End of the USSR, Eastern bloc

• Poland-1980


  Suffering from severe economic crisis. Increased food prices (Feb 1988)

  • 300000 Polish workers went on strike. First Trade Union Solidarity accepted.
  • Glasnost allowed peaceful protests
  • Communist gov’t have to negotiate with Solidarity and protestors on political reform = elections
  • June 1989: public refuse to vote for communists as they wanted Solidarity to be represented.
  • Sept 1989: Solidarity allowed to operate/reinstated in Sept 1986.
  • June 1989: won 92 seats/ 100. 7 Aug 1989: Lech Walesa demanded gov’t led by Solidarity (achieved in 1989)
• Hungary


  Worsening economic conditions: general dissatisfaction and loyal communists looking for alternatives.

  • April 1989: Soviets agreed to withdraw all its military forces by 1991
  • June 1989: HSWP’s leadership agreed for free elections in 1990, removing communism
  • János Kadar 1956: brutal suppression of uprising and refused to extend any reform programmes.
  • Sept 1989: agreed to open frontier with Austria and allow E.Germans to travel freely into W.Germany
• East Germany


  Events in Hungary had effect on situation in E.Germany

  • 2 May 1989: Hungarian gov removed fence on its border with E.Germany
  • Sept 1989: 60000 East Germans left to Hungary to seek asylum and 22000 E.Germans crossed to Austria.
  • Eric Honecker: Hardline communist and determined to keep the East a one party state. Removed.
  • Krenz Nov 1989: Went to USSR to ask for economic aid, but not given.
  • Nov 1989: Berlin Wall comes down
  • Dec 1989: Increased calls for reform and gov changed constitution
  • 3 Dec 1989: Krenz and Central Committee resigned - Provisional gov
• Czechoslovakia


  Wanted environmental reforms + economic reforms not enough compared to the West.

  • Vaclav Havel: organised demonstrations and formed Civic Forum 19 Nov 1989 - led to constitutional change that stopped communist domination.
  • Collapse of Berlin Wall encouraged to speak out.
  • Nov 1989: Police attack encouraged opposition (glasnost) - Velvet Revolution 1989.
  • 28 Dec 1989: Havel elected as president and political change was complete.
• Bulgaria


  Wanted environmental reforms, right for Orthodox church’s and rights for turks and democracy.

  • Todor Zhikov (hardline Brezhnev supporter) removed by his party.
  • April 1990: Communist Party dissolved and free elections in June 1990.
• Romania


  Living standards had declined due to austerity imposed as a response to debt.

  • Dec 1989: demonstrations led to military crackdown. Anti-gov demos took place - some members of the military joined. Led to execution of leader Nicolas nausessu.
  • Nov 1987: opposition to communist party began through destruction of records after storming the Communist Party HQ