)
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
