Poland Flashcards
WW2 consequences for Poland
1939 - Russia and wear invaded 1941 - Germany invaded Many Jews in concentration camps Millions killed (22% of population) Lost: - 1/3 housing - many schools - most railways and ports
How did Poland become involved in WW2?
September 1, 1939, Russia invaded Poland in accordance with the Molotov-Ribbetrop pact
Influence and popularity of communism on Poland?
2 types of poles:
- London poles (UK)
- Lublin poles (Russia)
1940 - Katyn massacre
1944 - Anti-Russian feeling because of stalin’s failure to support the home army
1945 - polish border was shifted so Russia could take back land Poland had won in 1920
Katyn massacre
1940; USSR murdured polish intellectuals
How was communism established in Poland?
Occupation army where Stalin instituted sovietism, killing 40,000 poles in the process
Why was soviet influence challenged in Poland between 1945-1960?
Lost land to SU communist methods of control Resentment at lack of independence Religion (catholic v. Communism) Polish-Russian hostility Lack of communists
Historic polish-Russian hostility
1700s - Poland was partitioned by an absorbed into it’s neighboring states if Prussia, Russia, and Austria
*hostility to the Catholic Church from the orthodoxy in Russia, leading to wars and executions
Unpopularity of communism in Poland
- lack of independence
- before elections, communists arrested 142 candidates and 1,000s of non-communists
- resentment against communist lack of religion
- cultural changes
Soviet actions in ww2 towards Poland
1939 - invasion of Poland by USSR
1939-1941 - sovietization
1940 - katyn massacre (5,000 polish officers were murdered)
July 1943 - USSR broke off relations with London poles; Warsaw rising
Sovietization
“To establish communist rule and suppress potential enemies in Poland”
- almost 40,000 poles died during the soviet occupation
Khrushchev’s secret speech
- a speech before 20% communist congress, demonizing Stalin
- led to open criticism of SU and communism
- clashes between Stalinists and liberal communists
- was one of the contributing factors of the Polish October
- Gomułka was brought to power
Polish economic problems 1956 timeline
Wage cuts strikes and riots in Poznan Workers shot by military Collectivization cancelled Gomułka leads reformist government Wage cuts reversed catholic church allowed some freedom "Successful half-revolution"
Poland 1970 economic problems
- government announced food price rises of 36%
- workers in Gdansk shipyard go on strike
- military crackdown (75 workers shot)
- protests increase (workers demand right to organize free trade union)
Poland 1970 results
- Gomułka replaced by gierek
- government reverses food prices
- economy sustained by W. loans
- 1973 oil crisis increases demand for polish goods
- long term economic decline
Poland 1980 economically
- international debt
- food prices rise
Poland 1980 politically
Protests against sacking of a popular trade unionist leader
Poland 1080 religiously
Polish pope john-Paul 2 encouraged opposition
Solidarity
Independent trade union
In Gdansk shipyard 1980
By lech walesa
Had 21 demands
What did solidarity achieve in 1980-1981?
- established mass union of 10 million workers
- gained legal recognition as an independent (non-party) trade union
- maintained peaceful methods
- demonstrated the power of the strike to force economic and political concessions from the government
- became a powerful opposition movement in a “one party state”
Why did general Jaruzelski impose martial law in 1981?
- solidarity was threatening the power of the communist party
- solidarity’s “October program” offered support for everyone
- walesa opposed this program but radicals within solidarity wanted to push or rapid change
- economic crisis continued with falling standards of living and strikes
- Poland was on the edge of chaos
- *if Jaruzelski didn’t act maybe the SU would??**
Who is general Jaruzelski?
