The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe
Hungary
Czechoslovakia- the velvet revolution
Peaceful transition
General dissatisfaction due to worsening economic conditions
resignation of the ageing General Secretary Gustav Husak 1987 created open opposition.
Economic advisers specially interested in trade with western europe
Communists maintained control until the collapse in 1989 end.
arrested demostrators in Prague who came to celebrate the 20th anniversary of soviet invasion.
1988 - Janos Kadar resigned and Miklos
Nemeth became prime minister after negotiating 1 billion D mark from West German Banks
soviet troops remained but it was clear the USSR had non-intervention policy in Warsaw countries
January 1989- demonstration in Wenceslas square in memory of the suicide of a czech student.
He followed economic reforms with political ones
Havel & 13 members arrested for organising this
May 1989 - Nemeth over saw decision to remove physical barrier with Austria - Soviets did nothing to stop it
Pace of reform accelerated
This rather than suppressing opposition, it lead to their creation.
numerous environmental policies protests.
Momentous, but after announced that citizens of other Warsaw Pact countries could travel freely through Hungary - led directly to crisis in East Germany Nov. 1989
Environmental
childrens hospitals built just to treat respiratory ailments.
Govt adopted "democracy package", ready to adopt multiparty system
Economic
1980's- shrinking, negative growth
Basic freedoms
country relied on heavily subsidised, antiquated industries, this was costly.
Civil rights
Electoral reforms
relied on black market for desire of consumer goods.
1989 population tired of seeing western prosperity while remaining in iron curtain w/ less fashion and limited culture.
Govt also implemented round table discussions to change constitution
1983- czech forests dying
April 1989 - Soviets agree to withdraw all military forces from Hungary. 1990 - completed and first free elections in Hungary
1/2 rivers in Slovakia were polluted and 3/4 not suitable for consumption.
numerous environmental policies protests.
more people participated in historic events and demostrations
Poland
Prague spring
1983 - Martial law lifted - but anti-govt activities continued
founding of state in 1918.
1985 - opposition further encouraged when Gorbachev came to power
Migration
east germans tried to migrate to the west.
Solidarity continued in Oct 1987 due to perestroika and glasnost - despite harassment from Polish govt(they knew there would be no problems from USSR|)
Sept- 1989 1000's E germans camping on Bonn's embassy in Prague.
Hans-Dietrich gave speech saying it had been agreed with the communists that the refugees allowed to enter Germany.
Govt raised food prices again in Feb 1988 due to econ. problems
Real end of communist regime- 17th Nov- demonstration
Led yet again to strikes and demands
for changes in the system
Police attacked and beat students.
within a week entire Presidium resigned. Czezh lacked gov.
Almost all members of Solidarity advocated for negotiations with the govt - not just revolutionary party but wanting to bring changes from within the existing system
Programmatic principles of the Civic forum- free elections, social justice, clean env. educated people, prosperity, state of law.
Feb 1989 - Warsaw govt initiated talks with Solidarity and others to attempt to maintain in power - decisive turning point in Polish history - led to 3 major reforms
Romania
Romanian transition was very bloody, thousands killed in december 1989, inc. head of state and wife.
Legalization of non-governmental trade unions
Facing alienation from the Kremlin, he remained in the warsaw pact but adopted autarchic policies and closer relations w/ republic of China.
Creation of the position of President
The formation of a Senate (thereby
giving Poland a bicameral legislature )
high foreign debt- 1980's instituted austerity measures that impoverished countries while his family lived in luxury.
July 1989 - Elections - Solidarity won 99% of the seats
in the Senate and 35%(the max amount for non-comm) in the Sjem
Dec1989- opposition turned violent
Timosoara then Bucharest cities
All military turned against Ceasescu
Jaruzelski won president
tried to flee but was captured - 22nd Dec
35% in the Sjem abolished and 1989 Poland was
multiparty state with coalition government dominated by Solidarity
Quick military show trial, him and his wife found guilty.
Executed- 25th Dec 1989
Poland's successful transition to democracy mirrored by other satellite states
Free election may 1990
Bulgaria
demonstrations regarding env. policies turned into larger indictment of the gov. Nov 1989.
East Germany's revolution and the end of the Berlin Wall
trying to head to radical change, Communist party replaces ageing Todor Zhivkov w/ younger more reform minded successor.
Most televised and well-know revolutions of 1989
not sufficient given the vast changes in E Europe
EG was paradox among satellite states
Feb 1990- street protests led to communist renunciation of power and the country held free elections in June
one hand: reputation for being the most loyal of all the satellite states
leaders were comm hardliners and stasi police renowned
other hand: received benefits from WG through ostpolitik
Members of the party leadership need to make changes or face revolution.
Received benefits from location of Berlin - Moscow wanted to show benefits of communism
no. of demonstrators insreased
throughout oct
nearly 100k in cities like Leizpig.
1984 - EG and WG agreements for cultural exchange, removal of mines on frontier
with cast opposition the politburo forced Honeckers's resignation and General secretary of the party- Egon Krenz, and chairman of the council of state on 18th Oct
1988 - Seemed EG was accepted regime - changes to come were unexpected
Krenx announced E german- implement democratic reforms
Events in East Germany were precipitated by
events outside of its own state
4th Nov- 300k protested in Leipzig, 500k in Berlin same day 30k east germans left to Czezh
2 May 1989 - Hungary removed fence border with EG, people could cross the border freely
Sept. 1989 estimated 60,000 EG's left for Hungary to seek asylum in WG embassies there
5th Noc relaxed travel laws, criticized as too limited
change was not being made and entire politburo resigned leaving Krenz and some in gov. to respond to population.
Budapest struggling with refugees, 22,000 EG traveled west to Austria when open borders free travel announced
Nov 9th- another travel law was proposed- authorized foreign travelling w/out notice and free transit
EG embarrassed and tried to prevent further travel by promising safe passage to the FRG if they returned to EG
w/ this Berlin wall became anachronism
Did not work: on train to Dresden people were beat by police
Dec 1st- faced calls for more reforms, gov changed the constitution, eliminating the clause that gave the communist party a dominant role in the gov.
Oct - EG's protested at the lack of reforms in Honecker regime and repressive regime
2 days later Krenz resigned. Coalition gov. put in place, this was a provisional gov. at best.
Honecker refused to change anything
Honecker unmoved by Gorbachev's actions when visiting Berlin
communism collapsed, map was redrawn after 41years East Germany incorporated into FRG- 3rd Oct 1990
Gorbachev famously
advised Honecker that "Life punishes those who wait too long"
Honecker saw Soviet publications as too liberal and reformist