Collapse of communism in Eastern Europe (copy)

The collapse of Communism in the Eastern European soviet satellite states; the end of the Brezhnev Doctrine and significance of events of 1989

How did communism collapse in Poland?

* Sept 1986: general amnesty for all political prisoners was enforced
* Jaruzelski made reconstitution of Solidarity legal (thinking their popularity had declined)
* Feb 1988: economic downturn led Jaruzelski to raise food prices
* **led to strikes and demands for change**, without Soviet support they could not supress dissenters
* Feb 1989: formation of a bicameral senate (35% freely elected)
* June elections, Solidarity won most of the seats
* 7 Sept 1989: Soviets agreed to Lech Walesa’s demands of a new govt led by Solidarity

When did communism officially collapse in Poland?

**24 Aug 1989: first non-communist (pro-Solidarity) govt in post war eastern Europe took power, led by Mazowieki**

How much money did the CIA give to Solidarity?

$51m

How did communism collapse in Hungary?

* worsening economic conditions led to general dissatisfaction
* **1988: Kadar resigned as Secretary-General**
* New PM, Miklos **Memeth** adopted basic freedoms and was ready to adopt multi-party system
* April 1989: Soviets agreed to withdrawal military forces by 1991
* **June 1989: HSWP agreed that free elections should take place in 1990**
* based on belief that they would remain the leading party

Hungary and Austria's border agreement, Sept 1989

Hungarians allowed 1000s of East Germans flee to the West due to the removal of border gates between Hungary and Austria

**= illustrated rejection of communism**

When did communism officially collapse in Hungary?

**1990 elections moved Hungary peacefully from communism to democracy**

When did communism officially collapse in East Germany?

**1 Dec 1989: govt changed constitution which meant communists no longer had dominant role in govt**

provisional coalition govt soon placed

How did communism collapse in East Germany?

* Honecker initially ignored called for reform embedded in perestroika
* **18 Oct 1989: Politburo forced Honecker’s resignation and replaced by Egon Krenz who endorsed perestroika and glasnost**
* **9 Nov: announced authorisation of foreign travel without advance notice and free transit through border crossing into West Germany**
* was attempt to offer citizens reforms following economic failures
* **made Berlin Wall an anachronism, leading to its fall**

When was Germany reunified?

3 Oct 1990

How did communism collapse in Czechoslovakia? (velvet revolution)

**communists maintained control until very end of 1989 because economy was thriving and WC had little reason to oppose the regime**

* opposition came from small group led by Vaclev Havel and in 1989 they gained support from wider group
* tired of seeing and hearing Western prosperity with little developments of their own
* Jan 1989: demonstration in memory of Czech student who committed suicide aswell as protests regarding environmental policies
* demonstrations got bigger
* **constitution was amended, no longer giving the communists dominant role in govt**

When did communism officially collapse in Czechoslovakia?

**28 Dec 1989: Havel elected as President**

Sinatra Doctrine, 1988

‘just do it, your way’

* hinted USSR could no longer afford to continue subsidising Eastern Bloc and they needed to embrace his reforms and go their own way
* end of Brezhnev Doctrine

**= allowed Warsaw Pact member states to determine their own internal affairs and the WP’s function was completely undermined**

Gorbachev’s address to UN, 7 Dec 1988

endorsed ‘the common interests of mankind’ as basis of Soviet foreign policy

* **announced unilateral cuts in Soviet forces of 500 000 soldiers and withdrawal of 50 000 troops and tanks from eastern Europe**

**= effectively renounced Brezhnev Doctrine**