The last leader of Poland under communism
Timeline of Poland
1983 - martial law ended
1984 - catholic bishop murdered by police
1986 - censorship laws relaxed and solidarity leaders released from prison
1987 - government referendum on economic reform boycotted by solidarity
1988 - “round table” talks between government and solidarity
June 1989 - solidarity wins elections (90%)
August 1989 - tadeusz mazowiecki elected as first non-communist prime minister in soviet bloc
Polish October
a period of liberalization in Poland under Gomułka immediately following stalin’s death
Martial law
Where the military has full power to create and implement rules
Walesa’s fame
1980 - leader of solidarity
1981-1990 - given honorary doctorate diploma from 16 different universities
1982-1991 - awarded various medals such as the Medal of Freedom
1983 - won Nobel Peace Prize
1989 - won Europe Human Rights prize
given much international support
Walesa’s organization
Founded August 31, 1980
10 million members (mostly workers)
Powerful opposition to communism
Walesa’ methods
Peaceful: series of controlled strikes
1982 - radio solidarity (influence led to intensification and spread of anti-communist ideals which weakened communist governments)
Walesa’s social class
Low: father was a carpenter
Walesa’s education
Electricien
Walesa’s jobs
Car mechanic Army officer Electricien Joined Social Self Defense President
Walesa’s religion
Devout Roman Catholic
Walesa’s attitude towards violence
Peaceful
Walesa’s motivations
Lower food prices
Better working conditions
Walesa’s role in 1989 revolutions
Ensured non-violence
Established solidarity (99% support)
Leader of round table talks
1989 Won presidency unanimously
Round table talks
A series of discussions between solidarity (walesa) and the communist party (Jaruzelski) on cooperation and agreement and eventually led to democracy and the establishment of solidarity as an official opposition group
Poland post-communism economic problems
Long term economic decline Debt Low productivity Poor standard of living Inefficient command of economy Food shortages
Positives of Poland post communism
Made the transition from communism Proportional representation "Big Bang" 1999 - joined NATO 2004 - joined EU Democratic constitution Peaceful transfer of power
Negatives of post communist Poland
- walesa was a poor leader
- unstable government
- Solidarity was unable to adapt to the needs of a new state and rapidly declined
- serious debt crisis
- wages sank 40%
- difficult for the trade union to reform the government
- solidarity split and lost power
- unemployment during shock therapy
- 1990: negative growth in economy
- harsher working conditions increased inequality
Shock therapy
- price controls & state subsidies removed
- trade barriers lifted
- polish zloty made convertible with foreign currencies
Positive results of shock therapy
Inflation fell
Attracted increased W. investment
Increased W. integration into EU
Negatives of shock treatment
Industry output fell by 30%
Wages fell by 40%
1990: unemployment rose to +1 million
Loss of security
Political problems of Poland post communism
1989 - solidarity fragmented
1993 - communists won majority
1995 - walesa replaced as President by ex- communist (personal failure)
- peaceful transfer of power
- transition if communist party to center-left social democrats
Social change in post communist Poland
2001 - foundation of law and justice party
- increased catholic political influence
- polarizing disputes over abortion, homosexuality, church-state relations
International relations of Poland post-communism
1999 - NATO
2004 - EU
How did Jaruzelski attempt to introduce limited political reform in the mid-1980s?
Tried to open up a dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, but this was undermined by the murder of father popieluszko instigated by the security police in October 1984
When was martial law lifted?
1983
What were the results or solidarity as a result of the lifting of martial law?
Solidarity emerged weakened and divided; in 1986 Jaruzelski granted a general political amnesty, under which many leading members of solidarity were released from prison
The referendum reform
1982-1986 - Polands debt increased by 35%
October 1987 - governed held a referendum in a package of economic and political reform proposals, but solidarity boycotted and the government failed to win 50% of the votes to endorse it’s proposals
Price reform 1988
Jaruzelski introduced 40-50% Rosie’s in basic old prices, which provoked large scale strikes in both may and August 1988. The strikes were not organized by solidarity, but the organization help influence an end to the strikes demonstrating it’s influence over working-class poles
The group of there’s proposals
August 1988; Jaruzelski accepted a report on political reform by the group of three - a committee of analysts
Round table talks
February-April 1989; the final attempt by polish reform communists to transform the system while maintaining control of the process of change
Who were the leading solidarity negotiators for the round table talks and April accords?
Tadeusz mazowiecki
Bronislaw geremek
Witold trzeciakowski
What was agreed in the the April accords?
- free elections to the senate
- open elections for 35% of parliament seats wit 65% of parliament seats reserved for either the communist party or it’s allies
- office of president to be create and elected by parliament and senate
Who were the allies of the communist party?
The united peasant party
The Democratic Party
