Role of Gorby on The Collapse of The GDR/Opposition Groups Flashcards
What did Gorby announce in 1988 and 1989?
There was no possiblilty of USSR military intervention in the manner of the Czech invasion in 1968
The Brezhnev Doctrine was ‘dead’ so communist countries could not rely on the USSR for support
Why did the SED say they wouldn’t restructure the economy?
- it had undergone restructuring in the 60s
- its economy achieved good growth rates
Were Gorby’s works banned?
Yes
What % of young people and young SED members supported Gorby?
Why did this make the SED nervous?
83% and 90% in 1988
They feared a large reforming wing in the party.
When did opposition groups form and what did they want?
70s and 80s- grew up during the era of Ospolitik
They only wanted reforms like improved SoL and did not believe or want the regime to change
Why did the people demand reform?
Anger at the regime becoming more repressive and indoctrinating people
Role of Gorby?
Gorby exacerbated preexisting sentiments about democracy because the opposition groups came before Gorby
Why did peace groups form?
In protest to the SED’s decision to have compulsory military training in 1978
How many people were at the Dresden annual peace forum in 1982?
5000 despite the SED trying to prevent people going
Why were ecological groups so active from the late 70s?
Rising pollution levels
What happened to the library dedicated to ecological issues in Berlin?
Raided by the stasi and some members were arrested
Cooperation between the church and opposition groups?
Offered opposition groups the only place they could meet.
Pastor Epplemann and Havemann drew up the Berlin Appeal- proposed debate on peace and ban on sale of military toys
Why did many of the opposition groups collapse?
Give an example.
Stasi infiltration meant that members were too scared to speak openly e.g. a leading dissident discovered that her husband was a spy who frequently reported on her
Example of people losing fear of the stasi: Protests about fraudulent elections in May 1989
400 people met in a church in Berlin to draft a letter. One girl was caught by the stasi and fined 300 Ostmarks. When she refused to pay, nothing happened
Impact of losing fear of the stasi
Weakened the government because they were reliant on them to maintain order
