The collapse of communism in Eastern European Soviet satellite states Flashcards
Who was the last leader of Poland?
Wojech Jaruzelski
What was the catalyst for the collapse of Communism in Poland?
Economic downturn leading to the government having to raise food prices in Feb 1988
What did the rise in food prices in Poland lead to?
Strikes and demand for change
- Peaceful from workers and protestors
- Used glasnot as justification as they had the ‘right’ to express dissatisfaction
What other factors caused collapse of communism in Poland?
Solidarity Movement - 1981
What did Polish government do in September 1986 and effect?
General Amnesty - Release political prisoners
- Showed commitment to reform
What did Jaruzelski do regarding Solidarity in 1987?
Ended martial law which was used against Soldiarity
- Believed movements influence had weakened
Following the economic downturn in Poland, how did they initially attempt to control?
Agreed to hold talks with Solidarity and other opposition groups (Feb 89)
- Attempt to preserve control using negotiation opposed to force
What did Polish government talks lead to? (3)
- Legalisation of trade unions
- Creation of president
- Formation of a senate
How did negotiations in Poland decide the Sejm (lower Senate house) be elected?
35% = Freely elected
65% = Communist Party
What was the USSR’s reaction to Poland’s negotiations?
The new structure pleased the USSR as it represented a move towards socialist rather than capitalist democracy
What were the results of the June 1989 elections in Poland?
Senate: Solidarity won 92 of the 100 available seats.
Parliament: Solidarity secured 160 out of 161 seats they were allowed to compete for
How did Polish feel about voting for the Communist party?
Many refused to vote for Communist candidates in Parliament
What were Polish satellite states opinion on June elections?
Refused to join a coalition government unless Solidarity was represented in it
When was the new Polish government formed?
7 August 1989
What was the new Polish government and who was the leader?
Pro- Solidarity
- Led by Tadeusz Maxowiecki
How did communists in Poland retain some control in government?
Key positions in the government were still held by communists, but Solidarity had gained significant influence and control over the new political direction
Main reasons for the collapse of communism in Poland
- Economic decline
- Glasnost and Perestroika
- Opposition Movements
- End of Brezhnev Doctrine
Who was the last leader of Hungary?
Janos Kadar
What was the catalyst for the collapse of Communism in Hungary?
Communist party itself - the Hungarian Socialist Workers Party initiated reforms
What else caused the collapse of Communism in Hungary?
Worsening economic conditions led to general dissatisfaction
- Economic advisers did attempt to engage in trade with Western Europe
When did Kadar resign and what did this mean?
1988
- Signalled the beginning of political change with ruling of HSWP
What did Nemeth do to aid the economy and what followed?
Negotiated loan of 1 million marks from West German banks
- Became prime minister and implemented political and economic reforms
What reforms did HSWP introduce under Nemeth and what was their key decision?
Basic freedoms, civil rights and electoral reforms
- Began to accept idea of a multi-party system
What was Soviets decision in Hungary April 1989?
Remove all military forces by 1991
- Further weakened Soviet control and push for Hungarian reform
What did the HSWP decide in June 1989?
Agreement for free elections
- Belief that HSWP would remain the leading party
What happened in Hungary in September 1989?
Opened Hungarian-Austrian border
- Allowed East German to cross into Hungary then to West Germany
What was the impact of Hungary helping exodus?
Showed the rejection of communist East German regime, and by extension, the rejection of communism
- Led to 1989 East German Crisis
Was Hungary’s move from Communism seen as peaceful?
Hungary’s shift away from communism was relatively peaceful and served as a model for other Eastern European countries
When was the date of collapse in Hungary?
New free elections to be set for 1990
Who was the new government following the collapse in Hungary?
The HSWP held the strongest support among Hungarians and as such, would remain the leading party
Who was the last leader of Czechoslovakia?
Alexander Dubcek
What was the catalyst for the collapse of Communism Czechoslovakia?
- Glasnost and Perestroika led to open opposition.
- Police attack on students (17 Nov)
- Civic Forum
What was the Civic Forum in Czechoslovakia?
This group provided leadership for the protests and began to organise the opposition against the regime
What and when was the Wenceslas Square Commemoration in Czechoslovakia?
January 1989
- Commemoration was held in the Square to honour the events of 1969 when a student, Jan Palach, had self-immolated in protest of the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia
- Encouraged opposition
- Havel and 13 organisers arrested
How did environmental issues increase opposition in Czechoslovakia?
Polluted river and wells alongside dying forests
- Estimated that nearly half of the rivers in Slovakia were polluted and over ¾ of well water was unsuitable for human consumption
- 1983 hospital to treat respiratory issues in children
- These issues became symbols of the regime’s inability to address critical problems and were used to rally opposition
What did Czech announce in July 1989 and how did it intensify opposition?
Program of limited economic reforms
- These reforms were seen as insufficient by the population, and the situation remained tense
How did Communists initially maintain control in Czechoslovakia?
Economy was thriving and the working classes had little reason to oppose the regime
What was Soviets approach to Czech?
Soviet troops remained in the country but Gorbachev said that the USSR would pursue a policy of nonintervention in Warsaw Pact countries
What was the opposition from intellectuals in Czech?
