What was the significance of 'Solidarity' in Poland for the decline of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe?

Question 1

What was happening in Poland in July, 1980?

Answer 1

1. Polish government was facing an economic crisis
2. Poland was short of money and was forced to raise the price of goods while, at the same time, imposing a limit on any rises in wages
3. Ordinary people were facing extreme poverty as a result of this

Question 2

What happened in Poland on 14 August, 1980?

Answer 2

1. Workers at Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk went on strike

2. They were angry at the price rises and the dismissal of several workers who had complained about poor conditions

Question 3

Who were the strikers led by?

Answer 3

Lech Walesa, an electrician

Question 4

How long did the strike last?

Answer 4

One week

Question 5

How many demands had the strikers made?

Answer 5

21 demands

Question 6

How did the government try to isolate the strikers?

Answer 6

1. Cutting telephone lines

2. Censoring news reports

Question 7

Give 3 examples of demands made by the strikers.

Answer 7

1. Acceptance of free trade unions independent of the Communist Party and of enterprises
2. A guarantee of the right to strike and of the security of strikers and those aiding them
3. A full supply of food products for the domestic market, with exports limited to surpluses
4. The selection of management personnel on the basis of qualifications, not party membership. Privileges of the secret police are to be eliminated
5. A day of rest on Saturday

Question 8

Describe what happened in Poland on 31 August, 1980.

Answer 8

An agreement was signed meeting some of the demands

Question 9

What was Solidarity?

Answer 9

Solidarity was a nationwide independent trade union, established on the 14th of September, 1980.

Question 10

How did Solidarity succeed where others had failed?

Answer 10

1. Organisation
2. Demands
3. Methods
4. Support

Question 11

How was organisation a success?

Answer 11

Had a committee, spokespeople + newspaper (Solidarnosc) which allowed them to spread their message effectively

Question 12

How were demands a success?

Answer 12

Demands were national issues, not just local ones- this secured support from a range of the population

Question 13

How were methods a success?

Answer 13

Never used violence incase it encouraged harsh punishments from the government

Question 14

How was support a success?

Answer 14

By 1981, 10 million people (students, workers, intellectuals) joined the trade inion i.e. 80% of Poland’s workforce were members

Question 15

Describe how the Polish government crushed the Solidarity movement on 13 December 1981.

Answer 15

• The new PM of Poland, Wojciech Jaruzelski, invited Walesa to meet to dicuss his role in the new government
  Discussion was a cover-up as Jaruzelski had no intention of working with Walesa
• Jaruzelski claimed to have recordings of Solidarity leaders planning a coup
• He had proclaimed martial law and outlawed Solidarity
  Polish military arrested most of Solidarity’s leaders including Walesa

Question 16

Why did Gorbachev introduce a series of reforms?

Answer 16

To change the worsening economic situation across the Eastern Bloc

Question 17

Describe Poland in 1988

Answer 17

1. Economy was worse than ever
2. Strikes swept the country after food costs were increased by 40%
3. Government negotiated with Solidarity to end the strikes

Question 18

When was Solidarity legalised?

Answer 18

17 April, 1989

Question 19

Who was elected as the PM of Poland in 1989?

Answer 19

Tadeusz Mazowiecki became the first non-Communist PM in Poland since 1945.