The Collapse of communism in the Eastern European satellite states Flashcards
when does Poland end its ban on Solidarity?
1989
When are free elections agreed in Hungary and what is the result?
June 1989- overwhelming election victory by Polish solidarity candidates
- July- Solidarity invited to form a coalition government
When does Hungary permit East Germans to enter Austria via Hungary
September 1989
When does East German leader Eric Honecker resign?
October 1989
When does Czechoslovakia open its borders to allow access to Western European states?
November 1989
When is the Berlin wall brought down?
November 1989
Why was Gorby’s abandonment of the Brezhnev doctrine not welcomed?
Threatened the stability of the apparatchiks in the Soviet satellite states.
What was the only country to remain communist among the Eastern European countries by the end of 1989?
Albania
What happened in Poland?
1) Polish leader Jaruzelski, confident that Solidarity’s popularity had declined, ends martial law and made reconstitution legal.
2) These actions coincided with an economic downturn and a raising of food prices. Leading to peaceful strikes and demands.
3) In February 1989- the government agreed to talk to the leaders of Solidarity and other opposition groups in an attempt to maintain power- agreed on legalisation and free elections basically..
4) Solidarity wins majority and satellite socialist groups refuse to join a coalition unless they are represented
5) a new pro-solidarity government led by Mazowiecki was formed
What happened in Hungary
- Janos Kadar makes limited changes resulting in worsening economic conditions.
- Kadar resigns and young politburo member Miklos Nemeth negotiates a one billion Deutsch mark loan from West Germany. He’s named prime minister as a result.
-He implements electoral reforms eg multi-party system - By 1989 HSWP’s leadership decide free elections should take place in 1990 and win majority.
- 1989 also agree to open border with Austria , allowing east Germans to access West.
- Soviets agree to withdraw all military forced by 1991.
What happened in East Germany?
- already received benefits from the West through Willy Brandt’s Ostpolitik.
- Eric Honecker ignores reforms embedded in perestroika and glasnot - determined to keep E Germ a single party state.
- After Hungary opens border, even though travel still technically illegal, 60,000 E Germs seek asylum in W Germ Hungarian embassies and 22,000 into Austria.
- Due to increasing pressure E German allowed temporary travel- people had to return.
- Mass opposition breaks out- Honecker forced to resign and is replaced by Krenz
- Krenz first offers a relax in travel law but it gets criticised for being too limited so proposes another one on live TV which essentially broke down the Berlin wall.
- East Germ leadership hoped this would increase credibility and popularity but they resigned and were replaced by coalition gov.
What happened in Czechslovakia?
- Gorby says the USSR would pursue a policy of non-intervention in Warsaw pact countries.
- Opposition led by Havel, gained support with people comparing economic and cultural growth to the West.
- Jan 1989 organised demonstration in Wenceslas Square to commemoration Czech student suicide- Havel arrested.
- Also protested for environmental reforms eg half the rivers were polluted.
- Gov announce a programme of limited economic reforms but population felt it didnt go far enough and mass demonstrations take place in Prague.
- 17th November- violent protest with police beating students and 2 days later the civic forum is formed who published their ‘principles’
- In response the phrase that gave the communist party the lead role in government was removed.
-28th December- Havel elected as president and political change complete - VELVET REVOLUTION
What was different in Czechslovakia than in Germany, Poland and Hungary?
The economy was thriving and the working classes had little reason to oppose the regime
What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
the USSRs commitment to ensuring the communist Eastern European bloc remained intact and that communism was the dominant political force within each of the member states
How did Gorby’s rejection of the Brezhnev doctrine lead to the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe?
it showed individual populations that they no longer had to fear the influx of troops from Moscow or other Warsaw pact countries if they rose up against their government.
