Solidarity

Question 1

When did Solidarity begin?

Answer 1

When workers in Gdańsk protested against food price rises in 1980

Question 2

The 4 reasons why solidarity was successful in Poland?

Answer 2

• support inside Poland
• support outside Poland
• Polish gov reluctant to take action
• Soviet got reluctant to take action

Question 3

4 evidences why there was support inside Poland

Answer 3

• Most Poles = Catholic :. Catholic Church was influential and they supported
• Many Poles were disillusions w/ poor living standards & freedoms lack —> joined
• had support among workers in key industries, them striking = devastate Polish economy
• patriotic poles proud of history so resented soviet influence, movement= express nationalism

Question 4

2 evidences of support outside Poland?

Answer 4

• polish cardinal was appointed Pope in 1947 —> supported + encouraged others to
• had western support since media followed soviet reaction & situation closely —> USSR became more cautious with how it dealt w movement

Question 5

Evidence the Soviet gov was reluctant to take action against Poland?

Answer 5

-west watched closely

Question 6

What happened in Feb 1981?

Answer 6

General Jaruzelski became the Polish leader

Question 7

Why was Jaruzelski more willing to take action against Solidarity?

Answer 7

• hardline leader
• Poland suck into chaos + food shortages/rationing in April 1981
• unemployment rose

Question 8

What 4 evidences from Solidarity made Jaruzelski willing to take action?

Answer 8

• issued an open letter claiming to campaign for rights in Comm EE countries —> threatened countries’ eternal stability
• began behaving like a political party —> J claimed to have secret tapes of leaders discussing forming a new gov
• organised strikes plunged Poland into chaos —> 想return to law & order
• J was under increasing pressure from Brezhnev to take action cuz he ordered Soviet army to carry out training manoeuvres on Polish border —> close to invading, feared bloodshed

Question 9

What 4 actions did Jaruzelski take against Solidarity?

Answer 9

• pretended to cooperate by negotiating “national unity” w/ then but when it broke down —> arrested/imprisoned 10000 members/leaders
• introduced martial law, imposed curfews, set up military courts, increased censorship, 900+ killed
• banned Solidarity + other trade unions, only allowed gov-controlled ones

Question 10

Why was Solidarity significant in Poland? (1)

Answer 10

• huge support forced comm gov to make reforms —> proved comm could be resisted w/ “Ppl Power” + achieve demands

Question 11

Why was Solidarity significant in other countries

Answer 11

• inspired other EEs to push for reforms (demonstrations broke out in 1981 when collapse began)
• proved widespread EE comm opposition
• failure to provide adequate living standards undermined Comm’s claim of benefitting ordinaries
• proved Soviet control= reliant on Soviet force threat. Refused to intervene= comm’d collapse