Milestones: 1989–1992 Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, 1989 On November 9, 1989, thousands of jubilant Germans brought down the most visible symbol of division at the heart of Europe—the Berlin Wall. For two generations, the Wall was the physical representation of the Iron Curtain, and East German border guards had standing shoot-to-kill orders against those who tried to escape. But just as the Wall had come to represent the division of Europe, its fall came to represent the end of the Cold War. In the White House, President George H. W. Bush and his National Security Advisor, Brent Scowcroft, watched the unfolding scene on a television in the study, aware of both the historical significance of the moment and of the challenges for U.S. foreign policy that lay ahead.

1. Polish Way to
Freedom
SOLIDARITY

3. Independent Poland
1918

4. Between Germany and Russia, Poland is
under constant threat of invasion from the
time of its Formation in the middle of the
10th Century. The country's borders
expand and contract dramatically over
the centuries as regions are either annexed
by or won back from its neighbours.
Following the First World War, Poland
achieves an uneasy and short-lived
independence that is shattered when
Germany invades on 1 September 1939,
starting the Second World War.

5. Poland’s Borders in 1939

6. At the end of the war the country falls behind the
Soviet Union’s 'Iron Curtain', becoming a satellite state
of the superpower. A pro-Soviet communist
government is installed. Popular dissent mounts as the
Polish economy begins to falter. When the Soviet
Union begins to break apart the Polish people seize
the opportunity to again achieve their
independence.
Poland
is changing borders
1945

7. The Soviet Union’s “Iron Curtain“
Poland’s Borders in 1945 After the World War II

8. There had been regular protests in
Poland during Communist rule.
These were due to a
deepening internal crisis
Soviet-style societies.
Protests were centred
around poor living
conditions in relation to
the West.

9. Polish Movement
to Democracy

10. The deteriorating economic conditions and the
Poles' overall exasperation with communism led the
Polish working class to stage as series of
demonstrations in 1956,1968,1970 and 1976.
However, these revolts were unsuccessful because
the Poles weren't united in their fight to end
communism.

11. The ups and downs of Communist
rule
In December, 1970 there was a
bloody clash with shipyard workers
where Władysław Gomulka ordered
soldiers to fire upon those entering
the factories.
Gierek replaced Gomulka and
began a programme of reform.
Using foreign loans, he modernised
industry and increased availability of
consumer goods.
Edward Gierek

12. Economic crisis
Despite Gierek being hailed a
miracle worker, the economy
began to falter in 1970’s.
1976 price increases became
necessary.
High foreign debts, food
shortages, and an outmoded
industrial base compelled a
new round of economic reforms
in 1980.
Food shortages in 1976

13. The Solidarity movement
stemmed from years of
economic hardship resulting
from communist rule.
Communism was firmly
established in Poland by
1948, only four years after the
U.S.S.R. had invaded the
country.
Communist officials firmly
believed that by government
central planning, all goods
and services would be shared
equally.

14. Religion
On 16th October, 1978,
bishop of Cracow, Karol
Wojtyla, was elected
Pope John Paul II.
During his pilgrimage to
Poland millions of people
attended his masses.
This flew in the face of
the Polish United Workers
Party authority.
Millions cheer Pope John
Paul II during his first visit
to Poland, 1979.

15. Democracy,
Poles came together to form
"Solidarnosc," or the Solidarity
trade union, which fought for
equal rights and better
conditions for Poles.
Although Solidarity faced
opposition, it eventually led to
the downfall of communism in
Poland and also inspired other
Soviet satellites to revolt.
Thus, the uprisings in Gdansk
served a frontier in the fall of
the iron curtain throughout
Eastern Europe.

16. The Solidarity movement, which began in
Gdansk, Poland, served as a frontier in the fall
of Eastern European communism.
Poland's poor economic and political situation,
which had increased since the rise of
communism, fueled this revolt.

17. Lech Walesa
17th August, 1980 Walesa
put forward his 21 demands.
By end of the wave of strikes,
over 600 factories had joined
the committee under
Walesa.
They had brought the
economy to a halt and
forced the government to
agree to their demands.

18. Solidarity
As a result of the agreement there
were several outcomes:
• Gierek was replaced.
• Representatives of the strike set
up a nationwide trade union
called “Solidarity”
• Walesa was elected its president.
• With its increasing
popularity, Solidarity turned from
being a mere trade union to
becoming an entire social
movement.

19. Strikes in Gdansk
In 1979, John Paul II,
a Pole, was elected Pope.
Returning to his homeland, he
evoked a massive outburst of
national pride, and
encouraged a revolt to gain
religious freedom.
His speeches attracted
thousands of Poles,
encouraging them to revolt
against communist rule.

