Nationalism in Eastern Europe

Poland

1989 - Communist gov yielded to pressure from Solidarity

Allowed Solidarity & other groups to stand in elections

Solidarity achieved a landslide victory → Communist Party collapsed

USSR did nothing to prevent this, G seemed to approve

Hungary

Pressure for reform was within the Communist Party

1988 - Janos Kadar (hardline leader since ‘56) was sacked

Reform-dominated gov allowed other political parties to contest elections

East Germany

GDR was an artificial nation, the most reliant regime

Oct 1989 - G visited Eastern Berlin, encouraging reformers

Mass demonstrations → Pressure for reform became unstoppable

Egon Krenz (Leader from Oct 1989) refused to allow repression amid choas

Krenz decided to open access to Berlin Wall - 9th Nov 1989

Symbol of Cold War dismanted by ‘people power’

Czechoslovakia

Nov 1989 - Communist regime forced to concede by pro-reform demonstrations

Civic Forum emerged to coordinate campaign to remove goc

Severe public pressure forced introduction of reforms

Dec 1989 - Vaclav Havel (playwright & leading opponent) was elected President

Romania

Change driven by discontent: food shortaged, lack of consumer goods, repressive gov & lack of democracy

Winter of 1989 - demonstrations against regime started

Support for the regime collapsed

Nicolae Ceausescu Romanian leader used army to open fire on demonstrators

Only increased unpopularity → By Dec, he lost support of the army

Ceausescu & wife were forced to flee by helicopter

Christmas Day 1989 - arrested & executed → ended Communism in Romania

Pope John Paul II

June 1979 - Pope John Paul II visited Poland

Encouraged those under Communist rule & reformers

“Do not be afraid”

Reformers within Communist Parties

People power was less significant in Hungary & Bulgaria

Reformers tool the lead in asserting national independence

Swift & largely peaceful collapse of Communism

→ Exceptions: Romania & Yugoslavia

Bloody Civil War followed the break-up of the country

Significance of Gorbachev’s actions

After 1989, every pro-Soviet gov in EE had disintegrated

Role of G was vital in changing the context in which they operated

His Foreign Policy encouraged assertion of independence

→ Impacted different nationalities within USSR