Poland and Solidarity

• 1968-1970 Poland was affected by the events in Czechoslovakia - Gomulka knew that there needed to be economic reform
• In Warsaw student demostrations broke out against Soviet Domination - Gomulka put down the protest with working class support from the police (university students considered privileged and resentment could be raised against them)
• Dec 1970, economy worsened - strikes beginning in Gdansk ship yard spread around Poland. Gomulka was repalace with Edward Gierek - the communist party maintained control.
• From 1970 -76 Poland managed to maintain some economic stability and control labor unrest by:

Soviet Union providing economic aid

Western banks offered easy cridit to fund industrial expansion and the import of new technology

World demand for Polish exports of coal remained strong.

• Workers were supported by the Roman Catholic church - Oct 16 1978 Karol Wojtyla was made Pope.
• In 1980, because of substantial price increases, a strike at the Lenin shipyards in Gdansk began radical changes in Poland
• Lech Walesa was the leader of an independent Trade Union, not allowed in Poland
• 10 million Poles joined, and won the right to strike and freedom to assemble
• Huge economic distress and shortage of consumer goods fueled their support
• Pope John Paul II supported this movement called Solidarity.
• Oct 1981, General Jaruzelski became the communist leader - he was not going to give solidarity a say
• Dec 13, 1981 - General Jaruzelski declared Martial Law and arrested Lech Walesa and other leaders.
• Strikes were banned and troops occupied the country.
• The world governments got involved, Regan put pressure on Poland through economic sanctions and halted USSR flights to the USA. By 1984 Poland let many of the prisoners go.
• By 1988-89 Gorbachev did not have the capacity or the will to send in the Red Army to deal with uprisings against communism, like they did before.
• 5 April 1989, Solidarity leaders signed an accord with the Polish Government that restored solidarity and provided for free elections (First time since WWII). The Iron curtain would soon fall apart.
• Elections held June 4, 1989 - Solidarity won 99 out of 100 seats in Parliament
• July 29, 1989 General Jaruselski resigned as leader of the communist party
• 19 August, Tadeusz (Tom) Mazowiecki was made Premier and Lech Walesa was made President. - Now have to work on fixing the economy.