20. Roundtable negotiations
1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became
leader of the Soviet Union.
He carried out a number of reforms
that were reflected in the politics of
Soviets satellites.
Round Table Talks were held
in 1989 with the government,
Solidarity and a number of other
opposition groups.
1990 Solidarity was again
legalised.

21. A strong-arm policy
The Polish United Workers Party
seemed unsure what to do with
increasing union action.
In the end, due to pressure from
Moscow to strengthen its
position, General Wojciech
Jaruzelski was made leader.
He imposed Martial Law
in 1981
General Wojciech
Jaruzelski

22. Polish government
declared Marital Law in
1981
Trade unions were outlawed,
Walesa and other leader were
jailed.
Strict rules were set in Poland.
No one could leave town and
everyone had to be in their
house by six o'clock.
However, solidarity went
underground, and leaders
continued to press for
reform.

23. Breakdown of Solidarity
Solidarity was de-legalised in
1982.
Workers demonstrations were
broken up by paramilitary
units.
They would shoot upon such
demonstrations and a
number were killed during
1981.
Solidarity appeared crippled
and strikes ceased.Paramilitary units

24. Underground Solidarity
Throughout mid-1980’s, Solidarity
remained as an underground
organisation supported by the
Church and the CIA.
1982, Walesa was released and
by 1983, Martial Law was lifted.
1984, Walesa won the Noble
Peace Prize which his wife
collected.

25. Walesa Nobel Prize Winner
1984

26. Oppression of Solidarity
Despite the lifting of Martial Law
members of Solidarity were still
persecuted.
1984, popular pro-Solidarity
priest, Jerzy Popieluszko, was
murdered by three agents of the
Ministry of Internal Security.
1985, three members of the
underground Solidarity were arrested
and sentenced to prison without
being allowed consultation with their
defence lawyers.
Jerzy Popieluszko

27. Martial Law persisted for almost a decade.
The communist party
found that military rule
could not revive Poland's
failing economy.
As the economic crisis
worsened, public
discontent increased.
In August 1988, the
communist government,
faced with the largest
labor unrest since 1980,
agreed to hold talks with
Solidarity leaders

28. Negotiations began in
February 1989.
By April, representatives had
agreed on the legalization of
Solidarity and free elections for
seats in the Sejm (Polish
Parliament).
Polish voters overwhelmingly
supported Solidarity
candidates.
On August 25, 1989, the Polish
parliament chose Solidarity
leader Tadeusz
Mazowiecki as the
nation's first
noncommunist prime
minister. Thus, Poland was
free from communist rule.

29. The revolutionary changes
in Poland sparked reforms
throughout Eastern Europe.
As in Poland, other Soviet
satellites were faced with
deteriorating economic
conditions and oppressive
communist governments.
Inspired by the collapse of
communism in Poland,
radicals in Hungary opened
its borders and dissolved its
communist party.
Demonstrations in Eastern
Germany led to the fall of
the Berlin Wall and the
reinstatement of
democracy. Communist
governments also fell in
Czechoslovakia and
Romania. Because of the
Solidarity movement, the
iron curtain, which had cast
its shadow on Eastern
Europe since World War II,
had finally been lifted.

30. The revolutionary changes in Poland sparked reforms throughout
Eastern Europe. As in Poland, other Soviet satellites were faced
with deteriorating economic conditions and oppressive communist
governments. Inspired by the collapse of communism in Poland,
radicals in Hungary opened its borders and dissolved its communist
party.

31. Lech Wałęsa
The man who
changed Poland

32. In 1990 he became the President of
Poland.
He presided over Poland's transformation from
a communist to a post-communist state.

34. Collapse of the Berlin Wall
Polish People were there.

35. Milestones: 1989–1992
Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe,
1989
On November 9, 1989, thousands of jubilant Germans
brought down the most visible symbol of division at the heart
of Europe—the Berlin Wall.
For two generations, the Wall was the physical
representation of the Iron Curtain, and East German border
guards had standing shoot-to-kill orders against those who
tried to escape.
But just as the Wall had come to represent the division of
Europe, its fall came to represent the end of the Cold War. In
the White House, President George H. W. Bush and his
National Security Advisor, Brent Scowcroft, watched the
unfolding scene on a television in the study, aware of both
the historical significance of the moment and of the
challenges for U.S. foreign policy that lay ahead.

38. Lech Walesa, 20th Anniversary
of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

39. Poland joined NATO in 1999
and since 2004 has been a
member
of the European Union.

40. 2004
Poland in European Union

42. NOW@
NOW 2014

43. Bronisław
Komorowski
since 6 August
2010
The President of Poland

44. Thank you for your attention
Halina Ostankowicz- Bazan