Small group led by Vaclav Havel
- 1970s had organised opposition and jailed
- After release he announced Charter 77
What was Charter 77 by Havel?
Attention to human rights violations as agreed in Helsinki Accords
Why was there still economic discontent in Czech?
Czechoslovakia was economically better off than many other communist countries, but the population was frustrated with its comparison to the West
- Limited fashion and cultural developments
Why did the opposition groups lead to lack of communist party control in Czech?
The communist regime made no attempts to arrest the leaders, believing that if it instituted some reforms in response to the crisis, it would remain in power
What was the Programmatic Principles of the Civic Forum and what did it lead to in Czech?
Included a state of law, free elections, social justice, a clean environment, education, and prosperity
- Communist gov amended constitution and removed the Communist Party’s leading role
What was the Civic’s Forum’s reaction to a coalition gov and response?
Rejected and Communist leadership resigned
When was Havel president in Czech and end of communism?
28 December 1989
What was the Velvet Revolution in Czech?
Peaceful change from communism
Main reasons for the collapse of communism in Hungary
- Economic decline
- Nemeth reforms
- End of Brezhnev Doctrine
- Protests
- Berlin Wall collapse
Main reasons for the collapse of communism in Czechoslovakia
- Economic decline
- Leadership of Havel and opposition
- End of Brezhnev
- Environmental issues
- Fall of Berlin wall
What was the position of East Germany and Honecker prior to 1989?
E.Ger had a reputation of being the most loyal of the USSR’s satellite states
- Honecker, refused calls for reform embedded in Perestroika
- Firmly loyalty to the Communist state and did not want reform and change
When did the economic downturn begin in East Germany and why?
Following the oil crisis in mid 70s as it stagnated the GDR
What were other economic issues the GDR faced?
- Large debts from borrowing to increase productivity and modernisation
- High defence expenditure
- Inferior consumer goods
What was the E.German defence expenditure % against Bulgaria and FRG?
Bulgaria = 2.5%
FRG = 6%
How did the GDR attempt to improve the economy?
- Borrowed largely from FRG
- Exchanged military expertise from Syria, Angola etc for raw materials
- Sold approximately 1500 political prisoners each year to the FRG between 80’-85
How much was the GDR in debt to the FRG by 1987?
34.7 billion
How much did trade deficit between FRG to GDR in 1985?
300 million
Why did internal opposition increase in the GDR?
Reform policies in the USSR were not being mirrored in the East German Gov
- Honecker tightened repression and censorship opposed to economic reforms
When did public protests begin in GDR?
7 May 1989
Why did the protests in May 89’ begin?
Election results seen as fraudulent as they exaggerated results to seem that the SED won 99%
When was Tianamen Square?
June 1989
Why did the Tiananmen Square cause tension in GDR?
Many were angered by governments attitudes to protests for democratic reforms in China
- GDR congratualted China’s tough treatment to protesters
How many were killed at Tianamen Square?
200-2000
When was the opposition group Democratic Reawakening formed in E.Ger?
August 1989
Who was the most influential opposition group in GDR and when formed?
New Forum which sought to create a broad-based appeal and deliberately aimed to challenge the SED
- August 1989
What was the significance of St Nikolai Church, Leipzig?
Peace prayers were held every Monday evening and followed by small opposition rally
- No reform or political change enhanced demonstrations
What happened on 9th October 1989 in E.Ger?
70,000 demonstrated and the Gov prepared additional armed forces and special Statsi units put on alert
Why was protest enhanced in E.Ger?
- Convinced Honecker would not react as lacked USSR support
- Soviet forces in the GDR remained firmly inside their barracks
What was Honecker’s response to 9th October?
- Block West German radio signals and refuse Westerners entry into East Berlin
- Arranged for extra doctors and blood supplies to be sent to Leipzig
Where did demonstrations extend to in E.Ger?
Dresden and Berlin
- Advocated change and reform
- Freedom of press, assembly, travel, end to Stasi and free elections
How did Gorbachev react to protests in E.Ger?
Gorbachev’s refusal to support Honecker gave impetus to demonstrators
When did Honecker return to politics and what mistakes did he make?
September 1989
- Blamed the FRG for the GDR’s problems and on 2 October ordered the SED newspaper to publish a statement denouncing those emigrating from the GDR as ‘counter-revolutionaries’
When did Honecker resign?
18th October 1989
Who replaced Honecker?
Egon Krenz
When did the Berlin Wall open?
9th November 1989
How were the East Germans met when they crossed the border?
GDR citizens were greeted with free gifts when they entered the FRG – chocolate, champagne, fresh fruit, beer, football and train tickets, and 100DM welcome money from the FRG government
How long did Krenz last and who replaced him?
44 days and Modrow
How many East Germans were leaving in January 1990?
75,000
How did Hungary influence collapse of wall and communism?
On 2 May 1989, the Hungarian government removed the fence on the border with East Germany, and while travel between the 2 countries was technically illegal, in practice anyone dissatisfied could cross
How many East Germans seeked asylum in Hungary in September 1989?
60,000
What was economic growth in E.Germany in 1989?
2.8%
