Poland

Question 1

What triggered the start of WWII

Answer 1

The invasion of Poland by the nazis

Question 2

How did Poland come to be under soviet control

Answer 2

When the Soviets liberated Poland from the nazis and it became a satellite state

Question 3

Why was the soviet disliked by many polish people

Answer 3

They lived in a one-party state were free elections were banned
The majority of poles were catholic and the communist made it difficult for them to worship
Poor economic situation- food and fuel shortages, good were in short supply and prices were high
There were few workers benefits
Trade unions wee banned

Question 4

What was the ‘last straw’ for the people in Poland

Answer 4

The government increased prices again as they were facing economic crisis but were unable to increase wages and salaries

Question 5

What happened when the government increased prices but did not increase salaries

Answer 5

People all over Poland started striking

Question 6

What happened at the Gdansk shipyard

Answer 6

Lech Walesa convinced 17 000 workers to go on strike for freedom and justice

Question 7

Who led solidarity

Answer 7

Lech Walesa

Question 8

What did Walesa turn the workers demand for better wages into

Answer 8

A campaign for solidarity r]to be allowed to exist as a free trade union independant if the communist party.

Question 9

What were majority of members of solidarity

Answer 9

Catholic anti-communist

Question 10

Why did the members of solidarity support democratisation

Answer 10

Because the catholic’s wanted to defend their religion since were inspired by the election of pope John Paul II who showed his support of solidarity (through speeches and a visit)
The USA and the CIA beloved that supporting a small anti-communist movement was a good way to undermine a key communist satellite state

Question 11

Which other shipyard joined Gdansk

Answer 11

Szczecin

Question 12

What helped to shipyard workers to hold out for longer

Answer 12

The media coverage and international support

Question 13

What happened when the polish government eventually gave up

Answer 13

They sent the governmental commission to Gdansk to negotiate with the people and sign an agreement

Question 14

What was the name of the agreement that was signed

Answer 14

The Gdansk agreement

Question 15

What was the Gdansk agreement seen as

Answer 15

The first step in dismantling soviet control in Poland

Question 16

What did the Gdansk agreement mean

Answer 16

People were allowed to form free trade union independent from the communist party and they were allowed to strike.
Workers concerns would receive representation
People could introduce demo rating changes to the communist political structure

Question 17

What is ‘Solidarity’ in polish

Answer 17

‘solidarnosc’

Question 18

What was so remarkable about solidarity

Answer 18

It was the first trade union allowed to exist in a satellite state
People were astounded because they never thought that could happen

Question 19

What happen with 500 days of the Gdansk agreement

Answer 19

10 million people (student, workers and intelligentsia) joined solidarity

Question 20

What percentage of the workforce joined solidarity

Answer 20

80%

Question 21

From what did solidarity change to

Answer 21

From a trade union to a revolutionary movement

Question 22

Although solidarity had become a revolutionary movement. What was but careful not to do

Answer 22

Use violence because they feared that it would lead to a harsh respomce from the government

Question 23

What happened to 27 solidarity members at a national council meting

Answer 23

They were assaulted by the state police

Question 24

What happened after the members were assaulted

Answer 24

A nationwide strike was planned

Question 25

What did the nationwide strike result in

Answer 25

Poland coming to a standstill
One of the largest strikes in the history of the eastern bloc
The government was forced to investigate the assaults and allow the story to be released internationally

Question 26

How did the Soviet Union react to the solidarity movement in Poland

Answer 26

Put pressure on the polish government
Put Jaruzelski in charge. He:
-Declared martial law
-Arrested 5000 solidarity members including Walesa
-Expanded censorship and police filled the streets
-Harshly put down hundreds of strikes leading to any deaths
Solidarity was banned

Question 27

What happened after solidarity was banned and it seemed like it wasn’t going to survive

Answer 27

It went underground and thrived. It gained international support:
-Margret thatcher 
-Pope John Paul II
-CIA and American president Reagan 
-Carillo
Supported by organisations:
-NATO
-Christian groups 
-western communists 
-liberals
-conservatives
-socialists

Question 28

What did the Is president Ronald Reagan do to show his support of solidarity

Answer 28

He placed sanction on Poland to make the government soften its policies

Question 29

How did the CIA and the Catholic Church show support to solidarity

Answer 29

They provided funds, equipment and training

Question 30

How did the polish people show support to solidarity

Answer 30

They participated in masses held by priests

Question 31

How did Poland react to solidarity

Answer 31

Walesa was released but government attacked solidarity and arrested 10 000 members
Martial law was lifted but:
-still restrictions on civil liberties and political life
- food rationing continued
Very bad economic situation due to foreign sanctions and government’ a refusal to introduce more reforms
More strikes because of increase in price of food
Government announced that it would meet with Walesa to negotiate (Walesa agreed to stop all strikes)